Mike Myers (1) (1963–)

Myers and I are both ex-pat Canucks, from Ontario, who grew up around the same time (he's a few years older). A lot of the book covers "Hey, remember this brand/slogan/package/product/TV show?" stuff which honestly, I find super appealing. He occasionally explains a particular cultural aspect (e.g, our fascination with Buffalo news reporter Irv Weinstein and the nightly reports of arson in the Buffalo suburbs) and I even learned a few things.

The book also provides a chronology of Myers' show more early career, much of which I didn't know (he did a lot of commercials and TV before creating the Wayne Campbell character; he lived in London and was quite successful there for a number of years).

And finally, the book offers Myers' analysis and critique of the Canadian identify as it evolved before and through Trudeau, and then how the promise dissipated through Mulroney and Harper. It ends with a massive amount of hope for Justin Trudeau, which can't help but date the book as obviously things with Justin got more complex as the first term wore on.

Whatever- he's passionate and insightful and occasionally dry, and I enjoyed the journey through time and place of his memories and mine. show less

Mike Myers' unabashed love for Canada is endearing, perhaps a little over-the-top, but real. It was entertaining to learn stories of his life, while taking historical jaunts through Canada, with Myers' enthusiastic guide.

I loved Myers' take on Canada. Although he has been living in the USA for over thirty years he still has a strong opinion on Canada and it's identity within itself and to the world. Some of the Canadianisms that he mentions are still used (eh!, two-four for 24 beer) but some are a touch out of date (I've never heard a variety store called a "smoke and gift", never heard a two-four shortened to Twef)

I especially loved his opinions on our current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his father show more Pierre Trudeau, our 15th Prime Minister.
He used this quote by Pierre Trudeau which I find quite relevant today.

"The Just Society will be one in which the rights of minorities will be safe from the whims of intolerant majorities. The Just Society will be one in which those regions and groups which have not fully shared in the country's affluence will be given a better opportunity. The Just Society will be one where such urban problems as housing and pollution will be attacked through the application of new knowledge and new techniques. The Just Society will be one in which our Indian and Inuit populations will be encouraged to assume the full rights of citizenship through policies which will give them both greater responsibility for their own future and more meaningful equality of opportunity. The Just Society will be a united Canada, united because all of its citizens will be actively involved in the development of a country where equality of opportunity is ensured and individuals are permitted to fulfill themselves in the fashion they judge best" show less

Mike Myers, the actor. Wayne's World, Austin Powers, Shrek, and now the host of The Gong Show.

This book is partly autobiographical, but Myers life is not the point of this book. This is about his relationship with his home country Canada. I learned much about Canada that I didn't know because as Myers phrases it, Americans view Canada as the U.S.'s hat, a nice accessory. He also discusses his love for Canada while living in the U.S. and also his feelings for Canada when his parents are show more British.

He covers large portions of his life, but again, that is not the point. The book is about Canada and what it means to be Canadian. At the end it turns very political, which I believe to be the point of writing the book. This caught me off guard as Myers had not been political in his career. Very little in the book is stick with you for years memorable, but it has some funny stories, defines Canada and Canadians, was overall enjoyable. show less