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ash93's review against another edition
4.0
Points were made.
Throughout this whole affair, I've wanted to hear more from Jody Wilson-Raybould, the fearless Indigenous leader in Canadian politics — so I jumped when I heard she was writing a book about her experiences in Ottawa. The appointing of her as our justice minister and attorney general was such a huge moment, and it was one of the biggest and most enraging disappointments when our government let her down. How our Prime Minister continues in his position without consequences for his (numerous) past scandals is beyond me. And Jody's account clearly illustrates Canada's need for a political overhaul, especially when it comes to respecting our Indigenous peoples and starting a meaningful path towards reconciliation. The SNC Lavalin affair was only one instance that exemplifies the way our government tries to get away with corruption, and belittles Indigenous people and women in the process.
"We don't deserve Jody" was a thought I had frequently while reading this memoir, but in the end, I truly think we are in desperate need of someone like her to get our nation back on track, prioritize the important issues, and deliver results. And of course, to govern in a way that is honest and transparent and with the best intentions at heart.
Throughout this whole affair, I've wanted to hear more from Jody Wilson-Raybould, the fearless Indigenous leader in Canadian politics — so I jumped when I heard she was writing a book about her experiences in Ottawa. The appointing of her as our justice minister and attorney general was such a huge moment, and it was one of the biggest and most enraging disappointments when our government let her down. How our Prime Minister continues in his position without consequences for his (numerous) past scandals is beyond me. And Jody's account clearly illustrates Canada's need for a political overhaul, especially when it comes to respecting our Indigenous peoples and starting a meaningful path towards reconciliation. The SNC Lavalin affair was only one instance that exemplifies the way our government tries to get away with corruption, and belittles Indigenous people and women in the process.
"We don't deserve Jody" was a thought I had frequently while reading this memoir, but in the end, I truly think we are in desperate need of someone like her to get our nation back on track, prioritize the important issues, and deliver results. And of course, to govern in a way that is honest and transparent and with the best intentions at heart.
maplesyrupcoffee's review
5.0
To me, and evidenced by how I kept wanting to dive into the next chapter, "well-written" gives nowhere even near the praise this book deserves. I really admired hearing her experiences, from her insights as an Indigenous minister under the Trudeau government to the escalation faced upon resigning.
Here are some parts that stood out to me:
"Dialogue can be weaponized to stop change and maintain the status quo"
"I, like so many women, had to tolerate a certain level of ignorance in order to get to the outcomes I wanted to achieve"
About important issues, a rhetorical question: "they are also hard to sell, hard to explain, and hard to understand. So why do them?"
"There has always been a direct connection between silence and injustice. Silence in the face of injustice is a self-interested form of cowardice. Silence sustains and ultimately feeds harm, while speaking out can drive progressive change"
About (settler) colonialism and the process of making a government in Canada, while excluding Indigenous people: "the costs and challenges of that exclusion are massive"
"The path of justice and equality is not advanced or achieved through half-measures, good intentions, or lofty rhetoric"
"As a leader, you are only as strong as those around you"
"We live in a Twitter world, and people needed to know what I was saying immediately, with absolute clarity and alacrity"
"To address the legacy of colonialism in this country, the colonizers are going to need to learn a lot from those they sought to colonize"
Here are some parts that stood out to me:
"Dialogue can be weaponized to stop change and maintain the status quo"
"I, like so many women, had to tolerate a certain level of ignorance in order to get to the outcomes I wanted to achieve"
About important issues, a rhetorical question: "they are also hard to sell, hard to explain, and hard to understand. So why do them?"
"There has always been a direct connection between silence and injustice. Silence in the face of injustice is a self-interested form of cowardice. Silence sustains and ultimately feeds harm, while speaking out can drive progressive change"
About (settler) colonialism and the process of making a government in Canada, while excluding Indigenous people: "the costs and challenges of that exclusion are massive"
"The path of justice and equality is not advanced or achieved through half-measures, good intentions, or lofty rhetoric"
"As a leader, you are only as strong as those around you"
"We live in a Twitter world, and people needed to know what I was saying immediately, with absolute clarity and alacrity"
"To address the legacy of colonialism in this country, the colonizers are going to need to learn a lot from those they sought to colonize"
livlaw's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Suuuper interesting read. Definitely very much her own writing and I honestly found this super powerful.
alanaweafer's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
kathsinclair's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
shellbell's review against another edition
5.0
This book makes so much sense and its not just about the Liberal scandal it is so much more. I agree partisan politics are preventing things that are not partisan issues to move forward. This is a must read, what she says makes so much sense. Language is so important and I agree with Jody that always be care with your word.
jamiejaaay's review
informative
fast-paced
2.5
This book is a fast read if you are picking it up already equipped with a level of awareness of how dubiously the Canadian government operates, and how self-interested political parties manipulate Canada's nominal democracy to essentially continue to advance a covert neo-fascism - which is really what this book is about, more than anything else, if you are the type of person who reads its pages critically. I am that type, which is why I found many of the author's core ideas self-contradictory and even fairly alarming, despite being padded with a great deal of emotional sentiment. This book will further alienate the already politically disenfranchised, and with good reason.