The Border: Canada, the US and Dispatches From the 49th Parallel

by James Laxer

new book

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, Politics

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

James Laxer was a Canadian political economist and professor at York University.

Reviews

[Primrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part history, part travelogue, and part political essay, this book is an account of the author's travels to some of the towns and cities along the US/Canada border. I found it entertaining and informative, and even better, it made me think, something I always love in a book. The author gives the reader a look inside post-9/11 North America, as well as some of the historical events that have changed life for small towns, big cities, and entire nations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how these two countries work together, the ways they don't work together, as well as the damage being done to both countries as a result of increased harmonization of national policies and associations (i.e. NAFTA, drug testing, customs).

[Lea Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't finish this one. I don't have time to waste on books that I'm not enjoying. The book is overly anecdotal and repetitive. It is interesting in the sense that it is written from a Canadian perspective (and a Canadian who doesn't pull any punches in criticizing America), but the writing meandered and didn't seem to have a purpose.