Reflections of a Siamese twin: Canada at the end of the twentieth century

by John Ralston Saul

In Reflections of a Siamese Twin, Saul turns his eye from a reinterpretation of the Western world to an examination of Canada itself. Caught up in crises-political, economic, and social-Canada continues to flounder, unable to solve or even really identify its problems. Instead, we assert absolute differences between we are English or we are French; Natives or Europeans; early immigrants or newly arrived, from the east or from the west. Or we bow to ideologies and deny all differences in the name of nationalism, unity, or equality. In a startling exercise in reorientation, John Ralston Saul makes sense of Canadian myths-real, false, denied-and reconciles them with the reality of today's politics, culture, and economics.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Canada, Philosophy, Academic

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

John Ralston Saul is a Canadian writer, essayist, and public intellectual best known for his provocative works on themes such as individualism, citizenship, democracy, globalization, and the role of the public intellectual. His books, widely translated and read around the world, challenge conventional economic and political thinking and advocate for civic responsibility and ethical governance. A celebrated critic of technocratic and corporatist ideologies, Saul is often recognized for his passionate defense of the public good and his deep belief in the transformative power of engaged citizenship.

Born in Ottawa, Saul was educated in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD from King’s College London, where he focused on the modernization of France during the Algerian War. Early in his career, he worked in both the corporate world and in diplomacy, notably serving as an assistant to André Malraux, the famed French novelist and minister. These experiences informed his understanding of the interplay between power, culture, and politics, which would later become central to his writing.
Saul first gained international attention with his 1988 philosophical novel Voltaire’s Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West, a critique of how rationality, while necessary, had been distorted into a cold, managerial ideology disconnected from ethics, culture, and human values. The book, and subsequent works like The Unconscious Civilization and The Doubter’s Companion, positioned him as a leading voice in what he called “responsible humanism”—a worldview that values reason but insists it be balanced by intuition, memory, and imagination.
His 2008 book A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada argued that Canada’s political culture is deeply shaped by Indigenous values, particularly egalitarianism, negotiation, and mutual respect. The book challenged traditional Eurocentric narratives and emphasized the need for a new national conversation built on inclusion and reconciliation. This work reflects Saul’s long-standing commitment to Indigenous issues in Canada, which has also shaped his public advocacy.
Saul served as president of PEN International, the global writers’ organization, from 2009 to 2015, where he championed freedom of expression and supported writers under threat around the world. He is also the longtime companion and husband of Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada, and served as her close advisor during her tenure from 1999 to 2005.
His many awards include the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the Pablo Neruda Medal, and the Canada Council Molson Prize. Saul is also a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.
Through his essays, novels, lectures, and international work, John Ralston Saul has established himself as one of Canada’s foremost thinkers—a defender of thoughtful dissent and a persistent voice for a more just, inclusive, and imaginative society. His work continues to influence debates on democracy, culture, and civic engagement both in Canada and abroad.

Reviews

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more about Canadian political history from this one book than I did from all of my ‘education’ in Canadian public schools and Canadian university put together.

Highly recommended for all Canadians.

It’s probably about time for me to re-read it, too.

[Taya Cornett · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 copies of this text @100%

[Marilena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about Canada. Victimology...psychology with philosophy, sociology, HISTORY and POLITICS.
There is much to learn from this book but it requires extreme patience and seriosity. There is an invasion of names one has to learn...if not Canadian...Therefore I intend to reread it in summer.
I must confess I enjoyed especially the chapter on art (which sadly does not include any image...), but I learned so much more than I knew... and also the immigrant voices and the belonging to multiple communities.
There was a chapter on nationalism too.
Good to read.
Yet this is written for a Canadian.
I will study more and then reread it.
I would have expected to see more about multiculturalism....
As I said...it's a GOOD book and yet I wouldn't have included it in the category...bestseller...
Those who are Canadian, don't shoot me!
Tastes are tastes....

[Me · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want a book filled with holes, this is it.

[H Wesselius · Rating 5 out of 5]

best history of Canada out there