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Being a Canadian living in America I was hoping this would make me proud to be a Canadian. It started off too political for my tastes so I've only been able to get to chapter 3.
Because I wish I wrote this book first.Feguson, having spent 5 years in Japan, returned to Canada with a unique view on Canada and Candians, warts and all. With this book, essentially a collection of essays, he successfully delfates many of the myths that Canadians like to insulate themselves with and shows how this self-delusion part of the Canadian character. The writing itself is excellent - Ferguson is funny without being trite, insightful without being dry, cynical without being negative. Highly recommended for all progressive thinking Canadians.
His dealings with youth programme and directors would probably strike a chord with many readers. When I was reading this book, I had a feeling that it was targetted for the 18-25 crowd. His research into various Canadian events and attitudes I find also very interesting, though he seemed to dwell too much on Captain Canuck and Quebec separatism. The casually cynical tone, and the highlighted quotations appearing on almost every page, somwhat confirmed by belief.Despite this, I think Will Ferguson did a pretty good job summing up "Canadian events" for the last few decades or so, with some events going further back (like the Voyageurs and the Komagata Maru). Through these events, and his own experience with Youth Programmes and overseas, Ferguson attempted to define the Canadian character, with "attempt" being the keyword.The book started off with promise. The end of the book sounded more important than it actually was. I appreciate Ferguson's passion for the Youth Programmes, but he can do a lot better service for the book if he didn't write so much about them.It's an interesting read that will keep every Canadian current of all major events that supposedly "shaped" Canada.
I really enjoyed this book and at times belly-aching-hilarious. Canada is a great place to live and the people are wonderful regardless of what reviewer KIRKLAND, WA says. I don't hear many countries call Canadians greedy and arrogant.Pick the book up, great reading.
This was a great book. If you want a satirical opinion of Canada it's great. It critcizes the right points. The author goes off on tangents at points, but they serve as history lessons or huge wealths of information.
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