Bill Shorten memoir sets out Labor leader's manifesto in book similar to Battlelines

'Real leadership shows that consensus and negotiation is a sign of strength, not weakness,' opposition leader writes in part-memoir part-manifesto

Bill Shorten has released his own part-memoir part-manifesto, a book casting his life, career and policies for government as part of Labor's centrist reforming tradition and in the mould of Bob Hawke's consensus-driven leadership style.

Published Monday as an ebook and next week as a paperback, For The Common Good: Reflections on Australia's Future, is similar in intent to Tony Abbott's Battlelines, combining childhood memories and personal reflections with a broad brush description of Shorten's positioning across the policy spectrum and views about the task of leadership itself.