James Cook's discovery of Australia changed the course of history. In this book, the author highlights the explorer's early life and the early settlement of the country. He also reveals how the land became a rich country with people who enjoy a high standard of living. Find out how Australians formed a government and how the cattle industry and natural resources such as coal, iron ore, uranium, aluminum, oxide, lithium, and gold have helped them advance. You'll also learn about the toll the Great Depression had on Australia, leading to a thirty percent unemployment rate. When World War II commenced in 1939, thousands of young men and women joined the army so they could have a job, thinking it would be all over in a couple of months. The book also highlights more recent challenges, such as the refugee crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, which swept through Australia when passengers on a tourist ship were allowed to disembark.