Canada

Mike Myers tells about his life of living in Canada from 1963 to 1983 and some interesting facts about the country. In 1867, Canada got its independence peacefully from Britain through a piece of British legislation called the British North America Act. Canada remained a Dominion of Britain. Canada did not get its own flag until 1965 and its own Constitution till 1982. There is a branch of the government called Statistics Canada. The book tells about long lists of Canadian achievements of firsts. There is bilingual packaging with both English and French on the same label. Can Con legislation dictate that radio stations in Canada had to play a certain percentage of Canadian music. There is no plural for the word beer in Canada. There are some phrases that are uniquely Canadian. In Canada, when you’re sick, you’re not in the hospital, you’re just “in hospital.” A Newfie is someone from Newfoundland. Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, the last province to do so. The Canadian accent has some of its own pronunciations of some words. There are a few regional variations in pronunciation, even within Canada. Toronto and Chicago have much incommon. Toronto is an Iroquois word meaning ‘meeting place.’ Chicago comes from the Algonquian, meaning “wild garlic” or ‘”wild onion.” The cities are approximately the same size. Both are along a Great Lake and have proud traditions.

I really enjoyed this memoir/tribute to Mike Myers country of origin. You learn much about Canada as well as about his life, in a way that makes me realize much to admire about both Canada and him. Highly recommend!

I started reading this, expecting either a history book with some occasional injections of humour, or an autobiography with a splash of Canadian colour.Instead, things I had known, and NOT known, about my country were woven into a tapestry with Mike Myers' experiences growing up and living in, then near but still loving Canada.I laughed, learned and cried far more than I expected. I live in the neighbourhood where Mr. Myers grew up, so know many of the places described, but you don't have to, because the flavour is expressed so beautifully.This is a true tribute to Canada, and also a candid and enjoyable tale of the life of the author so far, a real Canadian treasure.

LOVED this book, read it almost in one sitting. As a fellow Canadian who left Canada at about the same time he did, I could relate SO closely to Meyers' memories of that era. His humor made me laugh, his recollections got me teary-eyed, and it was also interesting to follow the upward arc of his colourful career. I recommend this highly, and not only for Canadians. Most Americans would both enjoy and benefit greatly from the references to Canadian history which, I am sure, would be their first introduction to how things happened just to the North of our common border. . . Well done, Mike!

I'm not even a Canadian, I'm Japanese living in the U.S. for 20 yrs+ and do not know that much about Canada to truly appreciate all the details, but still I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel like we have a lot more in common with Canadian ways of thinking and living than American ways and it kind of explained why I felt so much at ease with people from Canada in early years of my stay in the U.S. Very interesting, funny, entertaining and enjoyable read.

This is strictly a book for Canadians. I doubt an American would get it. I. enjoyed it as, I am a Canadian not living in Canada any more. I do visit frequently.

I realize Mike Myers is not only a brilliant comedian/actor but also thoroughly educated and articulate. Please listen or read this book . Thank you Mike Myers!

I am about the same age as Mr. Meyers and have a similar relationship with Canada. I was born in Western Canada and moved to the US after 30 years. I became a dual citizen as well. I appreciate how well he writes about his childhood and the experience of being a displaced Canadian—not really fitting into what Canada is now and not really fitting into American society. It is hard to relate to someone just how different Canadians are culturally and Mr. Meyers puts that into words expertly. However, here comes the BUT, and it’s a big one. The last part of the book is a slobbering love letter to the Trudeaus. Canadians in Toronto—what the rest of Canada ruefully refers to as “the Center of the Universe”—don’t feel as warm to this chapter as he does. Both Trudeaus have disrespected and disregarded the rest of Canada, especially Western Canada. Trudeau Sr. set up the wonderful equalization payment system that systematically drains the hard earned resource money if the west and gives it to Quebec and Ontario. Billions and billions of dollars over years and years. Trudeau Jr. has continued his father’s legacy by blocking the oil pipeline which would boost the west’s oil production. He regularly shows contempt for the provinces that keep the Center of the Universe afloat. I enjoyed the first part of the book, but wanted my money back after reading the second part. Mike Meyers suggests that he was raised in humble surroundings, but he was already in the entertainment industry at an early age. Even in Canada this is rarified air. He likes to think that this separates him from the Hollywood “do as I say, not as I do” clique, but he is just as guilty hob-nobbing with the rich and famous. He has no idea what the everyday Canadian has to deal with and never really has.

I love Mike Meyers and quote his films often, especially So I Married An Axe Murderer. That movie is a friendship test!

I bought this book because I'm a Canadian living in another country. Reading about my home town brought back nice memories for me. Mike's sense of Humor Comes through well and it makes it for light reading.

This book is a personal memoir, with special emphasis upon the Canadian side of Mr. Myers. I appreciated it especially because he is just a few years older than I am, and so many of his recollections hit home with me. It's amazing how a guy growing up on the other side of Canada can have so many similar memories. I've enjoyed many of his movies, and now I know a bit about where he comes from. This book was worth the read, at least for me.

Mike Myers has written a love letter to the country of his birth, Canada. As it is also my country and although he's slightly younger than I am, we had many shared experiences. His love of television during the 60's on the CBC mirrored mine. His parents were from Liverpool, England and my mother was also from Lancashire and married a Canadian Airman during the war. His parents arrived in the fifties, mine in the forties. My neighbourhood was as safe as his and we played outdoors at skating/hockey rinks, playgrounds and other people's lawns where no one bothered us until the street lights came on and we had to head home. He thanks his Canadian education partially for his success and I concur that it was a good education for which I'm always grateful. He lived in the largest English speaking city, Toronto, at the time, and I lived in the largest French speaking city, Montreal back then. Nobody goes broke here paying for medical attention and we are among the healthiest people in the world. He was a Trudeau maniac for Pierre Elliot, as was I. Now we both love his kid, Justin. Our Prime Minister.He left for the U.S., Chicago and then new York and became a world class movie star, writer, and comedian. I stayed in Canada and only got to review his book. But I still win because I get to live in Canada and he doesn't. Sorry, I'm just joking. Don't want to hurt your feelings.Thanks Mike for the wonderful story and for writing what it truly means to be Canadian.

Truly a funny book from a truly funny Canadian