saboo's review
4.0
At first, I hated the idea of this book--Stephen Harper cannot possibly care what Yann Martel thinks he should read. But the more I read, the less that mattered and the more I thought about the importance of what a leader consumes in shaping who they are and how they lead.
Although I found it a little overtly left-leaning, the letter format is intimate and direct, the list of books is superb, and by the end I found myself wondering how my own reading list impacts my work, my friendships, and my life.
The best part of being friends with writers is their book recommendations and this book is a window into the book recommendations of an excellent Canadian writer as well as a meditation on the impact of literature and the types of leaders we choose to elect and support.
Although I found it a little overtly left-leaning, the letter format is intimate and direct, the list of books is superb, and by the end I found myself wondering how my own reading list impacts my work, my friendships, and my life.
The best part of being friends with writers is their book recommendations and this book is a window into the book recommendations of an excellent Canadian writer as well as a meditation on the impact of literature and the types of leaders we choose to elect and support.
strikingthirteen's review
4.0
I did not intend to sit down and blow through this in one sitting but that is exactly what happened. That's 101 (mostly) unanswered letters that Yann Martel (Life of Pi, Beatrice and Virgil) wrote to former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Each letter contained the title (or two, or three) of a book that he suggested Mr. Harper read. He even sent a copy of each book with the letter. This happened every two weeks. For 101 letters he received 7 responses, none of which from Harper himself.
There are a wide variety of books mentioned here. Some I've heard of, some not. Some I've loved, some I've loathed, but each letter gives a very, very good argument for picking it up. They aren't summaries of the books for the most part but a discussion of the importance of the ideas, the writing style, of the people that produced it. It really is quite fascinating and I really love how Yann Martel writes. Having heard him speak it is very, very similar.
There are a wide variety of books mentioned here. Some I've heard of, some not. Some I've loved, some I've loathed, but each letter gives a very, very good argument for picking it up. They aren't summaries of the books for the most part but a discussion of the importance of the ideas, the writing style, of the people that produced it. It really is quite fascinating and I really love how Yann Martel writes. Having heard him speak it is very, very similar.
denisesfanclub's review
3.0
The perfect bathroom book. Learned a lot and was introduced to authors I'd never heard of.
louiselo_'s review
5.0
A collection that reminds us of the importance of stories to any society that aspires to be good. A society that can't imagine something better is easier to control, as Erdogan's closure of 29 Turkish publishing houses reminds us. Martel makes a compelling argument for the centrality of the arts and humanities to democracy and quality of life in his letters.
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