Because I wish that I could have written this book. I'm a lot like Will Ferguson - I live in Japan, I have a jaded view towards both Japan and Canada, and I happen to agree with every single thing he says. Well, everything except for him putting down Nirvana. Other than that, Will Ferguson hits the hammer on the head with this collection of essays about the illusions of Canada that Canadians delude themselves with, that only an insider looking in from the outside could point out. Ferguson's voice as a writer is a pleasure to read - he's insightful and intelligent without being dry or pretentious, funny without being trite, cynical and jaded without being negative. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed the book. I think it began to capture Canada's quiet but strong patriotism. It also poked holes in the way Canadians define themselves (in an often hilarious way) and for me put a new perspective on how we define ourselves. There were times that I would be laughing out loud! And now, every time I hear about how "nice" Canadians are, I just have to smile and think of this book.

Will Ferguson had a good idea, attack the unassailable image Canadians have of themselves. It takes a traveled ex pat to see that Canadians swallow a lot of their own propaganda without applying a critical eye, or at least the same critical eye they apply to Americans who stumble north. Ask an American, German, or Japanese why their country is the greatest nation on earth and they'll make references to contributions to industry/science/history/culture. Ask a Canadian and he'll point to a UN survey. Or worse, he'll phrase it in the form of "we're great because we're not like the USA in these ways..." It's a little sad and telling that the biggest example of Canadian patriotism in the last 20 years is the "I Am Canadian" beer commercial, which itself is little more than an inventory of how Canadians are different from Americans.

There's probably a very good Globe & Mail Fifth Column piece hiding in this book. As a book, however, it's over long. Ferguson pads it with utterly boring p

Will Ferguson had a good idea, attack the unassailable image Canadians have of themselves. It takes a traveled ex pat to see that Canadians swallow a lot of their own propaganda without applying a critical eye, or at least the same critical eye they apply to Americans who stumble north. Ask an American, German, or Japanese why their country is the greatest nation on earth and they'll make references to contributions to industry/science/history/culture. Ask a Canadian and he'll point to a UN survey. Or worse, he'll phrase it in the form of we're great because we're not like the USA in these ways... It's a little sad and telling that the biggest example of Canadian patriotism in the last 20 years is the I Am Canadian beer commercial, which itself is little more than an inventory of how Canadians are different from Americans.

There's probably a very good Globe & Mail Fifth Column piece hiding in this book. As a book, however, it's over long. Ferguson pads it with utterly boring perso