Former foreign minister Bob Carr lifts the veil on arguably the most towering - and eccentric - ego in Australian politics in his new book, boldly declaring after attending a meeting of world leaders that he “cannot feel humble”.

Laying out his peculiarities and peccadilloes, and the “diva” demands that exasperated his bureaucrats, Carr’s Diary of a Foreign Minister is a tour-de-force of details about his fanatical exercise regime and obsessive high protein, low sugar diet.

It’s also not shy in conveying the author’s self-regard and appetite for self-mockery.