Philip E. Muskett, former Surgeon Superintendent to the NSW government, wrote in 1893: "...our people live in direct opposition to their semi-tropical environment ... the consumption of butcher's meat and tea is enormously in excess of any common sense requirements .." The Art of Living in Australia offers advice for healthy living. In an effort to promote better eating-habits, Muskett presents a carefully researched picture of climate; of the history of cookery instruction in schools; of the value of salads; of problems and methods of management, current in 1893, in the fishing, oyster growing and wine making industries. The book was dedicated with "hope for the development of all the great natural food industries of our country". Reading it today, we have a measure to show how far we have come. First published in 1893.