Description
Wimp Walloping (1989) is a collection of satirical, provocative newspaper columns written by the prominent New Zealand property tycoon, politician, and author Sir Bob Jones.
Synopsis and Core Themes
The book compiles Jones’s highly opinionated, syndicated columns initially published in Wellington’s Evening Post starting in 1987. Known for his aggressive, politically incorrect, and defiantly “blokey” public persona, Jones uses the book to deliver blunt social commentary, humor, and sharp polemics aimed at what he viewed as the soft underbelly of New Zealand society.
The text focuses heavily on several recurring targets:
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- The “Wimp” Culture: Jones lambasts modern sensitivities, political correctness, and what he perceived as a general decline in national toughness.
- Media and Journalists: He frequently critiques the press, examining the power, perceived biases, and shortcomings of mainstream journalists.
- Bureaucracy and Church: The chapters take aim at state institutions, religious structures, and political figures of the late 1980s.
- Social and Cultural Issues: He tackles highly controversial topics of the era, offering abrasive takes on feminism (“The Women Problem”) and indigenous affairs (“A Redundant Treaty”).
Structure and Key Chapters
The 207-page hardcover book includes a two-page introduction by the Evening Post editor Rick Neville and features satirical illustrations by renowned Kiwi cartoonist Tom Scott. Notable chapter titles that capture the book’s unapologetic tone include:
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- Wimpishness and Woolly Woofters
- Fakirs and Fakers
- Joe Stalin and Roger Douglas
- Manifestations of a General Madness
Ultimately, the book serves as a historical time capsule of late-20th-century New Zealand political history and right-wing libertarian thought. It stands alongside his other similarly themed essay collections, such as Prancing Pavonine Charlatans and Wowser Whacking.
Hardcover. Signed by Author. First-Edition. 207 Pages. Very-Good Condition.
