You will find below a small selection of the books that Bob has written over the years. In due course these will be available for purchase along with books that are yet to be published.
This novel by Bob Jones, fast paced and wickedly funny, follows the life and fortunes of Len Edwards. Raised in London, in his early twenties he arrives in New Zealand to make his millions.
Full Circle is not for the overly sensitive, for Jones leaves no sacred cows unslaughtered in this commentary on contemporary life. Beneath humour however lie serious observations about human relationships and folly.
James Campbell is a 28-year-old stockbroker, single, imbued with middle-class values, and bored. But hi life changes dramatically when he inherits Ogg, a tiny, forgotten island in the western Hebrides of Scotland. This leads him into the crazy world of Alceides, a mystery company that provides ‘services’ to the super-rich classes that emerged in the nineties.
My Property World is the long-awaited sequel to Bob Jones’ 1977 best-selling Jones on Property. Packed with wisdom and insightful thinking on the contemporary world of property investment by one of New Zealand’s best-known property investors, Mr Property World is a must read for anyone interested in property and its range of activities. The book is vintage Jones, packed with hilarious anecdotes from his more than four decades of involvement with commercial buildings in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States.
Nigel Whittington represents all that is decent and honourable in the British newspaper industry and, now in his forties, has reached the pinnacle of his career, editor of the highly respectable Age. However, like most newspapers, the Age is owned by a corporate giant, Global Media Corp, run by the super-bully Felix who is infamous for the very creative way he sacks editors. When Nigel is called to Felix’s office and is not immediately fired, he is enormously relieved. That relief soon turns to horror when Felix reveals his special project, a new tabloid called True Facts.
Offences, Outrages and Other Observations: the best of Bob Jones’ New Zealand Herald columns. Sir Robert Jones’ weekly newspaper columns are always guaranteed to amuse and outrage in equal measure. This collection brings together the best of them from the past few years, now collated thematically to create a new and often hilarious view of the world according to Sir Bob.
As Bob Jones writes in Degrees for everyone, we have entered an age in which commercialism has replaced professionalism, and never more so than with our universities. A university degree once held mana; today it is but a badge of attendance. Scholarship has been pushed aside to accommodate the meanest intelligence with nonsense degrees in nonsense subjects and universities are today driven by commercial.
From ‘A Low Blow’ to ‘Went the Distance’, a fascinating and lively examination of the regular use of terms from the boxing ring in our everyday language.Have you ever stopped to notice how often your local newspaper or favourite magazine uses the terms ‘On the Ropes’, ‘The Gloves Are Off’ and ‘Knockout Punch’? How often TV newsreaders will say that a politician has “Thrown His hat in the Ring’, is a ‘Big Hitter’, is ‘Taking it on the Chin’, is ‘Down for the Count’ or has the ‘Killer Instinct’?
Bob Jones has proved to be a highly successful newspaper columnist says Rick Neville, Editor of Wellington’s Evening Post.
Certainly the contents of this book which comprise Jones’ newspaper columns from the time he started writing for the Evening Post in 1987, provide much food for thought. Readers may not agree with everything Jones has to say, but his comments provoke discussion and often new ideas. He speaks his mind openly and does not spare feelings. His rather direct approach to life has paid off in the business world and certainly pays off on his newspaper columns.
Arthur is a retired bank manager – conservative, upright, law-abiding. His decision following his wife’s death to sell up and move to live near his favourite fishing river opens up a fresh and happier future which is symbolised by a climatic battle with a great trout soon after his arrival. But it is not long before Arthur’s bright new world crumbles about him. When confronted by a legislative invasion of his new-found tranquility he takes a stand, and the ensuing battle not only puts to the test his own courage and beliefs but also brings into action the heavy, remorseless hand of the state.
Selections from the 1992 Columns of Sir Robert Jones
