After seven years, traveling at a rate of approximately one word per day, Robert's book, I'd Rather Not has finally arrived.
People will say he is Australia's Sedaris, but he's not. He's Robert Skinner and he's a bloody marvel.' —Anna Krien, author of Night Games and Act of Grace.
I'd Rather Not
Robert Skinner
Robert Skinner
"I was sleeping in what might reasonably be described as a ditch, though I tried not to think of it in those terms for morale reasons …"
Robert Skinner arrives in the city, searching for a richer life. Things begin badly and then, surprisingly, get slightly worse. Pretty soon he’s sleeping rough and trying to run a literary magazine out of a dog park. His quest for meaning keeps being thwarted, by endless jobs, beagles, house parties, ill-advised love affairs, camel trips and bureaucratic entanglements.
Sometimes a book catches the spirit of the times. I’d Rather Not is about work, escape and that something more we all need.
Robert Skinner was born and raised on the Adelaide plains.
He worked for many years as a tour guide before moving to Melbourne and founding the short story magazine, The Canary Press. His writing appears frequently in The Monthly and has also featured in Best Australian Essays, Best Australian Comedy Writing and Internazionale.
He currently lives in Melbourne, where he works in a bookshop and plays football at the lowest level.
