Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada

by William Johnson

William Johnson was the first to write a book about Stephen Harper, and he has become the authority on Harper.

Who is this man? Everyone knows that he became leader of the Alliance Party and, against all odds, gathered in the old Conservative Party to create a force designed to win power. Yet what are his core beliefs? Where will he takes us now that he has gained power?

William Johnson has researched the Harper family background and the historical context that shaped Harper’s political career. He paints a fascinating picture of a man who, like Pierre Trudeau, trained mentally for political power like an athlete training for the Olympics, yet is not a natural politician and never really wanted the political leader’s life. By studying Harper’s approach to the main issues in Canadian politics, he shows that Harper is a sophisticated political operative, far more complex and intellectual than the right-wing Republican image that has been created for him.

For the paperback edition, Johnson has updated this serious, objective biography with several new chapters taking us right up through Harper’s early days in power.

Genres: Biography, Politics, Canada, Nonfiction

512 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This entry is for William ^9 Johnson.

William Johnson is a veteran journalist and columnist with the Globe and Mail, the Montreal Gazette, and many other papers. He has been researching this book on Stephen Harper for a year.

Reviews

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It explained a lot about Canadian politics. The reason I give it only 3 stars is that it doesn't explain as much about Stephen Harper the man.

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would give me some insight into Stephen Harper's personality and to some extent it did although I don't pretend to understand him any better. Well written and detailed about the ins and outs of Canadian politics up until his election as Prime Minister. The final pages described the withdrawal from press and the style that we saw him govern Canada with as Prime Minister and that we were all to happy to say farewell to. Certainly a strategist and not afraid to change strategy as conditions change.

[Stanley Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parrots books about the Reform Party.