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Why I Hate Canadians
First published in 1997, this hilarious book launched satirist Will Ferguson's career. Challenging the notion that Canadians are “nice,” the book asks, “Do we as Canadians deserve a country so great?” Tackling subjects from Canada's favorite inbred royals to the mighty beaver as national icon, from sex in a canoe to all-Canadian "superhero" Captain Canuck, Fergus...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
August 28th 2007
by Douglas & McIntyre
(first published 1999)
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Great idea for a book, but hardly a great book. Super title, but his brother came up with it. Will Fergusson can't stop imparting how clever he is long enough to tell you anything of substance about Canada, but, hey; this is a guy who tells you about himself in a history of Canada that someone asked him to write; a guy who wrote an article for the NY Times telling women what they should and shouldn't do in the bedroom. I'm sure they appreciated the tips.
It'd be one thing if Ferguson...more
It'd be one thing if Ferguson...more
I loved this book. It wasn't quite as funny as I expected, yet there was some great, biting satire in it. The book is essentially part memoir (and that part is a bit weak), part sociopolitical analysis of culture. The latter is very well done.
That said, I think there are places where a non-Canadian might find themselves lost. I definitely understand why some American readers might dislike it - Ferguson didn't really do enough to let you in on some of the jokes... it could well be li...more
That said, I think there are places where a non-Canadian might find themselves lost. I definitely understand why some American readers might dislike it - Ferguson didn't really do enough to let you in on some of the jokes... it could well be li...more
How did making fun of Canucks become so popular? Maybe this book? It was written back in 1995 and I feel like in the last 5 years making fun of Canada is super cool. This book was a little making fun and from an American point of view, a lot of history. Actually more like a history of why we make fun of Canada, like the stuff they do that makes them just so easy to make fun of! And for some reason, being nice seems to be the number one reason! And so easy to make fun of them because they are too...more
I picked up the book thinking it would be mere humour. After all, I'd seen the cover of his other books and they seemed just as 'gimmicky but chucklable'.
Anyway, I started it, and it seemed to not just exist for humour. This book was intelligent. It outlined throughout history everything about Canada that seemed odd to him. He's a smart guy with a pretty interesting past, this Will Ferguson.
Everything he wrote made perfect sense to me and broadened my knowledge of the tr...more
Anyway, I started it, and it seemed to not just exist for humour. This book was intelligent. It outlined throughout history everything about Canada that seemed odd to him. He's a smart guy with a pretty interesting past, this Will Ferguson.
Everything he wrote made perfect sense to me and broadened my knowledge of the tr...more
My neice and I were traveling from Barcelona to Paris and we had some time to kill in the airport. She brought out two books she had to read for extra credit in school, I was living Norway and grabbed her book by Will Ferguson, to remind myself why I didnt live in Canada. I never laughed so hard in my life, my stomach was sore and I kept having to use the bathroom! My neiecs and I decided to take turns reading outloud, so we could both enjoy the book. In the end it was bang on! Every clich in th...more
So this was recommended by a close friend as being hysterical, along the lines of Bill Bryson. However that wasn’t my experience.
Large parts of this book went right over my head. I am not only American, but I am from the South, so there’s very little I know about Canada. I did kind of know that already but this book really pointed out how very little I know about Canada. My friend who read it, his wife’s family is Canadian and they spend part of each summer there, so I think that’s a...more
Large parts of this book went right over my head. I am not only American, but I am from the South, so there’s very little I know about Canada. I did kind of know that already but this book really pointed out how very little I know about Canada. My friend who read it, his wife’s family is Canadian and they spend part of each summer there, so I think that’s a...more
I found myself drawn to this book as I had previously read How to Be Canadian by the same author. The books overlapped on quite a few topics (I think Why I Hate Canadians was written first), but this book was still enjoyable, with quite a few fresh new topics.
This book tries to delve into the meaning of being Canadian, along with the idiosyncracies, in a series of short stories. It was enjoyable, but dry in some places.
This book tries to delve into the meaning of being Canadian, along with the idiosyncracies, in a series of short stories. It was enjoyable, but dry in some places.
Bought the book at the airport ... going to Cuba.
This is the first book the author wrote.
He tried different litterary style for each chapter.
I have enjoyed the book and got some laughs out of it.
I will certainly pass it on to some of my American friends that sometimes tease me about the weel know Canadian niceness !!!
Do not take too seriously!
This is the first book the author wrote.
He tried different litterary style for each chapter.
I have enjoyed the book and got some laughs out of it.
I will certainly pass it on to some of my American friends that sometimes tease me about the weel know Canadian niceness !!!
Do not take too seriously!
A humorous look at our neighbors to the north ... the descriptions of "Canadian quirks" are dead on. Ferguson's examinations of the culture are fascinating and he mixes that well with side-splitting humour. Not readily available in bookstores.. well worth the shipping price.
Mason
added it
This has a little more uncomfortable vitriol than Hitching Rides with Buddha, but it provided a great chaser to the Penguin History. And it REALLY makes me want to go to Sudbury!
obviously, it is supposed to come off as insulting. no one wants to see the bad side of their culture. this book exposes it.
while not as humourous as "how to be a canadian," this has got to be my favourite book by will ferguson. oddly enough, it inspired a flame of patriotism that i hadn't felt since i realized i wasn't american. GO CANADA
Hilarious, barbeques all the sacred cows and a couple of beavers to boot
Will Ferguson is always fun to read. This book takes a look at what's wrong with Canadians (why are we so nice? why do we always feel the need to compare ourselves to Americans? etc.). Entertaining, and I also learned a few things.
very funny take on why Canadians are so goofy
Hilarious!
It's ostensibly marketed as a humor book, and certainly the title captures attention ... while I did find parts of it funny, I also found it fascinating in a lot of areas, and learned way more about Canadians than I ever knew before. But judging by what Will Ferguson writes, I learned way more than even some Canadians know about themselves. Great book about our next-door neighbors.
His later works on this topic were definitely better; this was way too raw. (Also, his latter books are much more humourous, once he finds his voice and knows how to make it work; much of this book felt like he was trying too hard.)
On the other hand, this one was far more .. honest?.
On the other hand, this one was far more .. honest?.
a must for all canadians - or those related to/involved with them. Provides some humorous insight - some of it real - into the psyche of the Northern breathern
Very interesting book about Canada from a Canadian perspective. I learned so much about Canadian history and America's impact on the true north. Good stuff.
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I hate Canadians. They have more issues than the English. Mounties are hot though
Viola
is currently reading it
books are ok, I guess
marked it as to-read
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Will Ferguson (born William Stener Ferguson) is a Canadian writer and novelist who is best known for his humorous observations on Canadian history and culture. His success as a writer can be attributed to an innate ability to view Canada much the same way an outsider would, as described in his debut book, the ironically named Why I Hate Canadians. Ferguson talks about this in a recent CBC radio in...more
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