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Justin Trudeau: The Natural Heir
A National Bestseller • The Hill Times: Best Books of 2016
This unauthorized biography provides a rare look at the real Justin Trudeau, retracing his steps from his early days to the height of power.
Having grown up in the shadow of his famous father, a political giant who dominated Canadian politics for almost sixteen years, Justin Trudeau took many detours before discovering that he was a natural politician, with qualities, such as a charismatic ease with the public, that his father never possessed.
Yet to most Canadians, Trudeau remains a blank slate. Inexperienced and underestimated, he was able, in his early forties, to catapult the Liberal Party of Canada from third to first place in one giant sweep. It was a historic feat that left a nation amazed and wondering what to expect next.
In this unauthorized biography, journalist Huguette Young, who has conducted numerous interviews with Trudeau’s entourage, gives a look inside his inner circle and shows the path his leadership might take. Meant for supporters and skeptics alike, Young’s is a revealing account of one of Canada’s most compelling and enigmatic figures.
This unauthorized biography provides a rare look at the real Justin Trudeau, retracing his steps from his early days to the height of power.
Having grown up in the shadow of his famous father, a political giant who dominated Canadian politics for almost sixteen years, Justin Trudeau took many detours before discovering that he was a natural politician, with qualities, such as a charismatic ease with the public, that his father never possessed.
Yet to most Canadians, Trudeau remains a blank slate. Inexperienced and underestimated, he was able, in his early forties, to catapult the Liberal Party of Canada from third to first place in one giant sweep. It was a historic feat that left a nation amazed and wondering what to expect next.
In this unauthorized biography, journalist Huguette Young, who has conducted numerous interviews with Trudeau’s entourage, gives a look inside his inner circle and shows the path his leadership might take. Meant for supporters and skeptics alike, Young’s is a revealing account of one of Canada’s most compelling and enigmatic figures.
232 pages, ebook
Published July 23, 2016
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February 5, 2017
Justin Trudeau: The Natural Heir, by Huguette Young, is a biographical account of Canada's current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on his rise to becoming the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada. Trudeau sports a famous last name. He is the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, a figure that is loved in some parts of Canada, but maligned in both Alberta and Quebec for his energy policies and his push to include Quebec in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Pierre Elliot Trudeau was also a celebrity figure in Canada, he had a magnetic charisma that people loved. He rubbed elbows with the rich and famous. He had a glamorous style. And he was coldly logical, incredibly intelligent, and politically brutal. These traits made him a winner for many Canadians.
Justin Trudeau (from now on in the review, just Trudeau), was born into this world, and was constantly with his father as a boy in Canada's Parliament. He was a public figure, and featured in news stories and tabloids. Trudeau's father and mother, Margaret Trudeau, were a power couple, and the rocky relationship they had, and their eventual split was tabloid gold for Canada. The couples three sons, Michel, Sacha and Justin, lived with their father through this time until he stepped aside from politics, at which time Margaret and Pierre Elliot were divorced. Margaret led a life after the split that was deeply embarrassing for Pierre, as she spent time partying in the US with celebrities, and had a famous relationship with members of the Rolling Stones. Even so, Justin Trudeau seems to have come off alright, and with a deep respect for both mother and father.
As a young man, Trudeau was in the limelight more than his more reserved brother Sacha, and his more rebellious brother Michel. Trudeau was more interested in politics, and more charismatic. He attended school in Montreal, and eventually majored in English Literature. He spent time traveling, and basically lived a normal, if charmed, lifestyle. He had a double tragedy as a young man, when hist father died of cancer, and his brother Michel was killed in an avalanche while snowboarding. His tearful and heart wrenching Eulogy to his father is sometimes seen as his reentry into the public consciousness in Canada, as it was well televised, and well received throughout the nation.
Trudeau originally shied away from politics, instead opting as a teacher and public speaker. He inherited a large sum of money from his father, and took in large royalties during his public speaking tours. He introduced the Dalai Lama in Toronto, and chaired the Canada Reads event for CBC, for example. However, he began to drift into the world of politics, and into the Liberal Party of his father, after a time. His charisma and his family name all lent credence to this, and he married a celebrity from Quebec, Sophie Gregoire, which scored him points with the public. He eventually moved into politics as the Liberal candidate for Papineau in Quebec. Trudeau inexperience in politics, but his charm and charisma were infectious, and his celebrity status in Canada helped him win the riding in the October 2007 by-election.
Inside the Liberal Party, Trudeau was a quite observer for a time. He had been an influential voice of support for party leaders in the past. However, the Liberal Party was not in good standing during this period. The Progressive Conservative Party in Canada easily defeated the Liberal Party under Stéphane Dion, who soon resigned. Dion did not mesh well with Canadian voters, and Conservative attack ads exploited this to maximum effectiveness. The Liberal Party was taken over afterwards by Michael Ignatieff, who was a smart and talented leader. However, Ignatieff had lived much of his life in the United States, and this did not sit well with voters either. During the 2011 election, Stephen Harper's Conservative's once again ratcheted up the attack ads, and effectively destroyed the Liberal's, relegating them to third party status in one of the worst defeats in their history. Ignatieff resigned in disgrace, and the Liberal's began to soul search, and announced they would take their time in appointing a new leader.
In the meanwhile, the Conservative's had won a majority government in Parliament, and the New Democratic Party (NDP) had taken opposition status. This was largely due to the charismatic appeal of Jack Layton, a politician of great appeal who had ushered in an "orange wave" to surge NDP support across Canada during the 2011 election. Layton, sadly, had died soon afterwards of cancer, and Thomas Mulcair, a firebrand politician, had took the reigns of the NDP. Although an amazing orator and a ruthless politician, Mulcair's image was not as appealing to Canadian voters, but he maintained the NDP's opposition status in Parliament, and seemed set to raise them from a third place contender to a possible winner in the next election.
Meanwhile, the Liberal's were struggling to find a new leader, or indeed any funding, in their place as third wheel. The Party that was once Canada's most successful had been roundly humiliated, and was suffering from factional disputes between the old Chrétien and Martin factions. The Liberal Party needed a new face to lead it. Trudeau was at first reluctant to run, and did not announce his intentions for a long while. He had been elected MP for Papineau during two election cycles, but he had never had a Ministerial portfolio, usually a first step for potential leaders. During this period (2012), Trudeau agreed to a charity boxing match with Conservative MP and black belt Patrick Brazeau. This was seen as a golden opportunity to tarnish the reputation of Trudeau's rising star, and was eagerly awaited by the public as well. Trudeau was underestimated, as Brazeau was an experienced fighter. Trudeau took boxing lessons on the sly, and spread rumours he would probably lose. During the fight however, Trudeau won by technical knockout, and the fight itself became a bit of a sensation within Canada. Trudeau's name brand, his youth, and his resurgent celebrity status in Canada made him a more and more obvious choice for as a Liberal leader. He was also too new to be a part of any of the factions, and could effectively offer a clean slate for the Liberal's. Eventually, he announced his intentions to run.
His chance at leadership was not really hotly contested. Trudeau was able to draw on old friends of his father, and his own friends from his well connected past, to create a team that was able to stack the election in his favour amongst the Liberals. He roundly defeated other candidates, and took the helm. However, the Liberal's were in shambles, and needed a new coat of paint to attract voters back into the fold. Trudeau set to work reinventing the Party, closing down factional strife, and going coast to coast to rebrand. Young states that this is what really led to Trudeau's victory. He was never clear on his policy, as the Liberal's were lacking in manpower and funding at the time, and indeed he made major gaffes during speaking tours, one time announcing the country he had the most respect for outside of Canada was China, for example. He also weighed in on bilingualism in Canada, a hot topic button that opens up wounds coast to coast. But the Trudeau brand name, and Justin's charismatic leadership, his physical magnetism and his ease in the limelight, all offered a refreshing alternative to the cold and bureaucratic Harper, or "Angry Tom" Mulcair. The Liberal's shot up in the polls leading up to the 2015 election.
Trudeau was originally not clear on the policy stance he would take. During this period in Canada, the Senate Expense Scandal rocked the nation, and one Liberal senator was amongst the accused. This led to calls for senate reform, as the body was largely seen as a rubber stamping mechanism due to party policy where senators needed to consult their backing party before they made a decision on allowing policy through the Upper House. Trudeau made the bold move to dump all Liberal senators, announcing they would no longer be required to consult the Liberal Party in making rulings. This was well received by the public, but was worrying to Liberal stalwarts due to the abrupt nature of the announcement (the senators themselves were given 30 min notice before the announcement was made). He made his mark as a supporter of the "middle class," a catch-all term that was still well received by voters. And after three terms of Harper's Conservative Party, Canadians were looking for a new and refreshing face. Trudeau won voters over with his Centrist attitude toward the environment and the economy, his attempt to keep the campaign "positive" (no attack ads), and his inclusiveness. In contrast, Harper ran a campaign targeting new immigrants, and one fueled by attack ads, something many Canadians were tired of. Mulcair ran a tight campaign as well, but the resurgent Liberal's under a famous name were tough to beat. In the end, Trudeau was elected with a majority government.
Young has done a fairly good job mapping out Trudeau's road to victory. The book is laid out well, easy to read, and offers a deeper look at Trudeau's life and his entry into politics. It is interesting to read about the rise of Canada's new Prime Minister, and also interesting as Canada is not necessarily prone to political dynasty's at the federal level. Trudeau has (at the time of writing, at least) resonated well with Canadian voters, and has moved Canadian politics in a direction of inclusion and openness that, although not at all without flaws, is at least refreshing. One small complaint about the book is its overall tone. Young has written a glowing account of Trudeau. It touches on some of his gaffes, but is not overly critical of any of his policy choices. The book reads a bit like a Liberal publication. Even so, it is a worthy read for Canadian's interested in getting a deeper look at Trudeau's rise to power. It is important for Canadian's to understand their internal political surroundings, and this is a good book to pick up to start. Easily recommended for those looking to learn about Canada's 23rd Prime Minister, and for Canadians in general to learn more about our nations current political climate.
Justin Trudeau (from now on in the review, just Trudeau), was born into this world, and was constantly with his father as a boy in Canada's Parliament. He was a public figure, and featured in news stories and tabloids. Trudeau's father and mother, Margaret Trudeau, were a power couple, and the rocky relationship they had, and their eventual split was tabloid gold for Canada. The couples three sons, Michel, Sacha and Justin, lived with their father through this time until he stepped aside from politics, at which time Margaret and Pierre Elliot were divorced. Margaret led a life after the split that was deeply embarrassing for Pierre, as she spent time partying in the US with celebrities, and had a famous relationship with members of the Rolling Stones. Even so, Justin Trudeau seems to have come off alright, and with a deep respect for both mother and father.
As a young man, Trudeau was in the limelight more than his more reserved brother Sacha, and his more rebellious brother Michel. Trudeau was more interested in politics, and more charismatic. He attended school in Montreal, and eventually majored in English Literature. He spent time traveling, and basically lived a normal, if charmed, lifestyle. He had a double tragedy as a young man, when hist father died of cancer, and his brother Michel was killed in an avalanche while snowboarding. His tearful and heart wrenching Eulogy to his father is sometimes seen as his reentry into the public consciousness in Canada, as it was well televised, and well received throughout the nation.
Trudeau originally shied away from politics, instead opting as a teacher and public speaker. He inherited a large sum of money from his father, and took in large royalties during his public speaking tours. He introduced the Dalai Lama in Toronto, and chaired the Canada Reads event for CBC, for example. However, he began to drift into the world of politics, and into the Liberal Party of his father, after a time. His charisma and his family name all lent credence to this, and he married a celebrity from Quebec, Sophie Gregoire, which scored him points with the public. He eventually moved into politics as the Liberal candidate for Papineau in Quebec. Trudeau inexperience in politics, but his charm and charisma were infectious, and his celebrity status in Canada helped him win the riding in the October 2007 by-election.
Inside the Liberal Party, Trudeau was a quite observer for a time. He had been an influential voice of support for party leaders in the past. However, the Liberal Party was not in good standing during this period. The Progressive Conservative Party in Canada easily defeated the Liberal Party under Stéphane Dion, who soon resigned. Dion did not mesh well with Canadian voters, and Conservative attack ads exploited this to maximum effectiveness. The Liberal Party was taken over afterwards by Michael Ignatieff, who was a smart and talented leader. However, Ignatieff had lived much of his life in the United States, and this did not sit well with voters either. During the 2011 election, Stephen Harper's Conservative's once again ratcheted up the attack ads, and effectively destroyed the Liberal's, relegating them to third party status in one of the worst defeats in their history. Ignatieff resigned in disgrace, and the Liberal's began to soul search, and announced they would take their time in appointing a new leader.
In the meanwhile, the Conservative's had won a majority government in Parliament, and the New Democratic Party (NDP) had taken opposition status. This was largely due to the charismatic appeal of Jack Layton, a politician of great appeal who had ushered in an "orange wave" to surge NDP support across Canada during the 2011 election. Layton, sadly, had died soon afterwards of cancer, and Thomas Mulcair, a firebrand politician, had took the reigns of the NDP. Although an amazing orator and a ruthless politician, Mulcair's image was not as appealing to Canadian voters, but he maintained the NDP's opposition status in Parliament, and seemed set to raise them from a third place contender to a possible winner in the next election.
Meanwhile, the Liberal's were struggling to find a new leader, or indeed any funding, in their place as third wheel. The Party that was once Canada's most successful had been roundly humiliated, and was suffering from factional disputes between the old Chrétien and Martin factions. The Liberal Party needed a new face to lead it. Trudeau was at first reluctant to run, and did not announce his intentions for a long while. He had been elected MP for Papineau during two election cycles, but he had never had a Ministerial portfolio, usually a first step for potential leaders. During this period (2012), Trudeau agreed to a charity boxing match with Conservative MP and black belt Patrick Brazeau. This was seen as a golden opportunity to tarnish the reputation of Trudeau's rising star, and was eagerly awaited by the public as well. Trudeau was underestimated, as Brazeau was an experienced fighter. Trudeau took boxing lessons on the sly, and spread rumours he would probably lose. During the fight however, Trudeau won by technical knockout, and the fight itself became a bit of a sensation within Canada. Trudeau's name brand, his youth, and his resurgent celebrity status in Canada made him a more and more obvious choice for as a Liberal leader. He was also too new to be a part of any of the factions, and could effectively offer a clean slate for the Liberal's. Eventually, he announced his intentions to run.
His chance at leadership was not really hotly contested. Trudeau was able to draw on old friends of his father, and his own friends from his well connected past, to create a team that was able to stack the election in his favour amongst the Liberals. He roundly defeated other candidates, and took the helm. However, the Liberal's were in shambles, and needed a new coat of paint to attract voters back into the fold. Trudeau set to work reinventing the Party, closing down factional strife, and going coast to coast to rebrand. Young states that this is what really led to Trudeau's victory. He was never clear on his policy, as the Liberal's were lacking in manpower and funding at the time, and indeed he made major gaffes during speaking tours, one time announcing the country he had the most respect for outside of Canada was China, for example. He also weighed in on bilingualism in Canada, a hot topic button that opens up wounds coast to coast. But the Trudeau brand name, and Justin's charismatic leadership, his physical magnetism and his ease in the limelight, all offered a refreshing alternative to the cold and bureaucratic Harper, or "Angry Tom" Mulcair. The Liberal's shot up in the polls leading up to the 2015 election.
Trudeau was originally not clear on the policy stance he would take. During this period in Canada, the Senate Expense Scandal rocked the nation, and one Liberal senator was amongst the accused. This led to calls for senate reform, as the body was largely seen as a rubber stamping mechanism due to party policy where senators needed to consult their backing party before they made a decision on allowing policy through the Upper House. Trudeau made the bold move to dump all Liberal senators, announcing they would no longer be required to consult the Liberal Party in making rulings. This was well received by the public, but was worrying to Liberal stalwarts due to the abrupt nature of the announcement (the senators themselves were given 30 min notice before the announcement was made). He made his mark as a supporter of the "middle class," a catch-all term that was still well received by voters. And after three terms of Harper's Conservative Party, Canadians were looking for a new and refreshing face. Trudeau won voters over with his Centrist attitude toward the environment and the economy, his attempt to keep the campaign "positive" (no attack ads), and his inclusiveness. In contrast, Harper ran a campaign targeting new immigrants, and one fueled by attack ads, something many Canadians were tired of. Mulcair ran a tight campaign as well, but the resurgent Liberal's under a famous name were tough to beat. In the end, Trudeau was elected with a majority government.
Young has done a fairly good job mapping out Trudeau's road to victory. The book is laid out well, easy to read, and offers a deeper look at Trudeau's life and his entry into politics. It is interesting to read about the rise of Canada's new Prime Minister, and also interesting as Canada is not necessarily prone to political dynasty's at the federal level. Trudeau has (at the time of writing, at least) resonated well with Canadian voters, and has moved Canadian politics in a direction of inclusion and openness that, although not at all without flaws, is at least refreshing. One small complaint about the book is its overall tone. Young has written a glowing account of Trudeau. It touches on some of his gaffes, but is not overly critical of any of his policy choices. The book reads a bit like a Liberal publication. Even so, it is a worthy read for Canadian's interested in getting a deeper look at Trudeau's rise to power. It is important for Canadian's to understand their internal political surroundings, and this is a good book to pick up to start. Easily recommended for those looking to learn about Canada's 23rd Prime Minister, and for Canadians in general to learn more about our nations current political climate.
June 30, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Answers the burning question on Canadians' minds: who is the real Justin Trudeau? Traces Trudeau's formative years and documents his historic battle to revive the Liberal Party of Canada Details the many detours on Trudeau's path to power.
Translated from Huguette Young's Justin Trudeau: L'Héritier (2015) in collaboration with the author. Draws on Young's formidable experience both speaking with Trudeau and his close advisers and confidants and as a twenty-year reporter on Canadian politics.
Being married to a Canadian and being interested in world politics - not to mention the hysteria that was reported almost daily about Trudeau's rise in the Liberal Party (even in Australia) - this book seemed to be a no-brainer in as much as it fitted both an interest in my wife's home country and my interest in politics.
And for the most part this is a very good book. It traces his early years with his father, former PM Pierre Trudeau, his various occupations after leaving school, his rapid rise in the Liberal Party, as well as the tilt at Prime Minister just last year. Using a lot of quotes from those close to the party - or those in other parties - we get a good look behind the curtain at both the motivation and desire that drives JT, but also at the inner workings of the Canadian political system (which, I must say, is a little different than ours.) I found a lot of this interesting to read - the personality of the PM is most certainly one of the contributing factors to JT's success - but as Marc Lalonde, Pierre Trudeau's former advisor, says in the book: "I think he (Justin Trudeau) has a personality that matches our age." And with an election only 24 hours away here in Australia, that is something we definitely don't have.
There were two small things that let this down just a little bit - the first, the continuous repetition of certain things, like Trudeau's family or how good he is with people and social media, hings like that. The other thing was the abundance of "unnamed sources" - takes away the legitimacy of what you are reading. While I don't doubt that a "former Liberal/Conservative member said...", it always comes across better with real quotes. But, then, this is an unauthorised biography so I shouldn't complain too much.
All in all, a very interesting read on Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
Paul
ARH
Answers the burning question on Canadians' minds: who is the real Justin Trudeau? Traces Trudeau's formative years and documents his historic battle to revive the Liberal Party of Canada Details the many detours on Trudeau's path to power.
Translated from Huguette Young's Justin Trudeau: L'Héritier (2015) in collaboration with the author. Draws on Young's formidable experience both speaking with Trudeau and his close advisers and confidants and as a twenty-year reporter on Canadian politics.
Being married to a Canadian and being interested in world politics - not to mention the hysteria that was reported almost daily about Trudeau's rise in the Liberal Party (even in Australia) - this book seemed to be a no-brainer in as much as it fitted both an interest in my wife's home country and my interest in politics.
And for the most part this is a very good book. It traces his early years with his father, former PM Pierre Trudeau, his various occupations after leaving school, his rapid rise in the Liberal Party, as well as the tilt at Prime Minister just last year. Using a lot of quotes from those close to the party - or those in other parties - we get a good look behind the curtain at both the motivation and desire that drives JT, but also at the inner workings of the Canadian political system (which, I must say, is a little different than ours.) I found a lot of this interesting to read - the personality of the PM is most certainly one of the contributing factors to JT's success - but as Marc Lalonde, Pierre Trudeau's former advisor, says in the book: "I think he (Justin Trudeau) has a personality that matches our age." And with an election only 24 hours away here in Australia, that is something we definitely don't have.
There were two small things that let this down just a little bit - the first, the continuous repetition of certain things, like Trudeau's family or how good he is with people and social media, hings like that. The other thing was the abundance of "unnamed sources" - takes away the legitimacy of what you are reading. While I don't doubt that a "former Liberal/Conservative member said...", it always comes across better with real quotes. But, then, this is an unauthorised biography so I shouldn't complain too much.
All in all, a very interesting read on Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
Paul
ARH
July 7, 2016
Before he was thrust in the worldwide stage when he was elected as the newest Prime Minister of Canada last year, not much was known about Justin Trudeau outside his country, other than being the son of the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
This book by journalist Huguette Young, “Justin Trudeau: The Natural Heir,” traces the journey of the son as he inevitably follows in the footsteps of his father, all the way to the highest office of the land.
Much is said in the book about Pierre Trudeau’s stature as an intellectual heavyweight and a formidable politician. And how Justin, not having distinguished himself early on in school and elsewhere, was viewed just as a celebrity and an intellectual lightweight. And as such, political observers largely dismissed his chances of winning in the political arena. This is the story of how Justin Trudeau struggled against preconceived notions about him and how he became the savior that would lead his party back to its former glory.
The book chronicles the public as well as behind-the-scenes maneuverings in the local and national political landscape amidst the backdrop of a recession that led to the people’s disenchantment of its current leaders. This is the scenario that led to Justin Trudeau’s rise to the leadership of the Liberal Party.
We see here the parliamentary system at work, which is unfamiliar to most casual observers of US politics.
While I appreciate the look on the inner workings of the Canadian parliamentary system, I had expected a deeper dive into the personal life, thoughts, hopes and inner struggles of the man himself, Justin Trudeau, other than what has already been mentioned in media. The author did say that her subject did not want to be interviewed for the book. Perhaps interviews with close family and friends could have provided deeper insight.
(Advance copy of the book provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.)
This book by journalist Huguette Young, “Justin Trudeau: The Natural Heir,” traces the journey of the son as he inevitably follows in the footsteps of his father, all the way to the highest office of the land.
Much is said in the book about Pierre Trudeau’s stature as an intellectual heavyweight and a formidable politician. And how Justin, not having distinguished himself early on in school and elsewhere, was viewed just as a celebrity and an intellectual lightweight. And as such, political observers largely dismissed his chances of winning in the political arena. This is the story of how Justin Trudeau struggled against preconceived notions about him and how he became the savior that would lead his party back to its former glory.
The book chronicles the public as well as behind-the-scenes maneuverings in the local and national political landscape amidst the backdrop of a recession that led to the people’s disenchantment of its current leaders. This is the scenario that led to Justin Trudeau’s rise to the leadership of the Liberal Party.
We see here the parliamentary system at work, which is unfamiliar to most casual observers of US politics.
While I appreciate the look on the inner workings of the Canadian parliamentary system, I had expected a deeper dive into the personal life, thoughts, hopes and inner struggles of the man himself, Justin Trudeau, other than what has already been mentioned in media. The author did say that her subject did not want to be interviewed for the book. Perhaps interviews with close family and friends could have provided deeper insight.
(Advance copy of the book provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review.)
February 14, 2017
A good, quick biography of Canada's new prime minister. The book provides some background on his early life -- as Pierre Trudeau's son, as a student, finding himself in his career -- before focusing on his political development. The book highlights the fact that, while some mark the start of Justin Trudeau's political career at birth (as part of a dynasty) or on giving his father's eulogy, in fact, his rise has been much more recent, rising from a local member of Parliament to Prime Minister in less than a decade.
Although this is billed as an "unauthorized" biography, there's not much scandalous here. This is really more a general survey that gives readers a sense of Trudeau's personality and priorities.
(Ebook provided for review by NetGalley.)
Although this is billed as an "unauthorized" biography, there's not much scandalous here. This is really more a general survey that gives readers a sense of Trudeau's personality and priorities.
(Ebook provided for review by NetGalley.)
Read
June 30, 2020Learned a few things about how he ended up in power.
March 20, 2017
Very mixed feelings about this book.
Pros:
- detailed accounts of 2006-2015, especially 2007-2008 nomination and Papineau race, and 2012-2013 leadership race
- good citations and many interviews, both attributed and anonymous
- an easy read
Cons:
- several distracting factual errors (mixing up 2008/2011 elections, figures, candidates, etc)
- often not very focused on the book's subject
- downplays and dissects Mr Trudeau's strengths while re-publishing numerous criticisms without a similar level of rigorous analysis.
This was a very average book. It did a nice job covering Mr Trudeau's early life, but after 2006 was more or less just recounting pretty much everything that happened in Canadian politics and Liberal Party politics, whether or not it was entirely relevant to his biography. Published in French in Oct 2015, the author failed to take advantage of the eight month delay before English publication to add new material or analyze his first few months as Prime Minister.
All in all: an easy and interesting read, but isn't much of a biography, failing to live up to its ambitious title, "Justin Trudeau: the Natural Heir."
Pros:
- detailed accounts of 2006-2015, especially 2007-2008 nomination and Papineau race, and 2012-2013 leadership race
- good citations and many interviews, both attributed and anonymous
- an easy read
Cons:
- several distracting factual errors (mixing up 2008/2011 elections, figures, candidates, etc)
- often not very focused on the book's subject
- downplays and dissects Mr Trudeau's strengths while re-publishing numerous criticisms without a similar level of rigorous analysis.
This was a very average book. It did a nice job covering Mr Trudeau's early life, but after 2006 was more or less just recounting pretty much everything that happened in Canadian politics and Liberal Party politics, whether or not it was entirely relevant to his biography. Published in French in Oct 2015, the author failed to take advantage of the eight month delay before English publication to add new material or analyze his first few months as Prime Minister.
All in all: an easy and interesting read, but isn't much of a biography, failing to live up to its ambitious title, "Justin Trudeau: the Natural Heir."
July 30, 2016
I don't have a lot of interest in politics but I thought it would be interesting to learn more about our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
This book provides a very high level account of his life, giving some background about his parents (former Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, and his ex-wife, Margaret), his education and career path, getting into politics and finishing with the election in which he became our 23rd Prime Minister in the fall of 2015.
In the back of the book, there are notes to support the information and stats mentioned throughout the book. The sources of information include newspaper and magazine articles, books, interviews (some of the interviewees are anonymous sources), etc. Though the author didn't actually interview Justin Trudeau, she used information from his book, "Common Ground".
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2016/07...
This book provides a very high level account of his life, giving some background about his parents (former Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, and his ex-wife, Margaret), his education and career path, getting into politics and finishing with the election in which he became our 23rd Prime Minister in the fall of 2015.
In the back of the book, there are notes to support the information and stats mentioned throughout the book. The sources of information include newspaper and magazine articles, books, interviews (some of the interviewees are anonymous sources), etc. Though the author didn't actually interview Justin Trudeau, she used information from his book, "Common Ground".
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2016/07...
September 2, 2016
This was a good and quick read but I found the writing somewhat general in its scope. It was interesting to learn about the PM's early years and his rise to power, but this would've been a stronger book if Young had taken more time to discuss a particular part of Trudeau's life rather than giving a picture of his entire life in broad brushstrokes. Having not yet read the PM's autobiography, Common Ground, I wonder how much detail he goes into on various topics, and how much Young's unauthorized biography is a rehash of the PM's book.
August 23, 2019
I saw this at the library and was interested since I knew about his dad but not him. I actually learned quite a large amount of information I really did not know about Canadian politics. Yes, there were boring sections, as I knew none of the names, but that I just skimmed over.
I have known Canadians that knew more about the US then most of us know about Canada. As a social studies teacher, I wanted to learn more. So, if you would like to learn about the politics and Justin in particular, I do recommend this book.
I have known Canadians that knew more about the US then most of us know about Canada. As a social studies teacher, I wanted to learn more. So, if you would like to learn about the politics and Justin in particular, I do recommend this book.
July 29, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thoroughly researched, this book gives a good look at the "real" Justin Trudeau. Seemingly destined to follow in his father's footsteps, Justin Trudeau was not really in the public eye for a good portion of his life. Ms. Young tells his story, from student to Member of Parliament, to election as Prime Minister of Canada. A quick, informative read. Recommended.
Thoroughly researched, this book gives a good look at the "real" Justin Trudeau. Seemingly destined to follow in his father's footsteps, Justin Trudeau was not really in the public eye for a good portion of his life. Ms. Young tells his story, from student to Member of Parliament, to election as Prime Minister of Canada. A quick, informative read. Recommended.
September 1, 2016
Very easy to read, Huguette Young gave me a new perception of the man called Justin Trudeau.
Enjoyed immensely, would definitely recommend.
Enjoyed immensely, would definitely recommend.
September 16, 2017
This biography provides the reader with an in-depth, candid look at the current Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. From his early days, to his current height of power, this biography chronicles PM Trudeau's unprecedented and harrowing trajectory. Able to elevate the popularity and power of the LIberal Party of Canada in his early forties, Justin Trudeau has already achieved remarkable things. As an American, reading this book was sometimes challenging because of my own personal unfamiliarity with Canadian government; however Young's biography was able to both hold my attention and stimulate it. PM Trudeau has already done excellent things for Canada and her people, and there is no doubt in my mind--and after reading this, there won't be any doubt in yours either--that many great things are yet to come.
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