When society seems to demand confidence and certainty, how much courage does it take to admit doubt, especially self-doubt? In this personal essay, one of Australia's most respected journalists argues in favour of a doubtful mind. MUP's new series Little Books on Big Themes pairs leading Australian thinkers and cultural figures with some of the big themes in life. Each author's 10,000-word take on a chosen theme is presented as an eminently collectable hardback.