Metamorphosis: States in a Life

by David Suzuki

Book by Suzuki, David

Genres: Science, Canada, Autobiography, Biography

302 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

David Suzuki is a Canadian science broadcaster and environmental activist. A long time activist to reverse global climate change, Suzuki co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990, to work "to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us." The Foundation's priorities are: oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, sustainability, and David Suzuki's Nature Challenge. He also served as a director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association from 1982-1987.

Reviews

[Daniel Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Instead of simply telling his life story chronologically, Suzuki chose to break up his story into smaller, thematic chunks that inevitably force him to share and re-share the same information and jump around in time. On more than one occasion he would introduce something and then talk about it all over again several chapters later. He would also introduce information completely out of sequence that constantly made me feel like I had missed something important. One chapter he’s talking about his second marriage, the next chapter he’s talking about life with his first family again. One chapter he talks about not wanting to leave his broadcasting job at the CBC and yet he had never even talked about getting the job yet. David Suzuki is the greatest Canadian. Love the man but didn’t love the book.

[Stephen]

A good book is best passed on to a friend. Better shared than sitting on a shelf. I hope you will do the same once it has been read.

[Jane Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read.

[Elise Trimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book I would have said 'Being Canadian' was the least interesting thing about David Suzuki. Yet he repeats and repeats this fact. I grew up in the 1980s when 'The Nature of Things' was a life raft in a toxic material culture. I admired his commitment to scientific knowledge, the Earth (I once sold him a local organic apple that he put in his back pack without packaging in 1992. Seriously, his principles don't change with observation.) I admire his subtle humour and frankness. I had no idea the deep and lasting impact being of Japanese descent had on his life. To me you can't be more Canadian than David Suzuki. He was even on the show 'Air Farce'. Glad I read this memoir to understand the cultural context that impacted his life.

[Anne Cupido · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first part of the book when David Suzuki writes about himself and his family’s experiences growing up in Canada as Japanese Canadians at the time of the Second World War. Interesting read.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good autobiography.