How to Be a Canadian

by Will Ferguson
How to Be a Canadian  
published 2003 by Douglas & McIntyre
binding Paperback
isbn 1550548913   (isbn13: 9781550548914)
pages 176
description It isn't always easy being Canadian, according to Will Ferguson, but it can be a lot of fun. Asked to write a follow-up to his runaway bestseller Why ...more
date added
02-05-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 93)



Sarah
Sarah rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/09/07

bookshelves: released
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for: Canadians and Americans
How to be a Canadian is a humorous look at all things Canadian. The book is short and broken up by topics covering thinks like Canadian English / Canadian French, the geography, history and so forth. The book was written by Canadians for Canadians but is also very funny for its quips about American culture.

The book is funny enough to read out loud. I read most of it to Ian. It's especially funny to us since Ian's brother and sister-in-law are now living in British Columbia.

Some of my fav...more
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kareem
kareem rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/27/07

Read in June, 2004
This book is apparently yet another cultural meme that is Sweeping The (Canadian) Nation, and is one that I am completely unaware of, living in West Hartford (number of Canadian ex-pats: 2). My friend Ray, who lives in San Francisco (number of Canadian ex-pats: more than 2) introduced me to the book when he crashed at my place a couple months back while vacationing on the East Coast.

Knowing the Canadian capacity for self-deprecating humour, and given that author Will Ferguson's has anoth...more
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Ariel
Ariel rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/10/07

Read in July, 2007
recommends it for: People in Canada
I got this book to help me prepare for the inevitable culture shock of moving to a new country. Unfortunately, it ended up being a little bit like watching Taiwanese movies before moving to Taiwan, a little depressing. Fergeson takes a somewhat dark view of his country which in the end made it sound a little boring.

Granted, I didn't get a lot of the jokes simply because, as an American, I've thus far done my duty of knowing nothing about Canada. I'm holding off on his other book "Why I ...more
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Al
Al rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
10/10/07

Read in October, 2007
recommends it for: Friends of Canadians
I went to Canada once. I went to Windsor to see Canada and eat some pizza. Windsor looks like suburbia USA and the pizza was from Pizza Hut except overpriced. I have some Canadian friends, only I never met them in Canada. I met them in other countries like the US and Colombia. Like always, when I go somewhere or meet someone, I like to read about their culture and history. One Canadian recommended this book as a quick, funny way to get to know Canadians. So I read it, eh.
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Andrea
Andrea rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/19/07

Read in November, 2003
I love this book. This is one of the few books I have actually read more than once. I think I found a lot of the material funny having lived in 3 of the provinces and finding truth in some of the authors observances.

If you can't laugh at yourself and your country then don't read this one!
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Valerie
Valerie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
05/01/08

As a child of a Canadian, I loved this book. The self-depricating humour was spot on. I read a lot of it to my husband so that he would "get" Canadian humour. I will definitly read more of Will's books.
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Ryan
Ryan rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/31/08

Read in March, 2007
A fairly entertaining comedy book - very much Dave Barry/Royal Canadian Air Farce type stuff. Covered most of the main stereotypes about Canada and Canadians.
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Jen
Jen rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/23/07

Read in January, 2006
A good guide that every non Canadian should read,just in case they ever find themselves in Canada.
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White-orchids
White-orchids rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/11/07

Has a copy to sell/swap
Funny book. Very good for a laugh. Plus, even Canadians learn things 'bout their own country.
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Keith
Keith rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/14/07

Read in January, 2006
I didn't really get the humour. I guess you've got to be Canadian, eh?
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Nikol
Nikol rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/29/08

bookshelves: canada
Read in February, 2008
This book was just okay. Sarcasm is the cheapest form of humor.
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Becky
Becky rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/26/07

Read in May, 2007
It was somewhat funny but somewhat plain idiotic.
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Barbara
Barbara rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
08/20/07

Sadly, this is considered funny in Canada.
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sinfull_scarlet
sinfull_scarlet rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/22/07

bookshelves: nonfiction
Read in January, 2007
Amusing and accurate!
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Elin
Elin rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/29/07

bookshelves: canadian
Read in August, 2004
Hilarious!
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Lutin
Lutin added it
04/27/08

 

Michael
Michael rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/25/08

 

Scotchneat
Scotchneat rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/12/08

 

Maria
Maria marked it as to-read
03/30/08

bookshelves: canadian, to-read
 

Sharon
Sharon added it
03/28/08

 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.66 (70 ratings)
number of reviews: 15






other editions