Book excerpt: In Advance Australia Where? Hugh Mackay, our most highly respected social researcher, takes a long hard look at our society in the 21st century. While we enjoy unprecedented levels of prosperity and the promise of more to come, we are still battling an epidemic of anxiety and depression, taking on record levels of debt, and yearning for a deeper sense of meaning in our lives. While many Australians complain about feeling powerless and isolated, Mackay sees some encouraging signs that we are learning how to absorb the impact of the revolutionary changes in our way of life. This fully updated edition examines Australia in the wake of the federal election of 2007, and explores the issues that are now confronting us.