Despite its age, there is no better guide available to the nuts and bolts of how the Canadian political system works. It is also the best available political history of Canada during the 1970s. Too many today fall into the trap of either idealizing or condemning the Trudeau era. This presents a marvelously detailed yet succinctly understandable examination.

The book details the very interesting life of Trudeau -- Canadian prime minister for most of the 1970's, with stints in other eras. Trudeau is a very interesting and complex character -- and so is his family. But with all the interesting things about Trudeau, the book was not captivating.

Unlike biographers like Caro and Evan Thomas, Clarkson & McCall do not weave a good story.

While I, as an American, do not have the intimate knowledge that a Canadian of my age would have of the times, this biography of Trudeau gives me an insight both into the character and career of Pierre Elliot Trudeau and into this era of Canadian political history. Trudeau's fights within and without the Liberal party and against those who changed the Quiet Revolution into the politics of succesion are engrossing and fascinating. Also striking is the way that the Canadian (and European) study of political economy, as opposed to American political science, gives one a greater insight into the times and the economic forces at work in the political sphere. The only reason that I didn't give this five stars is because I don't feel qualified to judge Canadian political scholarship.

As someone who was too young to experience "Trudeaumania", this book gives me a lot of insight into who Trudeau was and also who were the men and women behind the scenes of those Liberal governments that changed Canada.

As someone who grew up during the Mulroney and Chretien governments, it made me yearn to be a little older so I could experience what happened during that tumultuous times.

Trudeau was an enigma wrapped in a riddle and this book does an amazing job in conveying that story and passion that drove him.