miloulou's review against another edition
4.0
Ehhh not for me.
Edit: on a 2nd re-read, I appreciate it a whole lot more for what it is: a snapshot of what felt like the loss of a sovereignty and what it meant to be Canadian in the 1960s, and the conflicts in watching the ever growing United States become more and more powerful. It is a really interesting perspective on what it meant to be sort of a dying breed? I can't even imagine meeting a Canadian now who feels a strong sense of loyalty to their British ancestry and being religious has become more and more a private affair. It is nice to see though that though Canada has changed, it still remains it's own sovereign state.
Edit: on a 2nd re-read, I appreciate it a whole lot more for what it is: a snapshot of what felt like the loss of a sovereignty and what it meant to be Canadian in the 1960s, and the conflicts in watching the ever growing United States become more and more powerful. It is a really interesting perspective on what it meant to be sort of a dying breed? I can't even imagine meeting a Canadian now who feels a strong sense of loyalty to their British ancestry and being religious has become more and more a private affair. It is nice to see though that though Canada has changed, it still remains it's own sovereign state.
rheckner's review against another edition
5.0
An extremely important book politically, philosophically, and theologically. It is at once historical and prophetic. It requires close and repeated reading and studying.
smlozinski's review against another edition
4.0
I feel purely blessed that I stumbled across this book at a thrift shop. I’m not sure I would have heard of it otherwise, as I’m not usually very into Canadian history or Canadian politics. This book managed to explain why, as well as to motivate me to re-engage with the history unfolding around me (though it seems the author had no such intention).
I’ve been lamenting this country for quite a long time, before I could put my finger on why. There’s a real sense of doom in a place where our only identity seems to be “at least we’re not like that tax collector!” (America, of course). You are not allowed to be proud of being a Canadian in the virtuous, patriotic sense - to be so is racist, sexist, colonialist, and what have you. You’re only allowed to be proud in the wicked sense.
Now, we see that even that is changing. Now, it’s become mainstream to say that you must not celebrate Canada Day, because Canada committed genocide against Indigenous peoples (we did no such thing, but that’s irrelevant). You must not proclaim our superiority to Americans, as We Did Evil Things Too and have no excuse.
It would seem we’re getting closer to giving up our sin of pride for something even worse. Does such a thing exist? I’m scared of what that might look like.
If only I could get a coffee with George Grant, he would probably have it figured out already.
I’ve been lamenting this country for quite a long time, before I could put my finger on why. There’s a real sense of doom in a place where our only identity seems to be “at least we’re not like that tax collector!” (America, of course). You are not allowed to be proud of being a Canadian in the virtuous, patriotic sense - to be so is racist, sexist, colonialist, and what have you. You’re only allowed to be proud in the wicked sense.
Now, we see that even that is changing. Now, it’s become mainstream to say that you must not celebrate Canada Day, because Canada committed genocide against Indigenous peoples (we did no such thing, but that’s irrelevant). You must not proclaim our superiority to Americans, as We Did Evil Things Too and have no excuse.
It would seem we’re getting closer to giving up our sin of pride for something even worse. Does such a thing exist? I’m scared of what that might look like.
If only I could get a coffee with George Grant, he would probably have it figured out already.
teghan's review against another edition
3.0
An important text in the history of Canadian thought and how we construct the nation. It is however, a bit dated. Grant's 'lament' for the nation is one that comes from the white-male construction of what a society should look like. He laments the loss of his Canada....as women were gaining more rights and freedoms and as the population of minorities in Canada increased, Grant was becoming uncomfortable with this. The nation was changing around him.
That isn't to say this book is without value. He has many good points about Canada's relationship with the United States that are still relevant today.
Additionally, any student of Canadian Studies or communications will find this an important historical book.
That isn't to say this book is without value. He has many good points about Canada's relationship with the United States that are still relevant today.
Additionally, any student of Canadian Studies or communications will find this an important historical book.
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