Justin TrudeauReseñas

"Common Ground" is that rare political autobiography which is a retrospective analysis of a political Scion's life and foray into politics. Trudeau is a new type of leader in a world where politics is synonymous with degeneracy. History, however, will be his final judge. The narrative is fluid and easy to comprehend (proving that Trudeau is a master communicator on both the podium and paper), the only downside being that some sections are rapidly cut short to keep the account moving. This only has the effect of skipping over somewhat crucial details. Nonetheless, an exceptional book and a timeless classic for all budding leaders.

Full disclosure: I like Justin Trudeau. I want him to be my Prime Minister. I knew that before picking up this book -- and that's why I picked up this book in the first place.

So, basically, I may be biased when I say that this is an amazing, thoughtful, and inspiring portrait of Justin Trudeau.

From his childhood to his current leadership position, he discusses the people and experiences that have helped shape him into the person he is today. With his anecdotes and conversational writing style, reading the book almost feels like sitting down for a discussion. And, perhaps best of all, the book provides a clearer picture of his beliefs and values than I've ever gotten from the media.

Yes, it feels a bit campaigny in spots for a memoir. But, I mean, 2015 is an election year. I'd be disappointed if his book didn't include at least a brief pitch for why he should be Canada's next prime minister.

And, let me tell you, after reading Common Ground, I'm more convinced than ever that he should be.

A very sincere, passionate account incorporating both Justin's childhood, life with & without his father, and his future vision for Canada. It's a easy read, not necessarily name dropping little know political acolytes but rich in praise with Canada's youth, middle class & multicultural aspects. Less a manifesto and more a statement of intent, one can see the passion & sincerity behind his leadership bid. Interesting, involving & intriguing, I want to know & see more. Of interest to those who like Canadian politics but also what direction the country is heading I now.

I must say that I am even more in respect of Mr. Trudeau after reading his autobiography. The first half of the book is about his family, childhood and how all of that shaped him into the man that he is. He speaks of his mother and her struggle with bi-polar disease, how she has become a spokesperson for it and his immense respect and love for her. His father, former PM of Canada and strict in many ways, but also a very loving father. He took time every day to spend quality time with his children. And raised them to never believe themselves ,to be better than others, with some very interesting examples. He speaks of the loss of his brother and the crushing impact it had on the family. He speaks of his wife, Sofie, how they had known each other through his brother, the depth of the love and respect he holds for her and the family they have made.

The respect he shows for all people shows as a part of his core makeup as is evidenced by his words. His belief in women's rights, the rights of immigrants, the rights of the poor and displaced. The theme that is repeated throughout the book is, We are stronger not in spite of, but because of our diversity. We, as Americans, can learn much from his lessons.

I have probably somewhat unfairly given it only four stars because I was far less enraptured with the second half of the book as he spoke at much length about his rise through the political system. Though I realize its importance, I found it rather tedious at many points. I did appreciate the things he had to say about equality and a more equal distribution of wealth, which most economists state as a necessity for a healthy economy and society. And though the US holds the gauntlet on the extremes on this, it has become an issue in many, if not most countries. He also spoke much about the inclusion of all people in Canada and how they came close to becoming two Canadas and the steps taken that prevented that. He ends the book with an absolutely beautiful First Nation's poem.

Its worth reading to learn more about this amazing man and its also full of pictures of him! :)

http://sephipiderwitch.com/common-ground-justin-trudeau-book-review/
SephiPiderWitch
05/02/2017

Common Ground

A well-written book that gives the reader an insight into the thought process and background of the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

One of the many ideas that I share with our Prime Minister is the value of an informed public in the decision making process. While some in other parties win elections when citizens are misinformed and disengaged from the political process, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the modern Canadian Liberal party have shown us that a well-informed, literate and intelligent population is something to cherish rather than be afraid of.

While I do not agree with every single idea the Prime Minister has put forward, I do agree with his core values and almost all of his policy positions and beliefs. Furthermore, the shift in attitude and spirit from that of the previous federal government is so great that, fortunately for Canadians, Justin Trudeau has genuinely earned the right to be our Prime Minister.

Just as his father’s election victory of 1968 brought in a new era of politics so has Justin Trudeau’s election victory of 2015 marked the end of a negative chapter in Canada’s political history and the start of a more hopeful future for all of us. In his first year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done more good than the previous government did in a decade. This is one of the many reasons why I am proud of not only Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada, but also to be a Canadian.

The Prime Minister also gives us a glimpse into his family life. The story about how he lost his brother Michel is one that I can personally relate to. It's never easy to lose a loved one, often because we never get a chance to properly say goodbye. When people are yanked out of our lives suddenly, it is a difficult situation to deal with. I hope that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at peace with what happened to his brother, and I'm positive Michel is proud of what his older brother has accomplished.

Have a great day Prime Minister, I really enjoyed your book.

Though he wasn’t yet Prime Minister at the time this book was written, it should be essential reading for all Canadians to understand the man who is now the leader of our country. The memoir is both personal and political. Trudeau shares his experience as “Maple 3” the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau, meeting his wife Sophie, the birth of their three children and the loss of his father and brother. The book also explores the genesis of his political career and the hard-fought battles that brought him to the leadership of the Liberal party. Throughout the book you get a clear picture of Trudeau’s passion for Canada and the Canadian people. You can see the development of his open-minded centrist approach, his collaborative work style, and the events that cemented his position as a federalist.

I've never been much of a one for memoirs; this is the first political memoir I've ever read that wasn't required reading for a history course. But something about getting citizenship 5 weeks before the election in Canada, and spending the months beforehand studying for my citizenship test, plunging myself into Canadian history and politics triggered some sort of political engagement switch in my brain.

During the campaign I went to local candidate forums, watched them online, I watched the televised national candidate forums, and avidly followed the reactions in social media and newspapers. But I come from an odd place, where unlike other Canadians, I don't have decades worth of 'this happened in the past' steering my judgment - I'm somewhat aware of the past, but I don't have the emotional response to it that others do. Particularly in Alberta, the strong response that can be evoked by the Trudeau name is fascinating (they don't like him).

I now find myself for the first time in my adult life having a prime minister and cabinet who seem to represent a lot of my core values. Not all of their policy is perfect. But the direction and intent pleases me greatly.

This book does a great job of sharing easy-reading stories to reveal how Justin Trudeau's political outlook and values were shaped. And I will admit I basically cried with joy at some points (reading his opinions on negative attack ads, how important it is to respect an opponent even as you disagree, of rejecting divisive politics and embracing diversity). There's nothing quite like the feeling that the country you've chosen to make your home may actually want you to be there. And so I give this book 4 stars, not because it's a brilliant book with brilliant writing that everyone will enjoy, but because it fills me with optimism, and the desire to become a better person, and do more to help my community and improve the world.

(I think the only thing I don't like is the cover photo, which I found so disconcerting I took to leaving the book face down) (Sorry for the long and rambling review, but apparently I have a lot of feelings right now!)

This sincere and frank autobiography is a good introduction to someone who grew up with parents on the front pages. His honesty and down-to-earth understanding of Canada as well as his dedication to family is impressive. As son of the former Prime Minister of Canada, the Trudeau family is well-known, mostly to older Canadians, but it must also be remembered that much of the news reported by the press of the day ranged from conjecture to scandal-mongering. Now that Justin Trudeau is leader of the Liberal Party of Canada it is worthwhile to get an accurate picture of him and the new generation. The first half of the book speaks about growing up and his family; the second half mostly describes his entry into politics, the process, and his views for Canada. It is tempting to compare him to his father, and while there are many similarities, the young Trudeau is different in many ways, with modern attitudes and opinions.

Justin Trudeau gives his account of who he is today as a politician and newly elected Leader of the Liberal Party. Of interest to most Canadians, including myself , is his experience as the son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair and what it was like to grow up at 24 Sussex Drive and to overcome being the son of such famous parents. The book is well written and is mostly memoir with a general overview of his political philosophy.½

This book is partly a memoir: Justin Trudeau talks about his childhood, and his life up to becoming leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. I enjoyed this aspect of the book very much, having watched his father in power as Prime Minister, and the publicity that surrounded the break-up of his parents' marriage, as well as the death of his brother and father. The Trudeau family has been a major part of the Canada I've grown up in.

The book is also, I believe, a vehicle for Mr. Trudeau to present his philosophy and beliefs directly to Canadians -- to define himself in advance of the upcoming general election. This, too, was interesting but somewhat repetitive (at times) and a bit like a political advertisement.