The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States Fought Together to Defeat Fascism during the Second World War

by Tim Cook

From our country's most important war historian, a gripping account of the turbulent relationship between Canada and the US during the Second World War. The two nations entered the war amidst rivalry and mutual suspicion, but learned to fight together before emerging triumphant and bound by an alliance that has lasted to this day.When the Second World War broke out in 1939, it set in motion a deadly struggle between the Axis powers and the Allies, but also fraught negotiations between and among the allies. On questions of diplomacy, economic policy, industrial might, military capabilities, and even national sovereignty, thousands of lives and the fate of the free world depended on back-room deals and desperate trade-offs between soldiers, diplomats, and leaders.In North America, Canada and the US strained to forge a new military alliance to guard their coasts and fend off German U-boats and the menace of a Japanese invasion. Wartime economies were entwined to produce a staggering contribution of weapons to keep Britain and other allies in the war. The defense of North America against enemy threats was essential before the US and Canada could send armies, navies, and air forces overseas.In his trademark style, Tim Cook employs eyewitness accounts to vividly lay bare the brutality of combat and the courage of North Americans under fire. Behind the fighting fronts, the charged and often secret communications between national leaders, Churchill, Roosevelt, and King, reveals how their personalities shaped the outcome of history’s most destructive war, the fate of the British Empire, and the North American alliance that lives on to this day.The Good Allies is a masterful account of how Canadians and Americans made the transition from wary rivals to steadfast allies, and how Canada thrived in the shadow of the military and global superpower. In exploring this complex and crucial dimension of the Second World War and its legacy, Cook recounts two nations’ story of cooperation, sacrifice, and of bleeding together to save the world from the fascist threat.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Canada, World War II, Historical

576 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2024

About the author

Tim Cook (1971 in Kingston - October 26, 2025) was a Canadian military historian and author.
Dr. Tim Cook was the Chief Historian & Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, and a part-time history professor at Carleton University. He has also published several books about the military history of Canada during World War I.

Dr. Cook is a member of the Order of Canada.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook...

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What about Canada, eh? I've read many books about World War II. References in most of these books to the people from the Great White North usually amount to, "Oh, yeah and the Canadians were there, too." Tim Cook seeks to address these historical gaps in The Good Allies.

Cook is very successful when it comes to providing new information not covered in those other books I mentioned. The vast majority of the narrative focuses on Canadian Prime Minister King and the march towards war. To make a long story short, I learned a lot, but I did not enjoy the journey as much as I had hoped.

The book clocks in at over 500 pages. At the same time, it felt like a very high-level overview of Canada and World War II. Cook's research is excellent but there is no narrative tension and he tries to cover a lot of ground. For instance, Cook doesn't even get to D-Day until the very end of the book and it only takes up a few pages. While it is just one day in the war, the event is too hallowed to not spend more time on it. It's a symptom of Cook's attempt to jam everything into one book. The same issues happen with specific characters as well. The author tells us a lot about PM King, but often it is literally telling us things like, "Cook didn't like Churchill." I would much rather have a few quotations of King's showing us why as opposed to the other stating it. Show, don't tell.

Ultimately, if you want to learn a lot about Canada and U.S. relations before and during World War II, then this book will satisfy your need. It's a dry read but not without merit.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada.)

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*************** If any Canadians happen to read this review, all I can do is apologize for the narcissistic SOB who is our current second in command to Sturmführer Musk. The stupidity and lack of empathy is appalling. Weeks ago in the notes below I said that I could never imagine a President who would think of destroying Canada as a nation and making it the 51st state. Of course I also did not dream that we would dismantle foreign aid, the Education Department, Air Traffic control, the State Department, ad nauseum....... and call Zelensky a dictator while regarding Putin as a good guy. I am very afraid for our country. I LOVE CANADA!! I have been privileged to travel from Halifax to British Columbia and the length of the ALCAN to Fairbanks and Denali ( but of course the idiot does not want a native name so it is back to Mt. McKinley ). There are many of us who would cheerfully move to Canada, but I would understand if you do not want us... I would also like to apologize in retrospect for the neglect of Canada's importance in WWII. I knew, of course, that Canada was a major part of the invasion of France, but despite all the war history I read, little else mentions how important Canada was in enabling the industrial might of America, for protecting the convoys that supported Europe, and fighting in some battles where frankly, in at least one case, I think Commander Montgomery used your soldiers as cannon fodder ( Battle for Antwerp ). We had a population of 130,000,000; Canada had 10,000,000, yet I believe that per capita Canada may have done more to save the world than the Americans who get all the credit. PLEASE KNOW THAT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS OBJECT TO THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS OF AGENT ORANGE ( I REFUSE TO CALL HIM BY HIS NAME AND TITLE. I CONSIDER HIM LETHAL LIKE THE PESTICIDE USED IN VIETNAM AND HE WEARS ORANGE MAKE-UP ). PLEASE PRAY FOR THE UNITED STATES. Kristi Weeks ago as I began.... ***********Because this book is over 400 pages, I need to make some notes as they occur to me. As a dedicated reader of WWII history, I never run out of gaps in my knowledge. A few years ago I watched a DVD collection on the history of Canada during WWII. One of the sequences that I remember well because it was a unique story of the delivery of a fighter plane to Canada secretly. The plane landed on a frozen lake and draft horses drug it across the border since the U.S. was not allowed to deliver the planes directly. On page 48 the author documents that there was a rush sale of "some much-needed sixty-five warplanes that were flown to the border and then dragged across the 49th parallel". This reflects what was in the documentary except that it was winter and the lake was frozen. The planes from the book were delivered in September before Canada declared war. The lakes would not have been frozen, so I am curious if we continued to secretly provide planes after Canada was at war. When lend lease was enacted we did not have to deliver war materiel and food secretly..... I just finished reading "Roosevelt and Stalin: Portrait of a Partnership" by Susan Butler. The book frequently mentioned the relationship between FDR and William Lyon Mackenzie King - usually just referred to as Mackenzie King. By chance this book dovetails with that book and will help me understand that association..... Kind of a DUH moment for me when the book describes Canada's fear that the U.S. in its pledge to protect Canada from foreign invasion would use this as an excuse to annex the country. I felt ignorant that I had never considered that America might have been a threat to Canada's independence. I hope I am not going to discover some nefarious plot to seize Canada. I love Canada and have had the privilege to visit every province except Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador and Nunavut. Right now with Agent Orange re-elected as president, I would cheerfully flee to Canada if I could. More random notes as I read: At least 30,000 American men served in the RCAF and Canadian Army. Exact numbers are not known because men lied about their place of birth. Frankly I think our delay of more than 2 years after Hitler invaded Poland was the wrong choice. I understand the reasons, but... there was a strong America First movement here ( one of the main leaders was Charles Lindbergh - a shameful fact ) after WWI and the Depression, plus at the time the U.S. Army ranked 17th in the world in terms of size and combat power, with approximately 190,000 soldiers. We were not prepared for war, but were we completely ignorant of Hitler's intent??? Why did we not start arming sooner? The Civilian Conservation Corps was a great idea that put men to work on parks and construction during the Depression, but building ships, planes, et. al. and adding to an army and navy would have done the same. ( I know hindsight is always 20 - 20). Roosevelt called Canada the "Aerodrome of Democracy". The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada trained over 131,500 airmen!!! In late 1939 Canadians purchased American yachts that could be converted into coastal defence duties ( ignored by Roosevelt as this broke our neutrality laws ). King and Roosevelt met quietly... Canadian conscription began in 1940, but only for home defence. Frank Scott, a McGill University professor summed up Canada's predicament: " We are in the curious position that the more we do to assist Great Britain.... the more we are obligated to co-operate with the United States." Minister of Munitions and Supply, Clarence Decatur Howe became Canada's most successful businessman-politician - the war industry czar. Roosevelt replaced isolationists in his Cabinet with internationalists: Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Navy Secretary Frank Knox. Of the 2,962 allied pilots engaged in the Battle of Britain, 2,421 were RAF (and Fleet Air Arm), 117 were Canadian, 141 were Polish and a further 210 were from ten other countries. While many Americans volunteered to fly for Britain, only a small number, estimated to be around 6-11, are known to have participated directly in the fighting. Chapters 5 & 6 Desperation on the Financial Front & War Production for the World. George Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. army met VERY SECRETLY with the Canadians in 1940. The first offer involved sending American troops to rescue Canada if the Nazis invaded the Maritime Provinces. That, of course, went over like a lead balloon. The Permanent Joint Board on Defense was born in July - involving the military, government and industry. The PJDB still exists today. (Unless Agent Orange has done sufficient damage to our relationship with Canada ). On September 16, 1940 the Selective Training and Service Act was signed by Roosevelt. Ostensibly because we were "neutral" it was worded as an act to defend North America. Of course out country was not altruistic - a deal was struck where 43 older destroyers were sent to Britain and 7 to Canada in return for 99 year leases on military bases in 8 British colonies including Bermuda and to Canada's consternation, Newfoundland. The latter was closed in 1966 when the Cold War cooled down. ( I feel so stupid as a WWII historian that I did not know any of this information!! ) We sent out of date Enfield rifles (80,000), old aircraft, and WWI tanks (250) - largely useful for training while the Canadian war industries geared up. Love the secret deals that helped each country. The tanks were sold as "scrap metal" so did not violate neutrality of U. S. Each arrived with a message: "Good Luck Canada!!! Take 'em away!" Of course they had no "military" value so we were not violating our neutrality. Because of supplying Britain with everything they could to help, by February 1941 Britain owed Canada $795.000,000. Soon Canada would have no money to buy what they needed from the U.S. for their military production. Roosevelt announced and got the govenment to enact his plan to just "lend" war materiel, food and more to Britain and other Allies, rather than to "Sell" the products - hence Lend Lease... Eventually by the end of the war the U. S. had transferred $36.5 Billion in supplies - about 15% of the total U. S. war budget. Roosevelt did not want to include Canada in this plan and cause ostensibly a huge post war debt. Again secretly Cordell Hull and Treasury Secretary Morgenthau met with King. To correct the imbalance of trade, America agreed to purchase $300,000 in raw materials for the war industry from Canada and the latter in return agreed to purchase goods from the U. S. FDR wrote: Done by Mackenzie and F.D.R, at Hyde Park on a grand Sunday, April 20 1941. ( No trade imbalance - NO TARIFFS ) Part of the industrial deal specified that America would focus on heavy manufacturing ( airplane engines ) while Canada could more easily gear-up for munitions and small arms. Canadians manufactured some "Grizzly I" tanks, but used Shermans in most post 1942 battles. Canada ranked 4th among the Allies in war production behind the U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union. "IT WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY DEALING WITH THE US THAT PAID ITS OWN WAY." Over $5 billion in bilateral trade during the war leaving Canada in 1945 with its first trade surplus with the U.S. Chapter 7. Early in 1941 Roosevelt and his staff met with British representatives about strategy if / when America entered the war. Despite being called the ABC talks, Canada was excluded - American British Conversations. Code Black was developed which place Canadian troops under the command of the Americans if Britain surrendered. This was to protect North America. The Canadians were not crazy about this plan and set about to change it. They believed the next step would be annexation. (SMART CANADIANS). Roosevelt would not force the Canadians against their will. On May 27, 1941 Roosevelt declared an unlimited national emergency because of the fascist threat. At the Atlantic conference in Newfoundland between Churchill and Roosevelt, it was the British, not the Americans who wanted to push Canada to the side. ( I think he was threatened by the relationship between King and FDR.) Despite neutrality, the U. S. Navy took over the escort the FAST convoys to Iceland. Guess who was left to defend the SLOW convoys?? Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941... Hitler made one of his two worst blunders of WWII. 1. On December 11, 1941 Hitler declared war on the U. S. 2. He had already made the other on June 22, 1941 when the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. On the same day as the Pearl Harbor bombing, Japan attacked the U.S. territories of Guam and the Philippines, and the British territories of Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya. It also invaded the independent nation of Thailand. The Dutch East Indies were attacked a few months later. French Indochina had already been occupied. Chapter 9. When Denmark was captured by the Nazis in April, 1940 Greenland was cut off from its government. It was a strategic position for airbases for ferrying planes to Britain ( they could not fly the complete distance from North America to England ) and for planes to help protect convoys. Britain ordered the Canadians to occupy Greenland. The Americans were not happy. King and the Canadians would not follow the order. No country "took over" Greenland, but the U. S. did build military installations and an airfield in April of 1941. Iceland was also of primary concern, especially that it not be a stepping stone for Hitler toward North America. Britain invaded and captured Reykjavik on May 10, 1940. Canada sent support troops later that year. In June 1941 America sent troops to Iceland - eventually numbering 41,000. RCAF squadron 162 patrolled from the country. The Americans were gung-ho for a cross channel invasion of France in 1942. There was no way we were prepared for such an action. Newfoundland, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence was a British Dominion - not part of Canada ( I did not know that. Newfoundland's bankrutpcy in 1934 led Britain to suspend the elected government and remake it as a colony. The destroyers for bases deal allowed America to establish military bases. Chapter 11 U-Boats in North American Waters. Penetrated St. Lawrence to near Quebec City. Canada sent support for Operation Torch in North Africa. Operation Jubilee or the Dieppe Raid (19 August 1942) was a disastrous Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France, during the Second World War. Over 6,050 infantry, predominantly Canadian, supported by a regiment of tanks, were put ashore from a naval force operating under the protection of Royal Air Force. Can we spell SNAFU?? Can we spell Mountbatten?? Of the nearly 5,000-strong Canadian contingent, 3,367 were killed, wounded or taken prisoner, an exceptional casualty rate of 68 per cent. Can we spell SACRIFICE?? I have been thoroughly enjoying this book until I read about the construction of the ALCAN highway. It extends from Dawson Creek, B.C. to Fairbanks, Alaska. Construction began on March 11, 1942 and was completed in October 1942. ( I drove the entire highway in 1980. ) Funded entirely by the U. S., the author states on page 310: ".... U.S, Army supply trucks were driving supplies northward, most of the going to forces stationed in Alaska to protect against the Japanese attack that NEVER CAME." From The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians by Brian Garfield: "The Aleutian Islands campaign was a military campaign fought between 3 June 1942 and 15 August 1943 on and around the Aleutian Islands in the American Theater of World War II during the Pacific War. It was the only military campaign of World War II fought on North American soil. Following two aircraft carrier-based attacks on the American naval base at Dutch Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy occupied the islands of Attu and Kiska, where the remoteness of the islands and the challenges of weather and terrain delayed a larger American-Canadian force sent to eject them for nearly a year." Since Canadian soldiers fought in the Alaskan war, I am very puzzled about "THE ATTACK THAT NEVER CAME" Formed in 1942, the 1st Special Service Force (FSSF) was an elite joint American–Canadian commando unit in World War II. The Force served in the Aleutian Islands, fought in Italy and southern France, and was disbanded in December 1944. RCAF - 17,397 of the 250,000 who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force died primarily in bombing runs over Europe. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, approximately 14,000 Canadian troops from 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade landed on Juno Beach. The Canadians secured a critical bridgehead for the allied invasion of Europe. The beach was defended by two battalions of the German 716th Infantry Division, with elements of the 21st Panzer Division. By the time all operations on the Anglo-Canadian front were ordered to halt at 21:00, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada had reached its D-Day objective and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had succeeded in pushing farther inland than any other landing force on D-Day!!! We hear much about the sacrifices of Americans on Omaha and Utah, but not enough about Juno and the Canadians. ( I have had the privilege to stand on Omaha - peaceful sand - sacred ground. ) One more little noted disaster for Canadian forces. Operation Market Garden. Montgomery Can we spell GLORY HOUND. Historians have been critical of the planning and execution - "was a bad plan right from the start and right from the top" Eisenhower was skeptical from the beginning. Can we spell SNAFU. Montgomery ignored Eisenhower's orders to capture Antwerp. Montgomery ordered the Canadians to capture the Channel cities of Le Havre, Calais, Boulogne and Dieppe - none of which would supply the logistical support of the major port of Antwerp. The British captured Antwerp on September 4th, but the Canadians were ordered to destroy the garrisons that bombarded the city. The Germans opened the sea dykes and flooded the land the Canadian forces needed to cross. The Canadians "sustained 12,873 casualties in an operation which could have been achieved at little cost if tackled immediately after the capture of Antwerp. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Canadians turned to the Pacific Theatre. One of the fact that I liked best about their strategy was that they did not wish to participate in actions that would help to return colonies to Britain. *************** The role of the Canadians in WWII has been grossly ignored by historians. I have read numerous books about the European Theatre, with perhaps the exception of D-Day, and learned almost nothing about Canada's role. Per Capita the Canadians suffered heavier casualties than the United States. I would never deny the fact that America "saved the world" when we finally declared war. My father and uncles fought and died for freedom. Canada more than any other country helped us become the industrial powerhouse that supplied the Allies. CANADA DESERVES FAR MORE CREDIT FOR THE VICTORY OVER THE AXIS POWERS THAN IT HAS BEEN GIVEN!! This book is a very readable, well-researched insight into a neglected aspect of WWII. I CANNOT RECOMMEND IT MORE HIGHLY!! Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady ****Long live Canada as a great country and not as the 51st state!!!

[Emerson Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cook was a historian fighting a rearguard action for the retreat of patriotic Canadian national history, and this work attempts to explain Canada’s WW2 experiences as another step in its nation-building experience through its growth in the interconnected fight against Fascism. Though it gives heavy emphasis to Canada’s relations with the United States growing out of a need to protect North America and the old country Kingdom of Britain, it also goes out of its way to detail Canada’s overall war effort.

The book very much feels like a product of the current times. With how much uncertainty there is right now, Cook wishes to inform readers of a time when Canada was able to rise up to meet the challenges thrust upon it by international affairs and work alongside its North American ally, the United States. Of course however, things are different now. A post-national country is no contender for the making of a strong nation, and the people are not as boisterous and stubbornly resilient as they used to be. Additionally, the cohesive unity between the two big North American states rested on Canada’s ability to rise to the task and meet ally obligations along with the harmonious relationship between the leaders of both countries. Americans are only friendly with Canada so long as they remain one of the “Good Allies”, and good allies we are not.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was married to a Canadian [who loves history almost as much as I do], I quickly learned how woefully uneducated I was on 1. what the Baltic states went through [his family was from Estonia and ha to flee in the middle of the night from the incoming Russians] and suffered, and 2. just how involved Canada was involved in the war [part deux] and how closely they worked with the US [even more so than with Britain] and he took great pleasure making sure I had a "proper" education [all of the war books I have read this year, especially the ones about the subs and ship are all his fault; don't have to be married to him anymore to still blame him right? ;-) ] about all the amazing things Canada accomplished during BOTH wars [he wasn't wrong there].

This excellent book just added to what I had already learned [and fleshed so much of that out into a more cohesive story] and amplified my already deep respect for my former home and its amazing citizens.

Written in a straightforward, captivating way, and deeply [and lovingly] researched, this is a MUST READ for any true history buff - the stuff I learned is STILL blowing me away, days later.

Absolutely fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tim Cook, and Penguin Random House Canada/Allen Lane for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Felicia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

clock that tea !!!

[James Junke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read from start to finish. Deeply researched, very well written, insightful, informative. Most remarkable is that the author wrote much of the book while battling cancer.

[(Michelle’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book and it’s an automatic 5 star ⭐️ book. Not just because I love history, but because of the monumental and crucial parallels between the WW2 world and of ours today.

This book mainly focuses on the relationship of Canadas & the US as Allies to defeat fascism. Canada’s first mission was to support UK as bombardments wreaked havoc there. But to do that, Canada needed the US, who was not yet in the war. Still, Canada and US became allies and friends throughout the war and this book is the proof.

Despite this, I learned how 80 years later, we still worry about the same exact issues regarding that relationship: annexed by the US, too much dependency with them, and finding our national sovereign identity. Politicians and policymakers should read this book for the deeper implications that our relationship with the US holds and why this new era of the US will not end well.

The research in this book is very thorough and precise and well written/explained. Such a catch!

[Scott Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook) Given the recent tensions between the two nations, it is worth reviewing historic interactions between the two nations, to include times when the US and Canada were allies. Such is the case for World War II and the focus of this work. Cook has written many a work discussing Canadian/US history. WWII was a unique time in the history between the two countries. They did manage to find common cause to beat back the Axis, but relations between the two were far from smooth. Oddly enough, both nations had concerns about the actions of the other, to include potential conquest of Greenland. And yes, the US did have plans for potential military action against Canada, even knowing the previous history between the two nations (and how it didn't turn out so well for the US). Overall, this a very detailed, but engaging history about Canada's relations with the US during World War II, and how, even as a junior partner, Canada did manage to make their mark in the war and hold their political status, without total subjugation to another power. Worth the library checkout.

[Norman Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all (I think - he's prolific) of Cook's books and enjoyed them all. This one deals much more with the political side of the history of the Second World War. In my opinion, it is a bit less interesting than his others because of the subject matter.

It is also somewhat repetitious, though the constant struggle on the part of Mackenzie King and his government to support the UK through strengthening connections to the US must have seemed very repetitious to them while it was going on.

The sub-title is, like most sub-titles these days, more advertising slogan than description. The US was prepared to go its own way on most things and Canada was willing to go along. There were few times that the two countries collectively decided to fight together. There were some cases where that was true, but generally when Roosevelt was feeling generous.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Allies is another outstanding Canadian history book from Tim Cook. Sadly, Cook recently passed away from cancer. What a loss for our country. For me, he was the best military historian we have ever produced. His books on WWI and WWII are the definitive histories of Canada's involvement in those two conflicts. They are must reads as Cook covers not only military history, but also the social, political, and economic impact of the wars as well. In the Good Allies, Cook looks at WWII from the perspective of the alliance between Canada and the US and does so well very well. The war marked the final shift of Canada from the British to the American orbit and this book examines that process in a very enlightening way. The Good Allies is well worth reading.

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Good Allies, Tim Cook offers a compelling and readable look at the crucial partnership between Canada and the United States during the Second World War. Rather than focusing solely on battlefield tactics, Cook explores the intense diplomatic, economic, and personal relationships that turned two neighbors into an "arsenal of democracy." He writes with his signature narrative flair, making complex political negotiations feel like a gripping story while highlighting how this era fundamentally reshaped Canada’s identity on the world stage. It is an essential read for anyone wanting to understand how the bond between these two nations was forged in the heat of global conflict.

[Phillip Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look at how the USA and the Canadians fought together in WW2 and how the Canadian government danced on a fine wire to not be a colony of Britain or a new US state. The USA and Canada both had invasion and war plans against each other through 1927! So the mutual cooperation and friendship during WW2 was quite impressive. A lot of credit should go to King and FDR.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr.Cook’s writing is as quintessentially Canadian as John Keegan’s is British. Where Keegan’s books read like you’re listening to your favourite prof, Cook’s writing is like listening to a relative tell war stories at a family picnic. And not the crazy relative, but the one you’ve always looked up to. Genuine. Un-biased. Canadian. Thank you Mr.Cook.

[Caroline Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed reading this - I found it enlightening and "easy to read", although I took my time with it. This is the first I read of his - and his last before passing away this year - but I plan to read more of his books. He was an amazing Canadian war historian.

And this particular story is still quite pertinent in our current situation with the neighbours to the south.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book.

It was written about events that took place over 80 years ago.

And today in 2025,

it’s still a great lesson in why

it’s a really foolhardy idea

for anyone to pick a fight

(economic or otherwise)

with their Northern Neighbor.

;)

[ShirleyLeishmanlives · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be advantageous for this work to be read by those currently occupying the White House and Capitol Hill. A few Canadians would also benefit from the reminders and illuminations. A fantastic read!

[Enid Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what you expect from Tim Cook.

[Zen Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fastest I read a book. Some of it’s boring or repetitive. Overall I learned a lot.

[Mike Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will not spend too much time for this one. It is a very good non fiction historical account. If that is the kind of book you like, you will enjoy this.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting content but written really boring.

[Andreas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Superficial and overly dramatic.

[Caleb Emmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

What lovely allies! I sure do hope that this alliance continues to grow and some orange fascist pedophile doesn’t ruin it!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This is an excellent book on WWII.

Happy Reading, everybody!

[Brian Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I learned a great deal about how Canada interacted with its allies during WW2. Primarily from a government perspective than the Battlefield

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 26/25:
The Canadian War Museum announces the death of Tim Cook: https://www.warmuseum.ca/news-release...

This is the first book by Tim Cook I have read and it will not be my last. Cook is the Chief Historian and Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum. Although this is an outline of Canada's participation in the Second World War, it is much more than a recounting of the battles fought and the price paid in lives, casualties and treasure. It deals with how Canada became an independent country in North America, its break from the dominance of Britain and how it forged an alliance with the USA to defend North America.

Before reading this book, I really did not have a good appreciation of the role Canada played in World War ll and its struggle for a place between Britain and The USA. It also gave me a new appreciation for the role of Prime Minister MacKenzie King in raising Canada's position on the World stage from that of a colonial dependent to a self-reliant and steadfast ally in the shadow of the military and global superpower that is the USA. King is commonly remembered as a somewhat comical character for his habit of participating in séances where spoke to his deceased mother, other family members and his pets. But he was Canada's longest serving PM (over 21 years) and guided Canada through the tumultuous war years, and deserves a good deal of the credit for forging the country we have become today.

I found the book to be an easy read as Cook write what might be described as a conversational style. It does not get bogged down in details as many histories do and his in depth knowledge is apparent throughout the book.

I recommend this book without reservation.

[Roger Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent description of Canada's role in WW2 with only brief descriptions of the fighting.