 "Great gift!" | 2009-02-01 |
| - Reviewed By Angela C. Gage from Toledo, Ohio |
| A wonderful, funny book that makes a great gift for any Canadian or anyone who loves Canadians! Does not fear poking fun at anyone! And for those of us married to Canadians, it is really great ammo. :) |
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| "Loved this book" | 2009-01-05 |
| - Reviewed By canadian byrd from Winnipeg, MB CA |
| My Mom got this book for my American husband for Christmas last year. He read it and started quoting Canadian "facts" and I was like where are you getting this from? They were so funny I had to read the book. I laughed the entire way through. It really is a funny and sweet tribute to all things Canadians. I especially loved the provincial "highlights"! |
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 "Trying too hard to be funny" | 2008-02-29 |
| - Reviewed By Anton Karidian from Tennessee |
| Maybe I missed the meaning of HOW TO BE A CANADIAN. I got the book to learn about Canada, but found that the authors would often make one sentence of fact and then kid around about that fact for ten more. For instance, in the introduction, the Fergusons briefly look at various aspects of the country. About the climate, they say, "Canada has no fewer than six distinct seasons: Tax, Hockey, More Hockey, Still More Hockey, Summer (also known as the July Long Weekend, also known as 'Was that it?'), and finally Good God, Isn't the Hockey Season Over By Now?!" That's as illuminating as the "Climate" section gets about climate. Often too, I was not sure when something they said was true and when they were striving for comic effect. Also, I was rather put off by the authors' generally cynical and sarcastic attitude. I get enough cynicism in the U.S., thank you! Properly annoyed, I began to skim the joking parts, then finally just gave up on the book entirely about a third the way through. I must admit that I'm not Canadian, and have only traveled there a little, so maybe I don't realize what great social satire this is. I enjoyed much more the other book about Canada that the Fergusons wrote, Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw, which also included humor but which also contained much information, especially about the history of Canada. |
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| "Parts are true and funny, but overall I can't relate" | 2007-12-26 |
| - Reviewed By Pssst... from New York, NY |
| Maybe it's because I spent my life between Toronto and Montreal but I find much of the book, I simply can not relate. I also find the Fergesons to have a very self-deprecating view of Canada and tend to simply reinforce die-hard stereotypes. At times, it almost feels as if they have never left the country or that they are truly unaware of Canada's more unique qualities. Like in their Canadian music section, they basically explain that there are two types of Canadian music: Popular music and unpopular music (which is defined by its under-appreciated sophistication). Doesn't that define music anywhere from any country? They don't even mention the likes of Steppenwolf, Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, DOA and Skinny Puppy. Same with Canadian film which they wash over as basically "non-existant". I mean, if Canadians are known for anything in the arts, it's their contribution to cinema. But, here, no mention of Cronenberg, Ivan Rietman, Quebec Cinema and the hundreds of films made in Toronto and Vancouver every year. Well-regarded Classics like "Dead Ringers/Videodrone", "Meatballs", "Black Christmas", "Hardcore Logo" and "History of Violence" are just plain skipped over. Sure, some parts are sort of funny and true, but someone like say Russel Peters to me, is more revealing to me of the psychology of being from a Canadian city. I think those in the West and the rest of Canada could probably relate better though. Who knows. |
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 "Informative Book about people behaviour" | 2007-05-13 |
| - Reviewed By Ibrahim M. Helmi |
| Despite the comedy its a book full of information ABOOT Canada :) |
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| "A book that will make you laugh, but not one you willl learn a lot from..." | 2007-03-17 |
| - Reviewed By Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back from Los Angeles, California |
"How to be a Canadian", written by Will and Ian Ferguson (both Canadian), is a short book that aims at making you laugh by making fun of some stereotypes regarding Canada and Canadians.
I must confess that I thought that some parts of this book were a bit boring. On the other hand, I couldn't help but laugh when the authors say that their "sophisticated sense of self-identity (namely, that as Canadians, Canadians are, in fact, Canadian) is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. More important still is what Canadians aren't: American". I also liked the way in which Will and Ian give strange examples in order to help the reader to understand Canadian media, or when they wisely point out that "one of the most important aspects of assimilating into a particular culture is getting interested in the national obsession" (that is, hockey), among other things.
On the whole, I believe that "How to be a Canadian" is a book that will make you laugh, but not one you willl learn a lot from. All the same, and provided you take that into account, recommended....
Belen Alcat |
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