Black Duck cover art

Black Duck

A Year at Yumburra

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Black Duck

By: Bruce Pascoe
Narrated by: Bruce Pascoe
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

When Dark Emu was adopted by Australia like a new anthem, Bruce found himself at the centre of a national debate that often focussed on the wrong part of the story. But through all the noise came Black Duck Foods, a blueprint for traditional food growing and land management processes based on very old practices.

Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood invite us to imagine a different future for Australia, one where we can honour our relationship with nature and improve agriculture and forestry. Where we can develop a uniquely Australian cuisine that will reduce carbon emissions, preserve scarce water resources and rebuild our soil. Bruce and Lyn show us that you don't just work Country, you look, listen and care. It's not Black Duck magic, it's the result of simply treating Australia like herself.

From the aftermath of devastating bushfires and the impact of an elder's death to rebuilding a marriage and counting the personal cost of starting a movement, Black Duck is a remarkable glimpse into a year of finding strength in Country at Yumburra.

©2024 Bruce Pascoe (P)2024 Bolinda Publishing
Cultural & Regional

Critic Reviews

'Bruce invites us onto the land that changed the man behind the book that changed the nation.' (Narelda Jacobs, Whadjuk Noongar journalist, presenter, commentator and keynote speaker)

'Bruce and Lyn so eloquently bring us into intimate contact with the land and our beautiful culture – reminding us all of the rich history that Australia holds.' (Allira Potter, a proud Yorta Yorta, a trained reiki practitioner, intuitive reader, energy healer, life coach and meditation guide)

What listeners say about Black Duck

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A ‘must listen’ for all Australians

Bruce’s narration of his book adds a dimension to the story that may not be evident in the written version. For this reason I recommend the potential purchaser do NOT buy the paper or kindle book, but instead purchase the audible version. Use your ears rather than your eyes to hear this story. This is a story all Australians should hear.

Bruce is a great Australian story teller, a national treasure, a man of deep contemplation and personal understanding of contemporary issues. He has a passion and a vision for Australia. He suffered ongoing abuse from the far right after Dark Emu was published 11 years, but this is not a story about that. It is about the years when he and Lyn set up a working farm to grow traditional crops and showcase a way of farming that refines the definition of farming in the tight European sense. Neither farming nor gathering, but managing the crops to grow.

Do we need new words to describe ancient ways of farming? Would that satisfy those who cannot or will not understand how farming is a far broader spectrum of strategies to maximise plant yields than they knew if?

The author displays Ghandiesque endurance in the face of the signature lies and hatred of Australian racists and the casual misunderstanding of others.

Listen to Black Duck!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Peaceful reminiscences of a man, his people and country

I really enjoyed this book. I found it informative to have an insight into this man’s calling to advocate for his people, his everyday life, activities and love of country. Learning of culture, language, history, animals and plants of this land just naturally fit in along the story. Nice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great yarn about keeping our dreaming alive

Bruce writes with such heart and soul about all life, with respectful acknowledgement of our past and hope for our future.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant insight from a heritage of great worth.

Bruce Pascoe's work Black Duck is as insightful and brilliant as all his written work. A delightful assortment of moments of deep self reflection such as rarely gets published with such integrity and emotion. Surely this book will stand out as marking Bruce Pascoe whole life as well lived in all his achievement. To have had the bravery to identify his passion for his race, country and creed, so honestly and in such a public manner, is an outstanding testament to a man who knows his achievements are worthy of his beautiful heritage.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.