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The Prime Ministers: Canada's Leaders and the Nation They Shaped
After a surprising conversation with young Canadians who didn't recognize the name Lester B. Pearson - Nobel Peace Prize winner and Canada's fourteenth prime minister, author J.D.M. Stewart set out to bring the country's history to a new generation. The result is Canada's Prime Ministers, a lively, accessible chronicle of Canada's leaders, from Sir John A. Macdonald in 1867 to Mark Carney in 2025.
With engaging prose and fresh insights, Stewart captures the defining moments of each prime minister's time in office, revealing how they managed relationships with Indigenous peoples, the environment, American presidents, and international powers. He also explores how their reputations have evolved - who has been forgotten, who remains controversial, and who has become a lasting part of Canada's cultural fabric. Canada's Prime Ministers is a necessary and important book, intended both for newcomers to Canadian history and those who have loved it for a long time.
With engaging prose and fresh insights, Stewart captures the defining moments of each prime minister's time in office, revealing how they managed relationships with Indigenous peoples, the environment, American presidents, and international powers. He also explores how their reputations have evolved - who has been forgotten, who remains controversial, and who has become a lasting part of Canada's cultural fabric. Canada's Prime Ministers is a necessary and important book, intended both for newcomers to Canadian history and those who have loved it for a long time.
300 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2025
15 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 23, 2025
A definite 'go to' for a an excellent synopsis of Canada's Prime Ministers-- their policies, strengths and areas where they fell short (First Nations, and the environment are explored across the board.) An important book to get an appreciation of the challenges of leadership, given the multiplicity of variables at play. Does your tenure include global conflicts including war? Economic meltdown? Or a time of relative calm? Stewart presents different perspectives for us to consider, in very approachable prose. Lots of great quotations in this as well. An excellent reference book to keep on your shelf!
November 11, 2025
I'm bewildered by the fact that there are no other reviews of this book yet. Even though it's quite new, there always seem to be advance copies etc. But okay, I'll be the first to step in.
This would be a very good overview to use for Canadian high school history, including homeschool classes. Occasional profanity etc. probably makes it most appropriate for older teens. The author is a longtime high school teacher, and that shows up in a clear and occasionally humorous writing style, but also in certain assumptions and values. A prime minister who paid minimal attention to climate change, for example, gets an implied "could do better" grade.
As someone who did not pay nearly enough attention to political events for several decades, I can only trust that Stewart has done his homework well (he often refers to earlier works), and that the descriptions are fair, even of controversial figures of the past. Having watched the news much more closely over the past decade, I read the last chapters with a slightly different "I remember that very well" scrutiny, and while I don't necessarily agree with all the author's conclusions, I believe he has covered recent events in a reasonably neutral way. Since the purpose of the book is to review the contributions of each prime minister, rather than to stir up controversy, this erring on the side of caution seems judicious.
I recommend this book, as I said, for students or adults wanting a short and readable overview of this topic.
This would be a very good overview to use for Canadian high school history, including homeschool classes. Occasional profanity etc. probably makes it most appropriate for older teens. The author is a longtime high school teacher, and that shows up in a clear and occasionally humorous writing style, but also in certain assumptions and values. A prime minister who paid minimal attention to climate change, for example, gets an implied "could do better" grade.
As someone who did not pay nearly enough attention to political events for several decades, I can only trust that Stewart has done his homework well (he often refers to earlier works), and that the descriptions are fair, even of controversial figures of the past. Having watched the news much more closely over the past decade, I read the last chapters with a slightly different "I remember that very well" scrutiny, and while I don't necessarily agree with all the author's conclusions, I believe he has covered recent events in a reasonably neutral way. Since the purpose of the book is to review the contributions of each prime minister, rather than to stir up controversy, this erring on the side of caution seems judicious.
I recommend this book, as I said, for students or adults wanting a short and readable overview of this topic.
December 30, 2025
A Great Read! It reads easily and packs a tons of information. As a Quebecer leaving in Ontario, I particularly appreciated how the author adressed the evolution of the relationships between French and English Canadians and the Federal Government. I also liked how the same themes (relation with the USA, indigenous rights and conditions, people rights, army, etc.) were covered for each PM but with a perspective on how time and era may have impacted the facts i.e. the work is evolving and revisitibg the past myst be done with the right context lense.
November 16, 2025
A very detailed and easy to read collection of Canadian political history of our current and former Prime Ministers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews