Being Prime Minister
Overview
Behind the politics, discover the lives of Canada's leaders.
“What a life it is to be prime minister!” — John Diefenbaker
Canada has had twenty-three prime ministers, all with views and policies that have differed as widely as the ages in which they lived. But what were they like as people? Being Prime Minister takes you behind the scenes to tell the story of Canada’s leaders and the job they do as it has never been told before.
From John A. Macdonald to Justin Trudeau, readers get a glimpse of the prime ministers as they travelled, dealt with invasions of privacy, met with celebrities, and managed the stress of the nation’s top job. Humorous and hard working, vain and vulnerable, Canada leaders are revealed as they truly were.
Awards
Reviews
With lively anecdotes and thoughtful insights, Stewart reminds us that there are human beings behind the headlines. This absorbing and original book explores aspects of political life that are too often ignored.
Bursts with details and anecdotes on the daily lives of the very human men and woman who have led us. A trove of trivia treasures.
A fun and fascinating book that reminds us that prime ministers are human; each with unique strengths, quirks, and foibles. Well researched, crisply written, and refreshingly non-partisan, it is immensely enjoyable, gossipy, heartwarming.
Each of the remarkable people who have occupied Canada’s highest office are brought vividly to life on the pages of this immensely readable book. A super fun and worthwhile read.
A valuable and insightful look at the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of the people who have held the highest office in the land. A must read for anyone who wants a better understanding of what it takes to lead our country.
There’s an increasing tendency these days to dehumanize political leaders of all stripes...Being Prime Minister gives us all a break from that brand of politics — and isn’t that what we’re all looking for this summer?
With books, as with all else, one of the keys to success is making hard things seem easy. Stewart’s seemingly effortless recitation of coordinated, well-told anecdotes is the result of his formidable research.
A teacher of Canadian history in Toronto, Stewart has written a book that is wonderfully gossipy and is built on anecdotes and stories — “history by the ounce,” as historian Barbara Tuchman called it.