Churchill: A Great Leader, Reader & Writer Photo Credit: John Stodder Blog

More books are sold in Canada during the winter months than any other time of the year. It probably has to do with the frequent gift-giving occasions during that time of the year. Stumped for a gift idea, we will often resort to buying books. Most books, however, are probably read during the spring and summer months rather than the winter months. During winter, we are probably too busy trying to keep warm to read too many books.

It is around this time of year that I occasionally reread Winston Churchill’s second volume of his world War II memoirs, “Their Finest Hour”, which after some 55 years after its publication remains an inspiring narrative, composed by one of history’s greatest leaders. Despite the enormous trauma of war, he still found the time to read widely and write eloquent and copious memoranda on a daily basis.

We should follow his lead and try to write or read daily , despite the stress of daily life or the unpleasant cold of winter months. If one is interested in updating their reading lists, I have a few suggestions. In addition to Churchill’s memoirs, history and political junkies will enjoy “Vietnam, If Kennedy Had Lived” by James Blight et al, which was mentioned in an earlier blog posting. Another good book on JFK is Herbert Parmet’s biography “Jack: The Struggles Of John F. Kennedy”. History buffs will also enjoy “Napoleon & Wellington” by Andrew Roberts. This is a unique biography and is not strictly speaking a ‘joint’ biography. Unlike other books that have looked at the showdown between these two military geniuses, it focuses on what each General thought, wrote and said about the other.
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"We wish nothing more, but we will accept nothing less. Masters in our own house we must be, but our house is the whole of Canada."
Photo Credit: Warren Kinsella

As the first decade of the 21st century passes into its final year, most Canadians will continue to have much to be thankful for.

Our country is a nation rich in history, security, freedom and resources and remains one of the most culturally diverse on the face of the Earth.

For those of us who became politically conscious during the early 1970’s, few can refute the claim that a great deal of our current Canadian identity was forged by the indomitable figure of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

For all his many critics, it is hard to deny that Trudeau left an indelible stamp on the rest of the world as to what it is to be Canadian.

He envisioned a country that was proud of its dual heritage, one that welcomed immigrants to become a part of the tapestry of this land, one that saw itself not as a global conqueror but rather as a global partner in the stewardship of this nation, our planet and all humankind.
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