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The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau #2
Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau: 1968-2000
This magnificent second volume, written with exclusive access to Trudeau’s private papers and letters, completes what the Globe and Mail called “the most illuminating Trudeau portrait yet written” — sweeping us from sixties’ Trudeaumania to his final days when he debated his faith.
His life is one of Canada’s most engrossing stories. John English reveals how for Trudeau style was as important as substance, and how the controversial public figure intertwined with the charismatic private man and committed father. He traces Trudeau’s deep friendships (with women especially, many of them talented artists, like Barbra Streisand) and bitter enmities; his marriage and family tragedy. He illuminates his strengths and weaknesses — from Trudeaumania to political disenchantment, from his electrifying response to the kidnappings during the October Crisis, to his all-important patriation of the Canadian Constitution, and his evolution to influential elder statesman.
His life is one of Canada’s most engrossing stories. John English reveals how for Trudeau style was as important as substance, and how the controversial public figure intertwined with the charismatic private man and committed father. He traces Trudeau’s deep friendships (with women especially, many of them talented artists, like Barbra Streisand) and bitter enmities; his marriage and family tragedy. He illuminates his strengths and weaknesses — from Trudeaumania to political disenchantment, from his electrifying response to the kidnappings during the October Crisis, to his all-important patriation of the Canadian Constitution, and his evolution to influential elder statesman.
638 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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735 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 24, 2010
I was born just after Trudeau finished his fourth and final term, so it was interesting to find out what I missed. I come from a family who adore Trudeau, which I suspect is largely based on his fight for bilingualism in Canada (my family is French-Canadian from Ontario). More interesting was it to find out why Albertans dislike Trudeau so much, as I discovered while living in Edmonton for several years. The polarization fascinated me after years of hearing about what a great man he was.
Just Watch Me presents Trudeau in a balanced light, I think. English doesn't shy away from discussing Trudeau's many failures, out of which, funnily enough, some of his greatest successes emerged. I don't yet know enough about politics to fully be able to critique English's assessment of Trudeau's reign, nor do I read enough political biographies to gauge whether or not the book lacked focus. It did seem heavy-handed at times, like English had way too much information and wanted to cram it all in, but who am I to say that some of the content didn't belong? I don't think I'm in a position to do so.
While this book was a bit of a slog at times, I do feel like I have emerged from the reading with a much better understanding of Trudeau and the politics of the time. At the very least, it must have been refreshing to have a prime minister who cared so much about the people of Canada, and who didn't back down and compromise what he believed in. This book made me wish I had been around for that, as I don't think a comparable prime minister has been in power during my lifetime.
Just Watch Me presents Trudeau in a balanced light, I think. English doesn't shy away from discussing Trudeau's many failures, out of which, funnily enough, some of his greatest successes emerged. I don't yet know enough about politics to fully be able to critique English's assessment of Trudeau's reign, nor do I read enough political biographies to gauge whether or not the book lacked focus. It did seem heavy-handed at times, like English had way too much information and wanted to cram it all in, but who am I to say that some of the content didn't belong? I don't think I'm in a position to do so.
While this book was a bit of a slog at times, I do feel like I have emerged from the reading with a much better understanding of Trudeau and the politics of the time. At the very least, it must have been refreshing to have a prime minister who cared so much about the people of Canada, and who didn't back down and compromise what he believed in. This book made me wish I had been around for that, as I don't think a comparable prime minister has been in power during my lifetime.
January 2, 2018
Trudeau was a unique and complex prime minister. How good a prime minister he was or wasn't only history and time will tell. This is a great read.
June 18, 2013
This is a thorough and sympathetic review of Pierre Trudeau’s years in power starting from 1968 (less than 40 pages of the book are concerned with the years after 1984).
Mr. English covers the tumult of this era from the short honeymoon of Trudeau-mania to his vehement opposition to the Meech Lake Accord. His biography puts to rest the myth that Trudeau was merely an image. While it is true that Trudeau knew how to project himself to the media – he was a complicated and captivating individual. For many Canadians during this time he was a positive counterpoint to our dominant U.S. neighbour immersed in the Vietnam War, with their cities in turbulence and Nixon harried out of office. In contrast to Nixon it was Trudeau who intimidated the press. No politician of this era in the democratic world stood up to his adversaries as Trudeau did. As the author points out – during the Trudeau years the question of “who speaks for Canada” was easy to answer. In a country, like Canada, always be-fuddled by perennial power struggles between the provinces and the federal government, it could be said to be necessary to have leadership at the helm in Ottawa.
At over 600 pages this is a detailed portrait. The author does bring out alternative viewpoints on many of the issues like the October crisis, the failed constitutional talks and the patriation of the Canadian constitution. He also analyzes issues from a retrospective viewpoint – for instance after the October Crisis separatism in Quebec became a democratic process instead of being propelled by violent terrorist acts. The author also illustrates well Trudeau’s capacity to plough ahead.
We get a vivid picture of a man who was a wonderful father, but had a rocky relationship with his wife Margaret. He could be unappreciative to those working with him on a professional level. His constant serial dating of mostly younger women (Margaret was thirty years younger!) would, to me, seem to be at odds with his professed Catholicism.
This Catholicism never entered into his political legislation – he separated government from religion. For Trudeau, the individual must be able to live freely within the laws of society – and in his words “without being bound up by standards of morality… which have to do with prejudice and religious superstition” (page 20 of my edition).
As Mr. English indicates, in many ways Canada evolved for the better during the Trudeau era. We became part of the G7 and the constitution was brought home to Canada. Bilingualism has become much more acceptable across Canada – most Prime Ministers since have a good working knowledge of French. As another example, the number of French Canadians (or Quebecois) in the Canadian Armed Forces has increased enormously and they now make up a bigger proportion in the army of their representative population.
This book gives a moving picture of this dynamic leader whose role in Canada will not be forgotten.
Mr. English covers the tumult of this era from the short honeymoon of Trudeau-mania to his vehement opposition to the Meech Lake Accord. His biography puts to rest the myth that Trudeau was merely an image. While it is true that Trudeau knew how to project himself to the media – he was a complicated and captivating individual. For many Canadians during this time he was a positive counterpoint to our dominant U.S. neighbour immersed in the Vietnam War, with their cities in turbulence and Nixon harried out of office. In contrast to Nixon it was Trudeau who intimidated the press. No politician of this era in the democratic world stood up to his adversaries as Trudeau did. As the author points out – during the Trudeau years the question of “who speaks for Canada” was easy to answer. In a country, like Canada, always be-fuddled by perennial power struggles between the provinces and the federal government, it could be said to be necessary to have leadership at the helm in Ottawa.
At over 600 pages this is a detailed portrait. The author does bring out alternative viewpoints on many of the issues like the October crisis, the failed constitutional talks and the patriation of the Canadian constitution. He also analyzes issues from a retrospective viewpoint – for instance after the October Crisis separatism in Quebec became a democratic process instead of being propelled by violent terrorist acts. The author also illustrates well Trudeau’s capacity to plough ahead.
We get a vivid picture of a man who was a wonderful father, but had a rocky relationship with his wife Margaret. He could be unappreciative to those working with him on a professional level. His constant serial dating of mostly younger women (Margaret was thirty years younger!) would, to me, seem to be at odds with his professed Catholicism.
This Catholicism never entered into his political legislation – he separated government from religion. For Trudeau, the individual must be able to live freely within the laws of society – and in his words “without being bound up by standards of morality… which have to do with prejudice and religious superstition” (page 20 of my edition).
As Mr. English indicates, in many ways Canada evolved for the better during the Trudeau era. We became part of the G7 and the constitution was brought home to Canada. Bilingualism has become much more acceptable across Canada – most Prime Ministers since have a good working knowledge of French. As another example, the number of French Canadians (or Quebecois) in the Canadian Armed Forces has increased enormously and they now make up a bigger proportion in the army of their representative population.
This book gives a moving picture of this dynamic leader whose role in Canada will not be forgotten.
January 6, 2022
A bit of a long read and will be honest that I skimmed through parts that seemed to drag with so much in-party fighting, disagreements with the other parties, Pierre's social life before and after his marriage and "stuff" I didn't even realize had gone on (but to be fair, politics was never something I was overly anxious to know about)
I read the chapter on the October crisis because I was living on the base at CFB Rockcliffe (Ottawa) at that time and remember being in class when a slew of military vehicles came thundering down the main road to the base all the boys ran to the window to see them all; then they all parked on the parade square for a while.
Also, during the 1980 referendum I was still in Ottawa and that was an interesting time as well and after reading the section where Levesque was "hood-winked" brought back memories of a further divide with Ottawa and the province of Quebec.
Read with interest the section dealing with Peter Lougheed of Alberta (where I now live) and the back-and-forth regarding the NEP way back then & it continues to this day.
And, I worked at The Westin Ottawa for a number of years and I worked at the first major banquet at the hotel featured Trudeau and the Chinese leader. Over 1,000 dinner quests, lots of staff and the secret service all over the place.
Love him or dislike him, he certainly left a mark on the history of this country.
I read the chapter on the October crisis because I was living on the base at CFB Rockcliffe (Ottawa) at that time and remember being in class when a slew of military vehicles came thundering down the main road to the base all the boys ran to the window to see them all; then they all parked on the parade square for a while.
Also, during the 1980 referendum I was still in Ottawa and that was an interesting time as well and after reading the section where Levesque was "hood-winked" brought back memories of a further divide with Ottawa and the province of Quebec.
Read with interest the section dealing with Peter Lougheed of Alberta (where I now live) and the back-and-forth regarding the NEP way back then & it continues to this day.
And, I worked at The Westin Ottawa for a number of years and I worked at the first major banquet at the hotel featured Trudeau and the Chinese leader. Over 1,000 dinner quests, lots of staff and the secret service all over the place.
Love him or dislike him, he certainly left a mark on the history of this country.
August 17, 2019
A thorough, well-written and informative exploration of Trudeau’s key years in office. English navigates the personal and professional aspects of Trudeau’s life with balance and tact. At no point does the biography sink into melodrama or gossip.
September 20, 2025
I just read 650 pages of Canadian political history. The facilitation of that feat is probably worthy of five stars on its own. Trudeau is a deeply fascinating individual who presided over a lengthy and influential period in Canadian history, and this book did a phenomenal job providing all of the context, characters, and quotes that give life to the story without feeling bogged down in the details. This is a remarkable work of non-fiction, minute-by-minute writing.
August 22, 2019
Couldn't take any more after 11% of the book. Brutally boring.
May 19, 2011
As a political history of Canada in the nineteen seventies and eighties this is a very comprehensive work. As a biography of Trudeau it reflects the reality of Trudeau as a political animal. As the story of Trudeau the man it lacks the emotional content required except in a few notable instances.
I learned more about the polical history of my country from this book than I did about Trudeau as a human being. While the case can be made that he was and is a seminal figure in the history of the time I would have liked to have seen more attention paid to the personal life of this most interesting of characters.
I learned more about the polical history of my country from this book than I did about Trudeau as a human being. While the case can be made that he was and is a seminal figure in the history of the time I would have liked to have seen more attention paid to the personal life of this most interesting of characters.
January 11, 2024
A titanic biography that follows Trudeau’s dominance of Canadian politics to his lone retirement. John English once again shows his greatness for translating the lives of these far away figures and turns them into people we all can understand (even if they remain a paradox).
This book is a quick and exciting narrative (although a large book) that chronicles the election of 68’, the October Crisis, the fight for bilingualism, the fall of majority history and its return, his trips to China and Cuba, his fall from power and his eventual return to it. It follows Trudeau in the 80’s as he fights monetarism and craves world peace, his creation of the NEP and his wars with Quebec and its separatists. Yet perhaps most importantly it displays Trudeau’s vision of a completely free Canada, where it can confidently stride the world with its own ideas.
To understand the modern Canada and one must understand its maker, that in many ways is Trudeau and in truth is this book. English displays a remarkable grasp of detail without getting dogged down in over complex analysis and over explanation. It truly is a great read about the great man.
English show’s Trudeau in all of his complexities and by the end of the book one comes to understand that the relatively reluctant Liberal leader never really wanted to give up, yet the 1980’s had created a new world order one where conservatism had eclipsed social democracy and Trudeau who had neglected the world in his first term (68-72) was more and more out of place. His initiatives on the world stage which began in his second term yet only found their true meaning in his forth were too late, time had passed him. But even this as English makes clear put Canada at the centre, his opposition to Thatcher and Reagan meant he was the rallying symbol for the left leaning leaders of the 1980s and it put Canada in a new light. With Trudeau Canada had a voice.
On economics his is more muddied. This in part is due to the economic climate at the time, no Western nation could manage its economy in the 1970s, crisis after crisis engulfed the world. His attempts to control stagflation with wage and price controls failed, yet those too were the conservative policies, the NEP failed once more due to world circumstances. Canada did see success but like many nations in economic terms during this period it was only for a time.
On domestic policy Trudeau must be hailed as the master of modern prime ministers. His fight with separatists to bring the debate over Quebec to the democratic forum culminating in the October Crisis, although controversial must be seen as a leader leading. His acceptance of RCMP once more must be criticised but his ability to review and act as facts came to him must be admired. He would not give in to terrorism. Furthermore his fight, his battle in politics was to save and recreate Canada. Once more English show’s this and delivers a vivid picture of Trudeau’s methods to save his nation, his battles with the premiers of all provinces and his attempts and success at creating a Charter of Rights.
In many ways Trudeau’s fourth and final term in office is where he preformed his greatest magic yet it would not have been this way if he had not governed all those year before. The 1970s were a difficult period for all of the western world, with leaders falling in numerous ways yet Trudeau stood firm and became preeminent among the them. He craved to carve a true way for Canada at home and in the world. Whether you agree with his methods or not he became Canada and Canada became him. Without such a man his country would be a completely different place. It was in the end his ability to both be a good Quebecois and a good Canadian that made him a great Prime Minister of his nation and meant that he both saved it and made it anew.
This book is a quick and exciting narrative (although a large book) that chronicles the election of 68’, the October Crisis, the fight for bilingualism, the fall of majority history and its return, his trips to China and Cuba, his fall from power and his eventual return to it. It follows Trudeau in the 80’s as he fights monetarism and craves world peace, his creation of the NEP and his wars with Quebec and its separatists. Yet perhaps most importantly it displays Trudeau’s vision of a completely free Canada, where it can confidently stride the world with its own ideas.
To understand the modern Canada and one must understand its maker, that in many ways is Trudeau and in truth is this book. English displays a remarkable grasp of detail without getting dogged down in over complex analysis and over explanation. It truly is a great read about the great man.
English show’s Trudeau in all of his complexities and by the end of the book one comes to understand that the relatively reluctant Liberal leader never really wanted to give up, yet the 1980’s had created a new world order one where conservatism had eclipsed social democracy and Trudeau who had neglected the world in his first term (68-72) was more and more out of place. His initiatives on the world stage which began in his second term yet only found their true meaning in his forth were too late, time had passed him. But even this as English makes clear put Canada at the centre, his opposition to Thatcher and Reagan meant he was the rallying symbol for the left leaning leaders of the 1980s and it put Canada in a new light. With Trudeau Canada had a voice.
On economics his is more muddied. This in part is due to the economic climate at the time, no Western nation could manage its economy in the 1970s, crisis after crisis engulfed the world. His attempts to control stagflation with wage and price controls failed, yet those too were the conservative policies, the NEP failed once more due to world circumstances. Canada did see success but like many nations in economic terms during this period it was only for a time.
On domestic policy Trudeau must be hailed as the master of modern prime ministers. His fight with separatists to bring the debate over Quebec to the democratic forum culminating in the October Crisis, although controversial must be seen as a leader leading. His acceptance of RCMP once more must be criticised but his ability to review and act as facts came to him must be admired. He would not give in to terrorism. Furthermore his fight, his battle in politics was to save and recreate Canada. Once more English show’s this and delivers a vivid picture of Trudeau’s methods to save his nation, his battles with the premiers of all provinces and his attempts and success at creating a Charter of Rights.
In many ways Trudeau’s fourth and final term in office is where he preformed his greatest magic yet it would not have been this way if he had not governed all those year before. The 1970s were a difficult period for all of the western world, with leaders falling in numerous ways yet Trudeau stood firm and became preeminent among the them. He craved to carve a true way for Canada at home and in the world. Whether you agree with his methods or not he became Canada and Canada became him. Without such a man his country would be a completely different place. It was in the end his ability to both be a good Quebecois and a good Canadian that made him a great Prime Minister of his nation and meant that he both saved it and made it anew.
June 28, 2025
An incredibly uneven book.
English's skill as a writer and the access he had in writing this book are undeniable. However well-written the book is the multiple examples of hagiography and blind agreement with the ideological blinders of Trudeau that made his tenure in office so muddled.
p. 369 "Trudeau's focus on the challenge from Quebec became ever more intense, and he showed a Churchillian willingness to make pacts with enemies to defeat the evil of separation."
Pierre Trudeau was not in the same league as Churchill as a statesman, leader of government or writer. Shame on English for making the comparison.
p. 584 English tried to offer Canada's paltry defense spending as a positive in comparison to the U.S. From 1972 to 1978 the U.S. went from spending a little over 50 times as much on defense as Canada to "only" 39 times as much as Canada on defense spending. It is a truly laughable claim.
p. 588 The fawning description of ordinary activities is almost sad. "Trudeau danced slowly and sometimes frenetically, but always exquisitely". Definitely not the verbiage of someone reviewing the life of Trudeau with a critical eye.
p. 600 English presents an example of churlish, unprofessional behaviour on Trudeau's part with nary a word of criticism. "When a reporter asked what impact Andropov's death would have on his (peace) initiative, Trudeau continued walking, looked straight ahead, and said, "I won't be meeting him".
The hagiography reached its peak when English discussed Trudeau's last address as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. p. 610 "Then, suddenly, he became the gunslinger, his fingers in his belt loop, defiant in his gaze, spitting out his words as he attacked those who had tried to stare him down."
On page 613 English provides an uncritical recitation of the barrage of patronage appointments Trudeau made as he left office. There wasn't even a consideration that all these appointments were bad in any way. English even laid blame on Turner as Turner's "excuse was not convincing".
English recited a petulant act by Trudeau that English never recognized for the childish and unprofessional manner in which Trudeau behaved. Trudeau met with future prime minister Paul Martin Jr. in the spring of 1990 while the Meech Lake Accord dominated the political agenda in Canada. p. 623 "Martin asked Trudeau why he opposed Meech, "Do you support it?" Trudeau asked, before their food arrived. Martin no sooner began to answer then Trudeau threw his napkin on the table and walked out."
How did English describe this incredibly juvenile and inappropriate behaviour by Trudeau? "Meech trumped manners in the spring of 1990." No it didn't John!
It is unfortunate that John English was so blinded to many of the faults of Trudeau and felt the need to be so uncritical in his analysis.
English's skill as a writer and the access he had in writing this book are undeniable. However well-written the book is the multiple examples of hagiography and blind agreement with the ideological blinders of Trudeau that made his tenure in office so muddled.
p. 369 "Trudeau's focus on the challenge from Quebec became ever more intense, and he showed a Churchillian willingness to make pacts with enemies to defeat the evil of separation."
Pierre Trudeau was not in the same league as Churchill as a statesman, leader of government or writer. Shame on English for making the comparison.
p. 584 English tried to offer Canada's paltry defense spending as a positive in comparison to the U.S. From 1972 to 1978 the U.S. went from spending a little over 50 times as much on defense as Canada to "only" 39 times as much as Canada on defense spending. It is a truly laughable claim.
p. 588 The fawning description of ordinary activities is almost sad. "Trudeau danced slowly and sometimes frenetically, but always exquisitely". Definitely not the verbiage of someone reviewing the life of Trudeau with a critical eye.
p. 600 English presents an example of churlish, unprofessional behaviour on Trudeau's part with nary a word of criticism. "When a reporter asked what impact Andropov's death would have on his (peace) initiative, Trudeau continued walking, looked straight ahead, and said, "I won't be meeting him".
The hagiography reached its peak when English discussed Trudeau's last address as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. p. 610 "Then, suddenly, he became the gunslinger, his fingers in his belt loop, defiant in his gaze, spitting out his words as he attacked those who had tried to stare him down."
On page 613 English provides an uncritical recitation of the barrage of patronage appointments Trudeau made as he left office. There wasn't even a consideration that all these appointments were bad in any way. English even laid blame on Turner as Turner's "excuse was not convincing".
English recited a petulant act by Trudeau that English never recognized for the childish and unprofessional manner in which Trudeau behaved. Trudeau met with future prime minister Paul Martin Jr. in the spring of 1990 while the Meech Lake Accord dominated the political agenda in Canada. p. 623 "Martin asked Trudeau why he opposed Meech, "Do you support it?" Trudeau asked, before their food arrived. Martin no sooner began to answer then Trudeau threw his napkin on the table and walked out."
How did English describe this incredibly juvenile and inappropriate behaviour by Trudeau? "Meech trumped manners in the spring of 1990." No it didn't John!
It is unfortunate that John English was so blinded to many of the faults of Trudeau and felt the need to be so uncritical in his analysis.
April 9, 2021
English's book on P.E.T. is the outstanding comprehensive study of " the old prime minister"
(as Trudeau humbly referred to himself after his 19 years as prime minister were finished)
This reader is an unabashed admirer of both Trudeau pêre and Trudeau fils, having met and chatted briefly with both men.They are formidable intellects.
English recognizes that Pierre Trudeau was sometimes a divisive actor in Canadian politics but recognizes that if not for his steely defence of the federation through numerous national crises, especially the October Crisis of 1970 when Quebec faced the murderous terrorism of the FLQ, we might not have survived as a unified country. At that time when challenged by a reporter for his intent to invoke the War Measures Act, which equals martial law, Trudeau twitted the reporter and gave English his book title:"Just watch me!"
Just watch him indeed! Canadians were spellbound watching Trudeau cut the throats of his opponents during debates and Question Period in parliament. Over and over he slayed the opposite members.
English goes beyond the standard political biography to the personal life of Trudeau. We learn that he aced his way effortlessly through a princely education that ultimately gave him a professorship, then turned away from academia to travel the world as a footloose wanderer, even visiting communist countries and once scoring a casual meeting with Chairman Mao of China. Trudeau's family money easily would have allowed him to always travel first class but he chose instead to explore the world in the style of a pauper. This dichotomy of character, says the author, is the key to understanding the man.
He was tough as nails, yet a softie at heart; extremely energetic yet sometimes distant and uninterested; an elegant speaker in the Commons yet often crushingly crude to his opponents. Trudeau held a dreamy vision of Canada as a Just Society but he often treated provincial premiers as useless nitwits who brought no value to the negotiating table.
For all of the old prime minister's vigor, prostate cancer ultimately brought him down in 2000. He left the legacy of official bilingualism and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, no small accomplishments. Canadians never stopped watching him. We were captivated by his irresistible personal charisma and always surprised by his sartorial sense of style.This is the author's final understanding of Pierre Elliott Trudeau in the book.
Today Canada is captivated once again by another Trudeau in power. The good looks and personal warmth and strength of his first son, Justin Trudeau, make Canada again a place of excitement on the international stage.
"Only in Canada you say?" Indeed.
(as Trudeau humbly referred to himself after his 19 years as prime minister were finished)
This reader is an unabashed admirer of both Trudeau pêre and Trudeau fils, having met and chatted briefly with both men.They are formidable intellects.
English recognizes that Pierre Trudeau was sometimes a divisive actor in Canadian politics but recognizes that if not for his steely defence of the federation through numerous national crises, especially the October Crisis of 1970 when Quebec faced the murderous terrorism of the FLQ, we might not have survived as a unified country. At that time when challenged by a reporter for his intent to invoke the War Measures Act, which equals martial law, Trudeau twitted the reporter and gave English his book title:"Just watch me!"
Just watch him indeed! Canadians were spellbound watching Trudeau cut the throats of his opponents during debates and Question Period in parliament. Over and over he slayed the opposite members.
English goes beyond the standard political biography to the personal life of Trudeau. We learn that he aced his way effortlessly through a princely education that ultimately gave him a professorship, then turned away from academia to travel the world as a footloose wanderer, even visiting communist countries and once scoring a casual meeting with Chairman Mao of China. Trudeau's family money easily would have allowed him to always travel first class but he chose instead to explore the world in the style of a pauper. This dichotomy of character, says the author, is the key to understanding the man.
He was tough as nails, yet a softie at heart; extremely energetic yet sometimes distant and uninterested; an elegant speaker in the Commons yet often crushingly crude to his opponents. Trudeau held a dreamy vision of Canada as a Just Society but he often treated provincial premiers as useless nitwits who brought no value to the negotiating table.
For all of the old prime minister's vigor, prostate cancer ultimately brought him down in 2000. He left the legacy of official bilingualism and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, no small accomplishments. Canadians never stopped watching him. We were captivated by his irresistible personal charisma and always surprised by his sartorial sense of style.This is the author's final understanding of Pierre Elliott Trudeau in the book.
Today Canada is captivated once again by another Trudeau in power. The good looks and personal warmth and strength of his first son, Justin Trudeau, make Canada again a place of excitement on the international stage.
"Only in Canada you say?" Indeed.
May 28, 2019
Wow. That’s how I would describe this biography. English masterfully captures the complexity of Pierre Elliot Trudeau masterfully in this book.
English focuses mainly on 1968-1984 (about 40 pages are ‘84 - 2000) and crafts a narrative of Trudeau’s four terms in Government. English writes sympathetically of Trudeau and presents him as the reformer he was. “Taking Canada from a youthful state to a mature state” as many Trudeau supports claim is neither simple or clean. English documents the challenges, conflicts, and relationships lost along the way in an emotional and riveting way.
Trudeau’s many successes- the October crisis, bilingualism, the just society, the constitution, the Quebec referendum, and his peace initiative- are all laid out in this book and explored in depth.
With access to Trudeau’s personal papers and extensive interviews with former colleagues, the reader can see the decision making that Trudeau performed and imagine the context Trudeau’s decisions were made in. At its core, this is where the book shines. So often with biographies readers are presented an image and a litany of facts. They never learn the context or choices that were available, just the actions and outcomes. English presents an in depth view of the options available and context at the time. This provides a deeper, more meaningful read, and demystifies the complex man that was Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
A must read for students of Canadian history and modern statecraft.
English focuses mainly on 1968-1984 (about 40 pages are ‘84 - 2000) and crafts a narrative of Trudeau’s four terms in Government. English writes sympathetically of Trudeau and presents him as the reformer he was. “Taking Canada from a youthful state to a mature state” as many Trudeau supports claim is neither simple or clean. English documents the challenges, conflicts, and relationships lost along the way in an emotional and riveting way.
Trudeau’s many successes- the October crisis, bilingualism, the just society, the constitution, the Quebec referendum, and his peace initiative- are all laid out in this book and explored in depth.
With access to Trudeau’s personal papers and extensive interviews with former colleagues, the reader can see the decision making that Trudeau performed and imagine the context Trudeau’s decisions were made in. At its core, this is where the book shines. So often with biographies readers are presented an image and a litany of facts. They never learn the context or choices that were available, just the actions and outcomes. English presents an in depth view of the options available and context at the time. This provides a deeper, more meaningful read, and demystifies the complex man that was Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
A must read for students of Canadian history and modern statecraft.
December 16, 2024
This is quite possibly the best political biography I’ve ever read.
As an American with a passing knowledge of Canadian history and politics, I found myself repeatedly looking up Wikipedia entries related to Canada’s parliament and federal system in order to make sense of the narrative. I don’t fault the book for that, however, since it’s clearly targeted to Canadian readers. And, my relative lack of knowledge of Trudeau and the Canadian system made this book all the more enjoyable as a voyage of discovery, not only of a great leader and his legacy, but into the inner workings of Canadian culture and politics.
One takeaway as an American reader is that Trudeau is an answer to one of the great “what ifs” of our history. What if JFK had lived and served two terms, and and was able to fully enact his progressive vision for the US? I think Trudeau offers something of an answer to that question.
Ultimately Trudeau loved his country and wanted to make Canada great. And he had a vision for *how* Canada would be great: 1. by being unified, inclusive, multilingual and multicultural, and 2. by being truly sovereign, economically independent, able to defend the rights of its citizens on its own terms, independent of British rule and able to stand up to the United States.
To a remarkable degree, he made this vision a reality. This book is the story of how he achieved so much and as such is a must read for anyone interested in leadership, politics and government.
As an American with a passing knowledge of Canadian history and politics, I found myself repeatedly looking up Wikipedia entries related to Canada’s parliament and federal system in order to make sense of the narrative. I don’t fault the book for that, however, since it’s clearly targeted to Canadian readers. And, my relative lack of knowledge of Trudeau and the Canadian system made this book all the more enjoyable as a voyage of discovery, not only of a great leader and his legacy, but into the inner workings of Canadian culture and politics.
One takeaway as an American reader is that Trudeau is an answer to one of the great “what ifs” of our history. What if JFK had lived and served two terms, and and was able to fully enact his progressive vision for the US? I think Trudeau offers something of an answer to that question.
Ultimately Trudeau loved his country and wanted to make Canada great. And he had a vision for *how* Canada would be great: 1. by being unified, inclusive, multilingual and multicultural, and 2. by being truly sovereign, economically independent, able to defend the rights of its citizens on its own terms, independent of British rule and able to stand up to the United States.
To a remarkable degree, he made this vision a reality. This book is the story of how he achieved so much and as such is a must read for anyone interested in leadership, politics and government.
February 8, 2021
Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Pierre Trudeau left an enormous legacy in Canadian politics and history. In this second volume, John English explores the life and career of Trudeau from his enormous election victory in 1968 to his death in 2000. English's biography offers a fair end in-depth view of Trudeau's life without getting bogged down in the polarizing debates surrounding his career. Much of the book focuses on Trudeau's concern with the rise of Quebec separatism, the FLQ Crisis, and the Constitution Act of 1982. English also provides great insight into Trudeau's personal life. While these aspects of Trudeau's life and career are amply described, English tends to shy away from Trudeau's foreign relations with countries other than the United States and Great Britain. The book's many anecdotes and in-depth discussion on constitutional matters may be intimidating for those unfamiliar with Canadian politics. For those familiar with the subject, however, "Just Watch Me" is a fantastic view of the political career of Pierre Trudeau.
June 3, 2023
This book and the first volume were purchased at least 10 years ago a hauled around the world as I promised myself that when I had time I'd read them. Well, I did and am thankful for them. What a remarkable though flawed individual (aren't we all?). A critical thinker, a man of discipline, charisma emboded inside an introvert, a lover of knowledge (and just a lover!), a loving father and a passionate Canadian. It was well worth the 1200 pages, thank you John English and the Trudeau family for sharing this history with us.
February 19, 2024
This is the most important biography of Pierre E Trudeau’s 15 years as Prime Minister. This book offers a deep dive into the work and personal life of a misunderstood figure that is arguably the most consequential Canadian of the 20th century. Although Trudeau’s legacy is largely a positive one on many fronts, this book would have been more comprehensive had it engaged more thoroughly with some of the negative aspects as well (for instance, the White Papers are barely mentioned). Nevertheless, this book is incredibly well researched and the book to read on PIerre E Trudeau.
September 8, 2019
Excellent read! I was raised during what was commonly known as the “Trudeau Era”. This book helped me not only re-live important events of my youth and Canadian history, but it also helped me understand the complexities and humanity of the man that was Pierre Trudeau. Anyone with an interest in the history of the '60s and '70s - as well as how Canada became its own nation with its own Constitution - should read this comprehensive and richly-detailed biography.
July 29, 2020
While the first volume consisted in the portrait of a man, this second one goes into much detail on the political intrigues of Trudeau's time as a prime minister. Certain parts were more interesting and poignant than others, but this is no fault of the author, who cannot present the man at the expense of his project and the realities surrounding it. I highly recommend both volumes; they were informative and inspiring.
May 26, 2020
I read the first volume years ago and decided to read this one recently as part of my Canadian history binge (read the first of two volumes on Sir John A MacDonald and a book by Margaret Trudeau). I enjoyed this book. At times alittle detailed and policy wonky but overall a good review of the impact Trudeau had during his time in power.
April 29, 2021
A titan of a human being who once graced this earth. Leaders with conviction like him hardly exist. When people born with a golden spoon in the mouth spend their life trying to bring out the best in the down trodden, who can only sit and stare. Ask why, and the response, why not. John English done a brilliant job.
January 31, 2023
Good, but wow is it detailed and long. Learned a lot and enjoyed the ride but if your just looking for an overview this is not it.
September 30, 2025
I read this book bit by bit, the better to savor the cast of characters and revisit the gripping social and political issues in Canada of the time. It made me feel young and old at the same time.
December 15, 2015
The second volume of John English's account of the life of Canada's most magnetic and controversial prime minister is another well-done piece of writing, though at times one wonders if English has not bitten off more than might be readily put into a single volume. The first volume covered the period from Trudeau's birth in 1919 to his being designated as prime minister in 1968. Here, English opts to cover the entirety of Trudeau's ministry in a single volume -- and, indeed, Volume 2's date subtitle might be better-described as 1968-1984, because the period from 1984 to the subject's death in 2000 warrants a scant 30 of its 638 pages of text (supplemented by another 140 or so pages of notes, etc, and some photos).
Trudeau took office in 1968, succeeding Lester B. Pearson (now a legend, at the time considered something of a muddled achiever as PM, despite his storied ministerial career, an assessment that now seems kind of baffling given all that he accomplished in his five years), and immediately took the country by storm with his sheer force of personality. English faithfully catalogues the ups and downs of the 16-year period where he held the prime ministerial office for 15 years, broken up by the 9-month tenure of the ill-fated Joe Clark -- the heady early days of Liberal reform, the October Crisis (where a man who has gone down in history as a civil libertarian took a hard line on terrorism), the struggles to navigate the economic doldrums of the 1970s, and the return to power in the 1980s that brought the patriation of the constitution, the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the oft-maligned National Energy Program.
Sometimes I don't think English's presentation of all the details is optimal. If you didn't have a strong understanding of what the National Energy Program actually was going into this, I'm not sure how much this would enlighten you. From my perspective, the most novel elements of the governmental picture address Trudeau's foreign policy, an area that doesn't get nearly as much mention in writeups of his career and the public memory as his domestic policies. Relating to my earlier comment about the amount of material, there are times as well where it feels like English is only perfunctorily sketching many of the key supporting figures in Trudeau's government and elsewhere.
And then, of course, there is the subject of Trudeau's personal life, which captivated Canadians (and, as English shows, international media) at the time, and has remained a subject of discussion since. Unlike any PM before or since, Trudeau mingled freely with celebrities and intellectuals, and maintained a fascinatingly diverse social life where such figures as Barbra Streisand and Margot Kidder feature prominently at different stages of his life (the Streisand relationship, especially, is a rather fascinating what if?). Perhaps most importantly there is, of course, the story of Trudeau's marriage to Margaret Sinclair and the raising of their three sons.
While not perfect, this is a well-researched and fairly thorough account of the Trudeau years, a period where Pierre redefined the country, to a very substantial extent. And with his son Justin now leading the country in his own right, there's more reason than ever to revisit his formative years, too.
Trudeau took office in 1968, succeeding Lester B. Pearson (now a legend, at the time considered something of a muddled achiever as PM, despite his storied ministerial career, an assessment that now seems kind of baffling given all that he accomplished in his five years), and immediately took the country by storm with his sheer force of personality. English faithfully catalogues the ups and downs of the 16-year period where he held the prime ministerial office for 15 years, broken up by the 9-month tenure of the ill-fated Joe Clark -- the heady early days of Liberal reform, the October Crisis (where a man who has gone down in history as a civil libertarian took a hard line on terrorism), the struggles to navigate the economic doldrums of the 1970s, and the return to power in the 1980s that brought the patriation of the constitution, the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the oft-maligned National Energy Program.
Sometimes I don't think English's presentation of all the details is optimal. If you didn't have a strong understanding of what the National Energy Program actually was going into this, I'm not sure how much this would enlighten you. From my perspective, the most novel elements of the governmental picture address Trudeau's foreign policy, an area that doesn't get nearly as much mention in writeups of his career and the public memory as his domestic policies. Relating to my earlier comment about the amount of material, there are times as well where it feels like English is only perfunctorily sketching many of the key supporting figures in Trudeau's government and elsewhere.
And then, of course, there is the subject of Trudeau's personal life, which captivated Canadians (and, as English shows, international media) at the time, and has remained a subject of discussion since. Unlike any PM before or since, Trudeau mingled freely with celebrities and intellectuals, and maintained a fascinatingly diverse social life where such figures as Barbra Streisand and Margot Kidder feature prominently at different stages of his life (the Streisand relationship, especially, is a rather fascinating what if?). Perhaps most importantly there is, of course, the story of Trudeau's marriage to Margaret Sinclair and the raising of their three sons.
While not perfect, this is a well-researched and fairly thorough account of the Trudeau years, a period where Pierre redefined the country, to a very substantial extent. And with his son Justin now leading the country in his own right, there's more reason than ever to revisit his formative years, too.
September 13, 2012
The insane length of time that it too me to read this book reflects in no way on its quality. It is an excellent book, rich in both personal details and political history. Not surprisingly, the content was not quite as fast-paced as the first one, as Trudeau's early life as a rich intellectual playboy, then superstar politician, is pretty hard to beat. The reality of political life that this book documents can be a bit slow-going at times - the constitutional battles, the oil crisis and stagflation, the no-so-riveting arguments over wage and price controls. Luckily, Trudeau was an interesting enough character that even these moments usually have some Trudeau-ism within them - especially in the bitter disputes between Levesque and Trudeau.
One question that I did not feel was answered is why there seemed to be such a gap between the fiercely political Trudeau of the 50s and 60s - the one who based his views on a firmly classical education, and who had carefully studied economics and politics at Harvard and the LSE - and the at times almost non-views that seemed to take their place in the late 1970s and 1980s. English makes the case that Trudeau became so absorbed in his quest for patriation, and then later his quest for international peace and development, that he simply left the other issues to his cabinet. While this may be, it does not really answer the why of it.
An excellent book, but one I would definitely recommend in e-book format. Its size made it impossible to transport, and difficult to read in bed or on a couch very comfortably.
One question that I did not feel was answered is why there seemed to be such a gap between the fiercely political Trudeau of the 50s and 60s - the one who based his views on a firmly classical education, and who had carefully studied economics and politics at Harvard and the LSE - and the at times almost non-views that seemed to take their place in the late 1970s and 1980s. English makes the case that Trudeau became so absorbed in his quest for patriation, and then later his quest for international peace and development, that he simply left the other issues to his cabinet. While this may be, it does not really answer the why of it.
An excellent book, but one I would definitely recommend in e-book format. Its size made it impossible to transport, and difficult to read in bed or on a couch very comfortably.
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May 29, 2010Volume 2 of the biography. Much more absorbing than volume 1 which I also enjoyed. Full treatment of all the major battles of his years in power; the October Crisis, NEP, the constitutional fight and all the elections won and lost. His duel with Rene Levesque is given its proper due and so is his wild social life and in particular the stressful years with Margaret are handled well. English could perhaps have revealed more of Trudeau's House of Commons repartee which is how many of us got to see him in action.
Very interesting were the inside dealings in the Liberal Party in early 1980 after the Conservative Party fell on a House vote. Does Trudeau return or not? Of course we know he did and took power and helped defeat the Quebec referendum and bring about patriation of the Constitution and a Charter of Rights. But what were the tradeoffs? If Donald McDonald had taken over at this point would the Liberal Party today be an attractive voting option for only urban Ontarians and Quebeckers? English could have explored questions like this. Still, a marvelous job.
Very interesting were the inside dealings in the Liberal Party in early 1980 after the Conservative Party fell on a House vote. Does Trudeau return or not? Of course we know he did and took power and helped defeat the Quebec referendum and bring about patriation of the Constitution and a Charter of Rights. But what were the tradeoffs? If Donald McDonald had taken over at this point would the Liberal Party today be an attractive voting option for only urban Ontarians and Quebeckers? English could have explored questions like this. Still, a marvelous job.
January 2, 2016
A nuanced, captivating, and engrossing biography about the political life of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau (a legendary politician who combined the debonaire style of JFK with the transformative stature of FDR) and his impact in shaping modern Canada: Trudeaumania of the 1960s; official bilingualism and the policy of multiculturalism; the independent, "third way" policy of rapprochement during the Cold War; the controversial use of the War Measures Act to combat militant, violent Quebecois separatist activities during the FLQ crisis of the early 1970s; the equally-controversial National Energy Program (NEP); the political feud with the separatist Quebec provincial government of Rene Levesque (a one-time colleague) during much of the 1970s and early 1980s; the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution from Great Britain; and the push for a Charter of Rights. Love or hate him, Trudeau, during his political life, was one of the most dominant figures in Canadian politics: a legacy, as one of his biographers wrote, to this day "haunts us still."
August 3, 2014
For one of the Canadian greats, Trudeau was a shockingly flawed prime minister. English portrays him as a man who frequently lost his drive, neglected numerous portfolios and was a hard man to work along with over an extended period of time. Yet Trudeau chose his passions well, and his insistence on patriating the constitution, neutralizing the Quebec separatist movement and transforming Canada into a bilingual federation left such deep and lasting effects on Canada.
English gets somewhat bogged down in this second volume. The narrative is often flat with lots of detail around his various parliamentary and foreign initiatives. Sadly, it reads like a laundry list of facts and loses some of the build and excitement such complicated and high stakes political manoeuvring surely entailed.
English gets somewhat bogged down in this second volume. The narrative is often flat with lots of detail around his various parliamentary and foreign initiatives. Sadly, it reads like a laundry list of facts and loses some of the build and excitement such complicated and high stakes political manoeuvring surely entailed.
April 19, 2010
One can't help but admire Trudeau's resistance to political tides. Bismarck said that the job of a statesman is to grab God's cloak as he walks by, but Trudeau never did that. He had a few issues he cared out, a couple of core convictions, and he never wavered from them while being willing to compromise on those matters he considered inessential. Another lesson to draw from this work is how much more Trudeau made of his briefer second term in power (1980-1984) than his first, much longer one (1968-1979). It's a pity that political leaders so often forget that power isn't just to be won or preserved - it's meant to be used.
December 26, 2009
Both a political and a personal memoir, the author strikes a careful balance between including as much interesting information as possible and overwhelming the reader with detail. The author's summaries and conclusions are interesting and insightful and without a doubt, will be contested, particularly west of Ontario and within Quebec.
I felt I got a sense of what it was like to live through some of these times - how scary it must have been to live through the October Crisis (I was only 3 and don't remember much), and how frantic the constitutional debates became. (I do remember those!)
I felt I got a sense of what it was like to live through some of these times - how scary it must have been to live through the October Crisis (I was only 3 and don't remember much), and how frantic the constitutional debates became. (I do remember those!)
February 4, 2016
Although this book provides a detailed account of Pierre Trudeau's time as Prime Minister, it offers few insights into the man himself. Apart from a chapter on his relationship with Margaret, it says little about his life outside the office.
I was also disappointed that it didn't to into greater detail about his life after leaving office. More than a decade gets a few paragraphs.
In all, the first volume was more informative about Trudeau's life and thinking.
I was also disappointed that it didn't to into greater detail about his life after leaving office. More than a decade gets a few paragraphs.
In all, the first volume was more informative about Trudeau's life and thinking.
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