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MIKE THE MEMOIRS OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LESTER B. PEARSON, VOLUME 1
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 7, 2017
Pearson, one of Canada's most celebrated and remembered Prime Ministers illuminates his exceptional life and career in these memoirs. Although he's a larger than life Canadian, his writings speak to us in a very forthright, honest and optimistic way.
I enjoyed learning about Pearson's passion for athletics, history and eventually diplomacy. He was on the leading edge of Canada's "venture of independence" when it came to foreign affairs. As Canada broke away from the shadow of Britain when it came to international diplomacy, Pearson was at the forefront. I was amazed to read how quickly Pearson climbed through the ranks of Canada's fledgling External Affairs Department to eventually become Canada's Ambassador to the United States in 1945.
Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing The United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis.
This was a very engaging read about an exceptional statesman.
I enjoyed learning about Pearson's passion for athletics, history and eventually diplomacy. He was on the leading edge of Canada's "venture of independence" when it came to foreign affairs. As Canada broke away from the shadow of Britain when it came to international diplomacy, Pearson was at the forefront. I was amazed to read how quickly Pearson climbed through the ranks of Canada's fledgling External Affairs Department to eventually become Canada's Ambassador to the United States in 1945.
Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing The United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis.
This was a very engaging read about an exceptional statesman.
February 28, 2020
This volume covers the period from Mike's birth to 1948, and is consequently a bureaucratic biography. Throughout the whole, you sense how well LBP understood the twins of silliness and seriousness in the federal civil service -- he remains concerned with chain-of-command rankings, is careful to spell out full titles and honoraria throughout, and quotes from his memos extensively, but there's always a punchline or a charming anecdote to deflate the resulting pomp. Given his accomplishments even before being a Minister (which comes only at the very end of this volume), there is something a little maddening about Mike's humility throughout -- plus a few eye-raising moments where I think he's being fully disingenuous about the role his connections to the Toronto elite played in his early career -- but on the whole you're left admiring a very able, smart, and witty man.
April 14, 2014
A wonderful introduction to the life of a Canadian PM who has been all but forgotten by Americans, I mean U.S. citizens!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews