Don't Be Canada: How One Country Did Everything Wrong All At Once

by Tristin Hopper

A shocking, darkly hilarious exploration of how Canada, a country once admired for its stability and moderation, became a global cautionary tale.



Drawing from real headlines, deep research, and extensive interviews, acclaimed journalist Tristin Hopper uncovers the bizarre missteps and policy experiments that have helped Canada set new global standards for disfunction. The examples are the real estate bubble that never bursts, Orwellian internet regulations, harm reduction policies that escalate harm, official health guidelines that recommended the use of glory holes in a pandemic, and a runaway euthanasia system that inspired the Wall Street Journal to declare, “Welcome to Canada, the Doctor Will Kill You Now.”



As sobering as it is comic, Don’t Be Canada examines the cascading consequences of extreme policies and tells the tragic story of a country that took its wealth, tolerance, and functionality for granted.

Genres: Canada, Politics, Nonfiction, Economics

164 pages, Paperback

Published April 8, 2025

Reviews

[Tyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars because I think this should be mandatory reading for every Canadian. Don’t Be Canada reads like a political horror story, but is sadly grounded in reality. In about 100 pages, Hopper uses his typically witty and succinct style to describe how Canada’s decade of darkness brought it from a world leader to a puzzling outlier among developed countries.

In typical Canadian fashion, the polls indicate Canada is poised to re-elect the same party responsible for its decline to another, larger mandate. It would be comical, if it wasn’t so horrifying.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish the author was wrong about a lot of his points, but a bit of searching confirms how terrible the decisions made by those in power have been over the last decade. The book itself is quite well written and has a lovely sense of humour. I just wish it was a work of fiction.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandatory reading for every Canadian.

[Jeff Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required reading for everyone wondering "what happened?".

[Tamara]

More of a pamphlet...more persuasive on some topics than others, not much in the way of why.

[Peaarly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[Kalvy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took me less than 3 hours to finish. I did not research the book review or author before buying it. May be I should have had. It is just political propaganda. As a policy expert, and a neutral one, I would say that only 2 chapters (3 & 4) make some sense; nothing else does! I have 3 degrees in both Economics and Policy, I don't care about liberal vs conservative because as policy person I am trained to see the max benefit of citizens, not parties and until recently i did not work with Canadian policy, I was working internationally. and during the whole read I felt, this book is just full of propaganda, smearing gender diversity, advocating gun rights. It gave the feeling this journalist, just like National post, is trying to pave the way for another Trump in Canada. I am so mad I bought the book without researching the author or the review. I am so mad that my english even is not making sense I am sure. It is exactly how the National Post writes their reports: divisive, in favor of genocide and of creating partisan by spreading false narrative.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharp incisive writing style, loaded with current facts and incidents (which will become rapidly dated) it paints a vivid picture of what is wrong with Canada. Unfortunately, Hopper offers no solutions.

[David Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Canadian should read this book.

"All this change has happened so fast that Canadians have had difficulty admitting their institutions are warped or acknowledging that their vision of themselves is radically at odds with how they’re viewed in the rest of the world. “It’s bizarre,” said Scott Kim, the American bioethics investigator quoted in Chapter One.

Tristin Hopper. Don't Be Canada. Kindle Edition. "

Sometimes the truth hurts, but that doesn't mean it is not true.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow Hopper makes this an enjoyable read, or at least very engaging. But like another reviewer points out, it would be nice if it were fiction. Sadly it is not: it’s a well-researched overview of poorly planned and even disastrous policy in a country that has taken far too much for granted. I hope we can undo some of the damage, though many have suffered terribly in the meantime.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too short. A bit more counter argument would make it feel more robust. But an important read that we won’t, because we just have to outrun the bear and keep proclaiming the greatness we never weren’t.

[Richard Schwindt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you follow Tristin Hopper on X, or the National Post, you know him to be incisive, moral, a little eccentric and often very funny. He has been a strong and penetrating voice for years, decrying the deterioration of Canada; often under weak or absent leadership. In Don’t be Canada, he takes his country to task for its current failings; spoken with both love, and rage for what has happened. Whether he is talking about Euthanasia, “safe supply” drugs or the criminal justice system, his points fall directly on the target. This book should leave you a little angry, and is highly recommended.

[Rob Tarling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't prepared to like this book as much as I did. As another reviewer said, this should be recommended reading for Canadians as of 2025.

It's a shame it doesn't cover economics more, but that's just a minor gripe.

[Tim Schoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent synopsis of how Canada has quietly gone to hell in a handbasket.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing to see here. Everything’s fine. Orange man bad.

[Elspeth Leahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, concise and entertaining.

[Kyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for every voter in Canada. Tristin has clearly outlined the decline of Canada over the past decade with the sources to back it up.

[Sheila Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As others have said, a must read by all Canadians.

[Dana Corrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canada has become yet another failed socialist shit hole within the last ten years. this book lays that all out.