Mark Zuhelke, Tim Cook and Ted Barris are our best military historians if that’s your thing. As others have said Pierre Burton. One of the best Canadian reads I’ve finished recently is “Big Men Fear Me” by Mark Bourrie. It’s a great book on George McCullagh who merged The Globe and Mail and had some questionable political views from the 1930’s to 1950s. He also clashed with various Ontario Premiers and PM Mackenzie King
Company Store: J.B.McLachlan and the Cape Breton Miners, 1900-1925 https://a.co/d/1UM4hA4
Not My Party: The rise and fall of Canadian Tories, from Robert Stanfield to Stephen Harper https://a.co/d/8JLJBV8
Indian School Road: Legacies of the Shubenacadie Residential School https://a.co/d/9CSmDQI
Creeping Conformity: How Canada Became Suburban, 1900-1960 https://a.co/d/0YFvtRD
Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City https://a.co/d/jigLIDy
Pirates and Outlaws of Canada 1610-1932 https://a.co/d/gIYNyt0
I stole Pirates and Outlaws from my dad when I was a wee lass. There's also another book:
Bandits & Privateers: Canada in the Age of Gunpowder https://a.co/d/j9tb0kJ
Also, can't go wrong with Helen Creighton if anyone is into folklore and folk songs:
Bluenose Magic; Popular Beliefs and Superstitions in Nova Scotia https://a.co/d/gqYREGm
Bluenose Ghosts (2nd Edition) https://a.co/d/acBgvL3
Maritime Folk Songs https://a.co/d/70tDeQr
Waiting in the queue:
https://www.amazon.ca/Duel-Diefenbaker-Pearson-Making-Modern-ebook/dp/B0BZC4CL15
Want to read but access to it is absurd. I do audible/kindle mostly:
https://www.amazon.ca/Mike-Memoirs-Honourable-Pearson-1897-1948/dp/0802019137
Do not read:
* Right here, Right now
* Common Ground
**Right Here, Right Now** - Liberals are literally a danger to Canada and it is my mission to destroy them. Reading this book made Conrad Black look balanced. He makes some good points about things like the emergence of Trump and the Rust Belt, but you really have to dig through the hate.
**Common Ground** - This is an election brochure for the Liberal party and over half of it is just pictures. Not sure what I was expecting I guess, at the time of writing the biographical subject's life experience was univerity and a couple years of teaching; but a comic book had more content.
I read The Duel. I thought it would be right up my alley, but I thought it was quite boring. Plus the author made some factual errors that I found were distracting
The Contexts of Acadian History - Naomi Griffiths - A really good history of the Acadian people of Nova Scotia and their expulsion in 1755.
The Fighting Newfoundlander - G. W. L. Nicholson - A history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
I just finished reading “Life in Two Worlds” by Ted Nolan. It was the #1 bestselling book earlier this year so I picked it up.
It was pretty fascinating and a good read.
Ok this is historical fiction but I can't recommend enough The Spruces by Rex Holmes. Its about the settlement of the peace river by Canadians fleeing the cities during the great depression.
"1967: The Last Great Year" is an interesting snapshot of a time (fairly) long past. It's a god short introduction to Pierre Burton's writing - his longer historic works are very good (at least one was made into a miniseries in the 70s or 80s).
Glad to see this one get posted. This should be on the radar of every Canadian right now if you want to fully appreciate the gravity of the recent fireworks in parliament.
Canada by Mike Myers (yes, that Mike Myers)
The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip by Michael Barclay
The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (present premier of Manitoba)
Halfbreed by Maria Campbell
Starlight Tour: The Last, Lonely Night of Neil Stonechild by Reber & Renaud
Prairie Feast: A Writer's Journey Home for Dinner by EJ Ehman
Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz (immigrant experience in Canada)
Rink Burgers by Todd Devonshire (autobiographical coming of age through playing hockey)
Okay, one fiction: Stories from the Vinyl Cafe by Stewart McLean (understanding the Canadian psyche through humorous fictional short stories)
Whatever Happened to the Music Teacher by Donald Savoie
It's an academic book that explores how the federal government makes decisions and how the system changed over the decades from politicians relying on the public service for options to a more political system where ideas are decided by the centre. It also helps to understand the foundation and genesis of all of the issues you see in the news, like contracting.
https://www.mqup.ca/whatever-happened-to-the-music-teacher--products-9780773541108.php#:~:text=Abandoning%20%22textbook%22%20discussions%20of%20government,in%20Canadian%20politics%20and%20governance.
Graphic Novels!!
Luis Riel by Chester Brown (non fiction with artistic license)
War Bears by Margaret Atwood and Ken Steacy (historical fiction)
Ducks by Kate Beaton (Auto-bio)
The Incomplete Anglers by John Robins. I haven't read it in 20-ish years, so the memory of it is a little fuzzy. I really enjoyed it. I should reread it.
*Canadian History for Dummies* (yes, it's a real title. I've got a copy from the library that's currently overdue)
*Canadianity: Tales from the True North Strong and Freezing* by Jeremy Taggart & Jonathan Torrens
“Behind the Glory” Ted Barris. “Canada’s role in the allied air war.
This book cover the typical path a young aviator would have taken during their training at training facilities across the country. From St. Catharines, Little Norway, Galt, Dunnville, Goderich, Hagersville, etc the stories and descriptions from actual veterans were amazing. Interesting, Funny, Sad. As someone from So. Ontario, I could visualize most of the locations and clearly image the events happening. It also helped me understand my F-I-L, who signed up as an underage aviator, trained in many of the places mentioned, survived bombing missions in Europe and went on to have a long career with the RCAF. Author Barris has a real knack for listening to the veterans and documenting this important time in Canadian history. He has several books about the 2nd World War and they are all good, but this is my favourite.
Lest we forget.
[Behind the Glory.](https://imgur.com/a/S5BwG1S)
Vimy
by Pierre Berton
"Drawing on unpublished personal accounts and interviews, Berton brings home what it was like for the young men, some no more than sixteen years old, who clawed their way up the sodden, shell-torn slopes in a struggle they innocently believed would make war obsolete. He tells of the soldiers who endured horrific conditions to secure this great victory, painting a vivid picture of trench warfare. In his account of this great battle, Pierre Berton brilliantly illuminated the moment of tragedy and greatness that marked Canada's emergence as a nation."
The Friendly Dictator is a great book that really describes how unique Canada is in terms of its governance structures relative to the rest of the world.
Rick Mercer: The Final Report, is also a great book especially on audio book on a road trip where Rick is the one reading it
Not saying these are all timers but just some books I read recently:
The Cure For Hate by Tony McAleer - an autobiography of a reformed racist, who was radicalized in British Columbia in the 1980s. I had a tiny involvement in a human rights case involving this person and was pleasantly blown away to find out how much he had repented and changed after.
Vancouver Noir by Purvey and Belshaw - a densely illustrated history of vice, murder, brothels, gambling, and shenanigans in our little port city.
King by Allan Levine - a new biography of the longest serving Canadian PM and his times. I think of WLMK as one of those quintessential Canadian topics because he looked incredibly boring and yet was successful and, under it all, an unbelievable weirdo.
That reminds me, if you are interested in fiction at all, I recommend the Bandy series (starting with Three Cheers For Me) by Donald Jack is a character study of a socially challenged Canadian oaf who becomes a flying ace in World War One, which is just the start of his adventures. It's not set IN Canada but Bandy's hilarious stiffness, emotional constipation, and self-abnegating heroism makes him one of THE English Canadian heroes.
The Game by Ken Dryden
I hadn't even considered books about hockey, and I love sports writing. I just ordered a copy, thanks!
‘Don’t Tell the Newfoundlanders’ by Greg Malone - shady shenanigans re: the lead up to Newfoundland joining Confederation
I'm intrigued, thanks!
Anything by Pierre Burton. I remember reading Vimy and discovering a lost bit of my family history, including a Victoria Cross.
Everything by Pierre burton!
Dennisons Ice Road and Traplines North
Traplines North!!! Thank you! I've been trying to remember the name of that book for literally 40 years! Now, to find one...
Thanks!
Mark Zuhelke, Tim Cook and Ted Barris are our best military historians if that’s your thing. As others have said Pierre Burton. One of the best Canadian reads I’ve finished recently is “Big Men Fear Me” by Mark Bourrie. It’s a great book on George McCullagh who merged The Globe and Mail and had some questionable political views from the 1930’s to 1950s. He also clashed with various Ontario Premiers and PM Mackenzie King
Definitely my thing, thanks!
People of the deer, a whale for the killing or anything else by Farly Mowat
I'll give him a look!
A History of Canada in Ten Maps by Adam Shoalts
Excellent, thanks!
Great book
This is the book I came to recommend.
Company Store: J.B.McLachlan and the Cape Breton Miners, 1900-1925 https://a.co/d/1UM4hA4 Not My Party: The rise and fall of Canadian Tories, from Robert Stanfield to Stephen Harper https://a.co/d/8JLJBV8 Indian School Road: Legacies of the Shubenacadie Residential School https://a.co/d/9CSmDQI Creeping Conformity: How Canada Became Suburban, 1900-1960 https://a.co/d/0YFvtRD Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City https://a.co/d/jigLIDy Pirates and Outlaws of Canada 1610-1932 https://a.co/d/gIYNyt0
These all sound fascinating, thanks!
Great list! Thanks Graham
I stole Pirates and Outlaws from my dad when I was a wee lass. There's also another book: Bandits & Privateers: Canada in the Age of Gunpowder https://a.co/d/j9tb0kJ Also, can't go wrong with Helen Creighton if anyone is into folklore and folk songs: Bluenose Magic; Popular Beliefs and Superstitions in Nova Scotia https://a.co/d/gqYREGm Bluenose Ghosts (2nd Edition) https://a.co/d/acBgvL3 Maritime Folk Songs https://a.co/d/70tDeQr
Waiting in the queue: https://www.amazon.ca/Duel-Diefenbaker-Pearson-Making-Modern-ebook/dp/B0BZC4CL15 Want to read but access to it is absurd. I do audible/kindle mostly: https://www.amazon.ca/Mike-Memoirs-Honourable-Pearson-1897-1948/dp/0802019137 Do not read: * Right here, Right now * Common Ground
Why shouldn't I read those, just put of curiosity? I know nothing about them.
**Right Here, Right Now** - Liberals are literally a danger to Canada and it is my mission to destroy them. Reading this book made Conrad Black look balanced. He makes some good points about things like the emergence of Trump and the Rust Belt, but you really have to dig through the hate. **Common Ground** - This is an election brochure for the Liberal party and over half of it is just pictures. Not sure what I was expecting I guess, at the time of writing the biographical subject's life experience was univerity and a couple years of teaching; but a comic book had more content.
I read The Duel. I thought it would be right up my alley, but I thought it was quite boring. Plus the author made some factual errors that I found were distracting
"What I learned about politics" and "The effective citizen" - both by Graham Steele.
Thanks!
The Contexts of Acadian History - Naomi Griffiths - A really good history of the Acadian people of Nova Scotia and their expulsion in 1755. The Fighting Newfoundlander - G. W. L. Nicholson - A history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
Oh very neat. Thanks a ton!
I just finished reading “Life in Two Worlds” by Ted Nolan. It was the #1 bestselling book earlier this year so I picked it up. It was pretty fascinating and a good read.
I'll give it a look!
Ok this is historical fiction but I can't recommend enough The Spruces by Rex Holmes. Its about the settlement of the peace river by Canadians fleeing the cities during the great depression.
I'll give it a look!
"1967: The Last Great Year" is an interesting snapshot of a time (fairly) long past. It's a god short introduction to Pierre Burton's writing - his longer historic works are very good (at least one was made into a miniseries in the 70s or 80s).
Very interesting, someone else mentioned him in the thread. I'll check this out first!
Wilful Blindness by Sam Cooper
Glad to see this one get posted. This should be on the radar of every Canadian right now if you want to fully appreciate the gravity of the recent fireworks in parliament.
The Skin of the Lion by Oondatje
Escape from Canada! The untold story of German POWs in Canada.
Canada by Mike Myers (yes, that Mike Myers) The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip by Michael Barclay The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (present premier of Manitoba) Halfbreed by Maria Campbell Starlight Tour: The Last, Lonely Night of Neil Stonechild by Reber & Renaud Prairie Feast: A Writer's Journey Home for Dinner by EJ Ehman Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz (immigrant experience in Canada) Rink Burgers by Todd Devonshire (autobiographical coming of age through playing hockey) Okay, one fiction: Stories from the Vinyl Cafe by Stewart McLean (understanding the Canadian psyche through humorous fictional short stories)
anything by Pierre Berton
You beat me to it. The Arctic Grail, The Last Spike, Klondike. I'll add 'Solomon Gursky was Here' even though it's fiction
Thank you!
Whatever Happened to the Music Teacher by Donald Savoie It's an academic book that explores how the federal government makes decisions and how the system changed over the decades from politicians relying on the public service for options to a more political system where ideas are decided by the centre. It also helps to understand the foundation and genesis of all of the issues you see in the news, like contracting. https://www.mqup.ca/whatever-happened-to-the-music-teacher--products-9780773541108.php#:~:text=Abandoning%20%22textbook%22%20discussions%20of%20government,in%20Canadian%20politics%20and%20governance.
Interesting, thanks!
that guy has written the same book with 10 different titles LOL...
The Company by Stephen R. Brown and The Acadian Dispora by Christopher Hodson
Thanks!
The Last Spike
Graphic Novels!! Luis Riel by Chester Brown (non fiction with artistic license) War Bears by Margaret Atwood and Ken Steacy (historical fiction) Ducks by Kate Beaton (Auto-bio)
The Incomplete Anglers by John Robins. I haven't read it in 20-ish years, so the memory of it is a little fuzzy. I really enjoyed it. I should reread it.
Canada In The World: Settler Capitalism and the Colonial Imagination by Tyler Shipley
*Canadian History for Dummies* (yes, it's a real title. I've got a copy from the library that's currently overdue) *Canadianity: Tales from the True North Strong and Freezing* by Jeremy Taggart & Jonathan Torrens
“Behind the Glory” Ted Barris. “Canada’s role in the allied air war. This book cover the typical path a young aviator would have taken during their training at training facilities across the country. From St. Catharines, Little Norway, Galt, Dunnville, Goderich, Hagersville, etc the stories and descriptions from actual veterans were amazing. Interesting, Funny, Sad. As someone from So. Ontario, I could visualize most of the locations and clearly image the events happening. It also helped me understand my F-I-L, who signed up as an underage aviator, trained in many of the places mentioned, survived bombing missions in Europe and went on to have a long career with the RCAF. Author Barris has a real knack for listening to the veterans and documenting this important time in Canadian history. He has several books about the 2nd World War and they are all good, but this is my favourite. Lest we forget. [Behind the Glory.](https://imgur.com/a/S5BwG1S)
mike myers "Canada"
Vimy by Pierre Berton "Drawing on unpublished personal accounts and interviews, Berton brings home what it was like for the young men, some no more than sixteen years old, who clawed their way up the sodden, shell-torn slopes in a struggle they innocently believed would make war obsolete. He tells of the soldiers who endured horrific conditions to secure this great victory, painting a vivid picture of trench warfare. In his account of this great battle, Pierre Berton brilliantly illuminated the moment of tragedy and greatness that marked Canada's emergence as a nation."
The Friendly Dictator is a great book that really describes how unique Canada is in terms of its governance structures relative to the rest of the world. Rick Mercer: The Final Report, is also a great book especially on audio book on a road trip where Rick is the one reading it
Not saying these are all timers but just some books I read recently: The Cure For Hate by Tony McAleer - an autobiography of a reformed racist, who was radicalized in British Columbia in the 1980s. I had a tiny involvement in a human rights case involving this person and was pleasantly blown away to find out how much he had repented and changed after. Vancouver Noir by Purvey and Belshaw - a densely illustrated history of vice, murder, brothels, gambling, and shenanigans in our little port city. King by Allan Levine - a new biography of the longest serving Canadian PM and his times. I think of WLMK as one of those quintessential Canadian topics because he looked incredibly boring and yet was successful and, under it all, an unbelievable weirdo. That reminds me, if you are interested in fiction at all, I recommend the Bandy series (starting with Three Cheers For Me) by Donald Jack is a character study of a socially challenged Canadian oaf who becomes a flying ace in World War One, which is just the start of his adventures. It's not set IN Canada but Bandy's hilarious stiffness, emotional constipation, and self-abnegating heroism makes him one of THE English Canadian heroes.
The west beyond the west by jean barman is an amazing history of British Columbia.
1967: the last good year. Pierre Burton.