# Is Australia the world's last great book-loving nation?

An episode of [Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1725924485), 1 Oct 2026, 29 min.

Audio: https://mediacore-live-production.akamaized.net/audio/02/p1/Z/06.mp3

Richard Walsh has spent decades publishing books. He thinks the physical book is surviving for a reason. As Radio National prepares to reveal Australia's Top 100 Books, Walsh joins Geraldine Doogue and Waleed Aly to explain why print continues to endure, even as reading habits decline and digital platforms dominate almost every other form of media. He argues that books offer a deeper reading experience than screens, helping readers remember, reason and engage with ideas in ways technology struggles to match. The conversation ranges from the changing economics of publishing to the rise of Amazon, book influencers, writers' festivals and book clubs. Walsh explains why individual book sales have fallen, why launching new authors has become harder, and why Australia remains one of the strongest book-reading nations in the world. Along the way, he reflects on some of the most influential books and authors he has worked with across a long career in Australian publishing. It's also a conversation about what books represent in a digital age. Are readers looking for authenticity? Why do physical books continue to matter? And what do we lose if reading moves entirely onto screens? Geraldine Doogue and Waleed Aly speak with veteran publisher Richard Walsh about the future of reading, publishing and the strange resilience of books. Guest: Richard Walsh, Australian publisherMentioned: Radio National's Top 100 Australian books Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

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