The Wife Drought

By: Annabel Crabb

Narrated by: Annabel Crabb

'I need a wife'.

It's a common joke among women juggling work and family, but it's no joke. Having a spouse who takes care of things at home is a godsend on the domestic front and an asset on the work front and is an advantage enjoyed by vastly more men than women.

Full of candid and funny stories from politics and the media, The Wife Drought shares intriguing research about the attitudes pulsing beneath the surface of egalitarian Australia.

©2014 Annabel Crabb (P)2016 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"Crabb is an excellent writer, and the book is penned with the wry wit for which she is famous." ( Crikey)

"A modern classic.... This is the conversation we have to have." (Lisa Wilkinson)

fascinating & well researched!

Even though I've never been to Australia it's still explains much of how wives in America have come to the same result. I like how she respects the contribution of husbands who treat their wives like real people not their personal life manager/cook/maid/nanny, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Amazing information and perspective

I loved all the stats and hearing the male’s perspective on staying home. Opened my mind to a lot of things. Very well written and read.

A book every Black American man should read

As a Black man living in America I'm subject to so many "traditional" societal norms that are actually detrimental to my mental health and economic wellbeing. Tis the nature of living with the legacies of slavery that persist til this day.

And so, the Wife Drought highlights the irony and unfairness of traditional white male roles. It just never says it. Because Australia, though having its own history of racial disparity, isn't colored quite the same as America's. Hence why as I digest this book and will listen to again it helps me identify those social norms that stem from White male privilege and how they impact me as a Black man on the verge of parenthood.

Relevant and insightful

These are the conversations I have with my friends over and over. To have it researched so well and put so clearly in the context of what needs to be done to support not only women but also men for the issues facing us to be rectified was a great read.

Honest balanced and practical discussion of gender issues in politics.

Annabelle Crabbe is a respected journalist and celebrity. This book explains a lot and includes important historical data from interviews with personalities from Australian politics over the past 40 years. I enjoyed the book, it got me thinking. I would never read feminist literature so this is a milestone for me. I recommend it. I'm encouraged to "read" more Australian books.