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Trudeau: The Education of a Prime Minister
From one of Canada's most popular and connected political journalists, an unblinkered warts-and-all look at Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government's record in power. A must-read as we head into the 2019 federal election.
Canadians are becoming increasingly skeptical about their chameleon prime minister. When he entered politics, Justin Trudeau came across as a person with no fixed principles. Now, he presents himself as a conviction politician. What motivated his metamorphosis--belief or opportunism?
Either way, in 2019's election he will be judged on results--results that have so far been disappointing for many, even those in his own party. From the ballooning deficit to the Trans Mountain purchase to the fallout of his disastrous trip to India to the unpopular implementation of a carbon tax, Justin Trudeau has presided over his share of controversy. Most damaging, his egregious missteps during the SNC-Lavalin scandal and the subsequent resignation of two top ministers, his principal secretary, and the clerk of the Privy Council have raised serious questions about Trudeau's integrity.
As a political columnist for the National Post since 2003and Ottawa bureau chief for Postmedia for the past three years, John Ivison has watched Trudeau evolve as a politician and leader, a fascinating transition that has not been fully captured by any writer. Trudeau traces the complexities of the man himself, now barely visible beneath the talking points, virtue signalling, and polished trappings of office. Ivison concludes that while Trudeau led a moribund Liberal Party to victory in the 2015 election, the shine of his leadership has been worn off by a series of self-inflicted wounds, broken promises, and rookie mistakes.
One of the central contentions of Trudeau is already apparent: the prime minister's greatest strengths are also his greatest weaknesses; the famous name, high-handedness, and impulsiveness are as liable to hurl him from office as they were to get him there in the first place.
With unprecedented access and insight, John Ivison takes us inside one of the most contentious first terms of any prime minister in our history.
Canadians are becoming increasingly skeptical about their chameleon prime minister. When he entered politics, Justin Trudeau came across as a person with no fixed principles. Now, he presents himself as a conviction politician. What motivated his metamorphosis--belief or opportunism?
Either way, in 2019's election he will be judged on results--results that have so far been disappointing for many, even those in his own party. From the ballooning deficit to the Trans Mountain purchase to the fallout of his disastrous trip to India to the unpopular implementation of a carbon tax, Justin Trudeau has presided over his share of controversy. Most damaging, his egregious missteps during the SNC-Lavalin scandal and the subsequent resignation of two top ministers, his principal secretary, and the clerk of the Privy Council have raised serious questions about Trudeau's integrity.
As a political columnist for the National Post since 2003and Ottawa bureau chief for Postmedia for the past three years, John Ivison has watched Trudeau evolve as a politician and leader, a fascinating transition that has not been fully captured by any writer. Trudeau traces the complexities of the man himself, now barely visible beneath the talking points, virtue signalling, and polished trappings of office. Ivison concludes that while Trudeau led a moribund Liberal Party to victory in the 2015 election, the shine of his leadership has been worn off by a series of self-inflicted wounds, broken promises, and rookie mistakes.
One of the central contentions of Trudeau is already apparent: the prime minister's greatest strengths are also his greatest weaknesses; the famous name, high-handedness, and impulsiveness are as liable to hurl him from office as they were to get him there in the first place.
With unprecedented access and insight, John Ivison takes us inside one of the most contentious first terms of any prime minister in our history.
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Published August 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 30, 2019
John Ivison is a Canadian political journalist. To me his overview of Justine Trudeau is biased. Ivison points out some positive accomplishments, but primarily examines from a negative viewpoint. Canada faces an election in 2019.
The book is well written and researched. Ivison reviews the ballooning deficit, the India Trip fallout, the SNC-Lavalin scandal and the Trans Mountain pipeline purchase. Harper primarily dismantled the Foreign Ministry. Ivison complains that Trudeau did not completely rebuilt it. Ivison claims Trudeau made numerous rookie mistakes. Two big questions are should Canada be regarded as a moral superpower? Canada has a large population of Sikhs, Tamils, Chinese and Ukrainians. How far should politicians go to please these voting blocs? Canada never before has had strained relations with the three world’s strongest powers as they do today. He discusses Trudeau’s relationship with the Foreign Ministry. The author says Trudeau’s government has not met the high expectations the people had when he was elected. Canada attempts to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2020 against strong opposition from Ireland and Norway. Ivison questions Trudeau’s approach to this problem. Ivison does provide the reader a good overview of Canadian politics and problems facing the country today.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twelve hours and thirty minutes. Harry Judge does a good job narrating the book. Judge is an actor and audiobook narrator.
The book is well written and researched. Ivison reviews the ballooning deficit, the India Trip fallout, the SNC-Lavalin scandal and the Trans Mountain pipeline purchase. Harper primarily dismantled the Foreign Ministry. Ivison complains that Trudeau did not completely rebuilt it. Ivison claims Trudeau made numerous rookie mistakes. Two big questions are should Canada be regarded as a moral superpower? Canada has a large population of Sikhs, Tamils, Chinese and Ukrainians. How far should politicians go to please these voting blocs? Canada never before has had strained relations with the three world’s strongest powers as they do today. He discusses Trudeau’s relationship with the Foreign Ministry. The author says Trudeau’s government has not met the high expectations the people had when he was elected. Canada attempts to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2020 against strong opposition from Ireland and Norway. Ivison questions Trudeau’s approach to this problem. Ivison does provide the reader a good overview of Canadian politics and problems facing the country today.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twelve hours and thirty minutes. Harry Judge does a good job narrating the book. Judge is an actor and audiobook narrator.
August 20, 2019
A well-written book about the many failures of the current Liberal government and the deterioration of the Trudeau brand.
July 11, 2020
This book was ok. Ivison gave us some good insights, some interesting one on one interview quotes, and some good analysis, but there was a lot missing. The book read more like a collection of headlines I’ve already read from him.
Of course those headlines are important to the story of PMJT, but it would have been nice to have some novel insights.
Another issue I found with the book was it read like an opinion piece, not a biography. I’m not sure if Ivison checked his partisanship at the door.
Over all, an ok book. Ivison is a good writer, got some good interviews, and his long career as a journalist gave us some good insights.
Of course those headlines are important to the story of PMJT, but it would have been nice to have some novel insights.
Another issue I found with the book was it read like an opinion piece, not a biography. I’m not sure if Ivison checked his partisanship at the door.
Over all, an ok book. Ivison is a good writer, got some good interviews, and his long career as a journalist gave us some good insights.
December 18, 2019
Very descriptive (in a good way) and very informative look at the evolution of Justin Trudeau as a politician. The author waits until the last chapter to get SUPER partisan. 😖
September 29, 2019
This is a book every Canadian must read before the elections. For the blind Trudeau cult worshipers, of course the book is biased. However, if you are a rational responsible citizen it is extremely informative and balanced.
The author has not shied away from mentioning the wins of Trudeau’s government, however the list of failures, broken promises, incompetences and bad judgements is overwhelming.
The great learning is that SNC is not really the big issue. It is just a symptom of Justin’s bad judgement and phoney leadership. The list of disastrous issues is vast. The greatest of which is a budget that will never balance and government spending driven not by delivering economic growth, but to polish a brand of a fake politician.
The author has not shied away from mentioning the wins of Trudeau’s government, however the list of failures, broken promises, incompetences and bad judgements is overwhelming.
The great learning is that SNC is not really the big issue. It is just a symptom of Justin’s bad judgement and phoney leadership. The list of disastrous issues is vast. The greatest of which is a budget that will never balance and government spending driven not by delivering economic growth, but to polish a brand of a fake politician.
November 30, 2019
Extremely dishy and informative, in terms of what was going on behind the scenes during his rise to power and through is first terms as PM. But, also possibly the most openly neoliberal piece of journalism I've ever read, so also a hate read!
September 10, 2019
This is the second book that has been recently published on Justin Trudeau and his first term in office. The other book is “Promise and Peril” by Aaron Wherry. The Wherry book focuses on Trudeau’s years as Prime Minister. John Ivison has included an analysis of Trudeau’s years before getting into politics. In a perceptive book review in the September 7th edition of the Globe and Mail, John Ibbitson states the obvious: if you are looking for a balanced and generally favourable overview of Trudeau’s record, choose the Wherry book. If you are looking for a hatchet job, take the Ivison book. Ibbitson even suggests that fans of Trudeau should read Ivison, and critics of Trudeau should read Wherry and they might learn something!
I preferred the Wherry book because he lets the facts speak for themselves. He does include areas where he felt the Trudeau government succeeded, notably in support for children and their families, and in managing the tricky relationship with the United States. But he also describes the broken promises around electoral reform and balanced budgets, and the saga withSNC-Lavalin and his former Justice Minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould.
In the Ivison, one gets the impression that the author has always considered that Justin Trudeau was a lightweight intellectually and a child of a very privileged family. As a result, any evidence that he can marshall to support his conclusion is included, and any notion that the government may have succeeded is downplayed or not mentioned. To support his arguments, he often relies on quotes from former members of the Stephen Harper government and entourage. No accounting for their partisan bias is given. And, in line with the National Post style, snarky comments abound in the book. Why not just stick with discussing policies and ideas, and leave the personal attacks at the door?
I preferred the Wherry book because he lets the facts speak for themselves. He does include areas where he felt the Trudeau government succeeded, notably in support for children and their families, and in managing the tricky relationship with the United States. But he also describes the broken promises around electoral reform and balanced budgets, and the saga withSNC-Lavalin and his former Justice Minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould.
In the Ivison, one gets the impression that the author has always considered that Justin Trudeau was a lightweight intellectually and a child of a very privileged family. As a result, any evidence that he can marshall to support his conclusion is included, and any notion that the government may have succeeded is downplayed or not mentioned. To support his arguments, he often relies on quotes from former members of the Stephen Harper government and entourage. No accounting for their partisan bias is given. And, in line with the National Post style, snarky comments abound in the book. Why not just stick with discussing policies and ideas, and leave the personal attacks at the door?
February 1, 2025
This is a very helpful book for understanding the Trudeau team. Trudeau is definitely depicted as a true blue liberal who is inclusive to immigrants and big on spending. He is described in the books as an authoritarian populist. I would agree. It was pretty gross to hear that he was trying to fire his two top staff members for not having confidence in him and "not believing in him". Since when do you fire people who are your trusted advisors that come forward to you with real concerns? That part is legitimately and genuinely narcissistic. Otherwise I agree that recording a conversation without consent is 100% unconscionable and that was entirely unfair to him. He definitely has come off as vain and too fragile for the work he is attempting to do in that final chapter. If it's true that he's willing to obstruct justice for purely narcissistic ends that is 100% not okay and everything his position requires him to stand against, so I don't know how he's going to pull the unconscionable line when he's doing that. I don't see any evidence he actually did that, and otherwise I agree that what happened to him at the end was way too undermining to be okay. That said, not allowing for trusted and proven advisors to disagree and come forward with concerns is when we're hitting real authoritarianism level and that is not okay. But from the looks of it, it's more to do with how they did it and the fact it was insidious like illegally recording calls instead of just coming forward with a concern in an upfront manner. Separately, I think it was funny that he actually got in a fight with the indigenous senator as a feminist. It's probably left a wound and they've probably fought and hurt people due to the narcissistic injury of all that. I can think of one such case in the area. It's great that he's feminist, it's great that he's liberal, the 50% cabinet rate for women is fantastic. However, benevolent racism towards China that minimized its very real threat to not only his politics but his country's and in general a flip-flopping even for people that were his winning team members shows some elements of mental instability. Nevertheless, he kept the economy going pretty well during his tenure as Prime Minister, and he was still inclusive while doing so. There are a lot of good things to be here, much more good than bad. I think his main concern was the insidious and undermining nature of how they recorded his call. Nobody should deal with support that close being that insidiously nasty and undermining. I would definitely encourage their immediate removal if they were detected as being that close and that undermining, doing nasty things just to do them. That’s not ok at all. No leader can work under those conditions. They have no right to expect him to help with the Trump issue while doing that. You cannot beat that kind of phenomenon with people weakly undermining you like that, that I entirely agree with it if that’s all it was. But if it was basic concerns waged to that level of a reaction, that would be genuine authoritarianism of a truly problematic nature with a narcissistic feature. But I don't see evidence that that was what it was. Maybe there is. I'll have to read more on it. Otherwise one of the better leaders the world has seen.
June 27, 2020
I enjoy John Ivison's newspaper columns and political commentary, even though I don't often agree with him. He's politically conservative, but in his afterward to this book he notes that he had liberal friends review his manuscript for bias. As a result, I think he's succeeded in presenting a fairly balanced portrait of Justin Trudeau's first term as Canadian Prime Minister.
In some ways, this balance was a negative for me, as the book lacked a strong argument for or against Trudeau. It left me with my impressions of Trudeau-the-younger unchanged.
Ivison criticizes Trudeau for being one of 'The Annointed,' socially progressives who consider their views morally superior to those of the less enlightened. They, therefore, feel justified in imposing their policies and pronouncements on the public. Ivison thinks Canadians are less 'enlightened' Trudeau thinks. If and when the public turns against Trudeau, this could be the reason. The book was written before the last election, when Canadians returned Trudeau to office, despite his sanctimony.
Ivison also comments on the abundance of Liberal party promises leading up the 2015 election, when the party started in third place. He quotes an inside party joke that unrealistic promises were only a problem if you won and were expected to fulfill them. At that point, the Liberals felt they'd be lucky to come second. He suggests this 'joke' contributed to the downfall of the NDP. When they were leading during the campaign, the NDP shifted to realistic promises, like balancing the budget, which didn't appeal to the public as much as Trudeau's promised spending.
As a reporter, Ivison was close to the political scene during Trudeau's term in office. For the book, he interviewed people in Trudeau's inner circle. I recommend The Education of a Prime Minister to anyone interested in how Canadian politics works and doesn't mind a less than idealized view of our current leader.
In some ways, this balance was a negative for me, as the book lacked a strong argument for or against Trudeau. It left me with my impressions of Trudeau-the-younger unchanged.
Ivison criticizes Trudeau for being one of 'The Annointed,' socially progressives who consider their views morally superior to those of the less enlightened. They, therefore, feel justified in imposing their policies and pronouncements on the public. Ivison thinks Canadians are less 'enlightened' Trudeau thinks. If and when the public turns against Trudeau, this could be the reason. The book was written before the last election, when Canadians returned Trudeau to office, despite his sanctimony.
Ivison also comments on the abundance of Liberal party promises leading up the 2015 election, when the party started in third place. He quotes an inside party joke that unrealistic promises were only a problem if you won and were expected to fulfill them. At that point, the Liberals felt they'd be lucky to come second. He suggests this 'joke' contributed to the downfall of the NDP. When they were leading during the campaign, the NDP shifted to realistic promises, like balancing the budget, which didn't appeal to the public as much as Trudeau's promised spending.
As a reporter, Ivison was close to the political scene during Trudeau's term in office. For the book, he interviewed people in Trudeau's inner circle. I recommend The Education of a Prime Minister to anyone interested in how Canadian politics works and doesn't mind a less than idealized view of our current leader.
February 10, 2020
It's always fun to write a review on a political book, because depending on where people fall on their feelings towards any particular political party, they're going to dislike most of what you say.
I have a bad habit of reading other peoples reviews while reading a particular book, and sometimes it colours my own opinions with things I hadn't thought of before. A lot of people wrote that the book was pretty strongly anti-Trudeau. I kept trying to see it, but it didn't come across like that to me. It's obvious the author is not a fan of the PM, but I thought he laid out his case and made a point for Trudeau if it was warranted. In the acknowledgements, he mentions a couple of people who helped rein in his criticisms. Overall, I thought it was a very good book, I had a cursory knowledge of the events that took place, but just through various clips and blurbs on social media and online news outlets, so this was a good reminder of all the things that have happened over the course of 4+ years. I think many people may feel the same way, the shine is starting to wear off, and we have to resort to platitudes like "At least he isn't Trump", or "At least he isn't Doug Ford." to keep us going. Really in the last election, I voted for my candidate mostly because he wasn't one of the other options. I'm sure in a few years another book will be written about Trudeau, and we can be reminded again of what a weird place politics has really become.
I have a bad habit of reading other peoples reviews while reading a particular book, and sometimes it colours my own opinions with things I hadn't thought of before. A lot of people wrote that the book was pretty strongly anti-Trudeau. I kept trying to see it, but it didn't come across like that to me. It's obvious the author is not a fan of the PM, but I thought he laid out his case and made a point for Trudeau if it was warranted. In the acknowledgements, he mentions a couple of people who helped rein in his criticisms. Overall, I thought it was a very good book, I had a cursory knowledge of the events that took place, but just through various clips and blurbs on social media and online news outlets, so this was a good reminder of all the things that have happened over the course of 4+ years. I think many people may feel the same way, the shine is starting to wear off, and we have to resort to platitudes like "At least he isn't Trump", or "At least he isn't Doug Ford." to keep us going. Really in the last election, I voted for my candidate mostly because he wasn't one of the other options. I'm sure in a few years another book will be written about Trudeau, and we can be reminded again of what a weird place politics has really become.
August 28, 2019
My local library is indicating immense popularity for this biography of our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, which I assume is not only because we are heading into the election less than two months away but also due to his status in our country. As a leader, as a persona, and an embodiment of this country's values on a global stage.
But is that really what all of us think of him? Clearly not, considering the divisions of the polls and a series of bad decisions in the past two years that have earned Mr Trudeau considerably negative press coverage. However, amidst all of the scuffle of the news, we want a concise review of all of this government's achievements. We want to assess what was done right and wrong. I think John Ivison has succeeded in the aforementioned.
In the opening pages of the biography, John states his thesis: that under the Trudeau banner, there has been a centralization of power around the personality of Trudeau himself, and that his life has contributed to the air of entitlement surrounding the Liberal Party that has permeated through economic and social policies.
There is one chapter, in particular, which focuses on the reckless spending of the government and its deviation from past governments, including Liberal ones. Although little promises may have been kept, the major ones surrounding running modest deficits and electoral reform have been thrown out the window. Controversies such as the India trip and the Trevor Noah Twitter gaffe have shown to Canadians that Trudeau himself is a leader enamored with excessive pride and self centredness, which leads to profligate spending at the expense of citizens. The debt keeps rising as a result of payments to seniors and children, even though these groups are the most well of. A middle class tax cut has proven to not be revenue neutral. Meanwhile, important arrangements such as renegotiating NAFTA and the Trans Mountain pipeline are being fumbled with and delayed, as the government seems to take different positions every day depending on which group they are pandering to.
I am a conservative, and this book provides a conservative perspective. However, I have spent considerable time on the Internet around very liberal political discussion circles. Nothing I have read has convinced me that anything in this book is either untrue or tactical smearing of any kind. I encourage those interested in politics and pondering the idea of voting this election to read this book and make a decision for themselves.
But is that really what all of us think of him? Clearly not, considering the divisions of the polls and a series of bad decisions in the past two years that have earned Mr Trudeau considerably negative press coverage. However, amidst all of the scuffle of the news, we want a concise review of all of this government's achievements. We want to assess what was done right and wrong. I think John Ivison has succeeded in the aforementioned.
In the opening pages of the biography, John states his thesis: that under the Trudeau banner, there has been a centralization of power around the personality of Trudeau himself, and that his life has contributed to the air of entitlement surrounding the Liberal Party that has permeated through economic and social policies.
There is one chapter, in particular, which focuses on the reckless spending of the government and its deviation from past governments, including Liberal ones. Although little promises may have been kept, the major ones surrounding running modest deficits and electoral reform have been thrown out the window. Controversies such as the India trip and the Trevor Noah Twitter gaffe have shown to Canadians that Trudeau himself is a leader enamored with excessive pride and self centredness, which leads to profligate spending at the expense of citizens. The debt keeps rising as a result of payments to seniors and children, even though these groups are the most well of. A middle class tax cut has proven to not be revenue neutral. Meanwhile, important arrangements such as renegotiating NAFTA and the Trans Mountain pipeline are being fumbled with and delayed, as the government seems to take different positions every day depending on which group they are pandering to.
I am a conservative, and this book provides a conservative perspective. However, I have spent considerable time on the Internet around very liberal political discussion circles. Nothing I have read has convinced me that anything in this book is either untrue or tactical smearing of any kind. I encourage those interested in politics and pondering the idea of voting this election to read this book and make a decision for themselves.
July 15, 2021
Ivison admits freely that he is personally conservative, but I found the discussions that took place in Trudeau: The Education of a Prime Minister to be fairly balanced. While he frequently describes Trudeau as "The Annointed" (a label I would describe as dramatic but not wholly inaccurate), Ivison has a tendency to get to the heart of a variety of issues that have plagued the Liberals since Trudeau's election. Notably he concentrates on the massive scope of Trudeau's promises, and their failure to do much more than scratch the surface of a variety of issues that were center-stage in the campaign.
I liked the book a lot, and it really helped educate me more on some of the issues facing Canada politically.
I liked the book a lot, and it really helped educate me more on some of the issues facing Canada politically.
December 25, 2019
Really enjoyed this book and learned about many of the political controversies Justin has been involved in in the last 4 years.
I also learned about many of his accomplishments that I previously had no idea of.
If you like Justin you will like him more, if you dislike Justin personally, or the Liberal party which he represents, this book is unlikely to influence those with rooted impressions.
For those who enjoy learning of global events, the necessary two step & tango required to keep the global appearance of Political correctness, this book you will love.
Justin Trudeau is a man of old family money and privilege, new money and privilege, and is a undisputed master of the average common man.
This is a priceless character quality.
I also learned about many of his accomplishments that I previously had no idea of.
If you like Justin you will like him more, if you dislike Justin personally, or the Liberal party which he represents, this book is unlikely to influence those with rooted impressions.
For those who enjoy learning of global events, the necessary two step & tango required to keep the global appearance of Political correctness, this book you will love.
Justin Trudeau is a man of old family money and privilege, new money and privilege, and is a undisputed master of the average common man.
This is a priceless character quality.
October 4, 2019
"In the years after his historic victory, an accumulation of missteps and controversies has sparked accusations that he presides over a government that values style over substance and talk over action - that he is prime minster of a "government of glossy, toothy, touchy-feely phonies." (2)
I found this book to really hard to follow and keep up with. I found that it kept going back and forward through time and that it kept going back and forward with topics. I found that it was too close to Trudeau actual book and it was commonly quoted.
This book was a medium read, as I read it in 3 days!
I would recommend it to anyone into Canadian politics.
I found this book to really hard to follow and keep up with. I found that it kept going back and forward through time and that it kept going back and forward with topics. I found that it was too close to Trudeau actual book and it was commonly quoted.
This book was a medium read, as I read it in 3 days!
I would recommend it to anyone into Canadian politics.
May 17, 2020
Ivison's account of Prime Minister Trudeau's first term is simultaneously critical and gracious as he considers the drive behind the PM as well as his Achilles' heels. His connections and contacts within inner political circles adds colour to some of the most controversial and celebrated moments leading up to 2015 and throughout the first term. It is a non-partisan approach that avoids making villains and martyrs. While those passionately political will inevitably take exception to the characterizations, it would be difficult to lay that at the feet of Ivison who presents a cogent and honest reflection of the decisions, the motivations and the public perceptions of these many events.
August 28, 2019
This book served as a good synopsis of Trudeau's time in power. I did feel that it lacked insight ala Bob Woodward style and all of his inside contacts. I think that if you read the Globe periodically or watch a major network news program that you would already know 99% of this book. Going into the election, it was intersting to read a National Post (typically a right wing slant such as the Trump/Black bromance) perspective to see what they can critique him on. It is pretty light stuff as Truduea's worst sins would be forgotten in Washington by morning coffee.
December 29, 2024
this jumped all over the place chronologically, and frequently highlights flippant critiques (his hairstyles, "dramatic" communications, etc). a lot of actions or policies the author deems negative include appointing too many senators who have backgrounds in women's or minority rights, trudeau's party having a "sense of resentment against success" (aka raising corporate tax rates and lowering rates for middle class families), or attempting to negotiate a set of labour and environmental standards in trade deals with china. it makes it more challenging for the reader to accurately assess and critique trudeau's time in government when the author is determined to find fault in everything
January 12, 2020
I enjoy Ivison's contrarian columns in the National Post, so I'm disappointed to find this book so lackluster. His constant habit of starting sentences with "But" -- sometimes twice in a paragraph -- makes his case against Trudeau's record seem like a reach. This book came out during Trudeau's race for re-election; now that he has won, the history of "blunders" Ivison recounts here look even more picayune. Even for an election season book, I would've expected a longer shelf life.
May 10, 2021
Interesting read from a biased author.
He gets all the details right but his use demeaning descriptions is a disservice to a well researched book. The author is a journalist with a right wing news organization so I guess I shouldn't have expected balance. There were too many unidentified quotes used that, in my opinion, took wawy from the value of the book.
But other than that a worthwhile read for someone interested in Canadian politics.
He gets all the details right but his use demeaning descriptions is a disservice to a well researched book. The author is a journalist with a right wing news organization so I guess I shouldn't have expected balance. There were too many unidentified quotes used that, in my opinion, took wawy from the value of the book.
But other than that a worthwhile read for someone interested in Canadian politics.
April 2, 2022
This is about what one would expect from a National Post columnist. I'm not going to waste my time writing a review, as John Ibbitson's examination of the text is rather astute. See the link below.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/...
(For the record, I felt that Aaron Wherry's PROMISE AND PERIL was a much stronger--and more balanced--overview of the Justin Trudeau era in Canadian politics.)
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/...
(For the record, I felt that Aaron Wherry's PROMISE AND PERIL was a much stronger--and more balanced--overview of the Justin Trudeau era in Canadian politics.)
September 5, 2019
Well worth the read, particularly with a federal election to be announced soon. I didn't go through the extensive footnotes section for the sources for all his research & supporting evidence. Read all the rest. Fairly even-handed commentary from this experienced journalist.
October 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I think it was well balanced and insightful. It reaffirmed to me what I think about Trudeau (good and bad).
Now I just need Ivison to write similar books about the rest of our party leaders.
Now I just need Ivison to write similar books about the rest of our party leaders.
February 18, 2020
Interesting assessment of Justin Trudeau by framing JT's leadership as Prime Minister in terms of how he rose as a politician, and the aspirations he established for himself and his government along the way.
March 30, 2020
An excellent review of Justin Trudeau's first term in office, with a summary of all the disasters. I read it in time for the October 2019 election, not that I needed it to know how to vote, but it was nice to review the facts.
July 8, 2020
Good primer on the PM's rise and first term. Clearly has a bit of an angle and gets a little breathless about some minor stumbles, but served my purpose of getting a bit more up to speed on Canadian politics.
October 25, 2025
Very fair and tons of great anecdotes. This kind of thing isn't easy to write and Trudeau isn't terribly interesting to start with, but important that books like these are well written and Ivison does just that.
September 15, 2019
I don’t particularly like Trudeau, but god, I hated this.
January 11, 2020
Ivison seems to have struggled to get access to sources. The book is well-organized and enjoyable to read, but there's little that will be new to someone who follows Canadian political news.
January 17, 2020
An unintentionally hilarious look at the many screw-ups of Canada's 23rd prime minister.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews