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A review by benlundns
Fire and Ashes: Success and Failure in Politics by Michael Ignatieff
4.0
I have always liked the idea of having an academic as a Prime Minister, whether it's just wishful thinking or the desire for the impossible I couldn't say. I liked Ignatieff when he first appeared on the political stage. He seemed earnest and committed and I never really bought into the whole "He's just visiting" tag line of the Conservatives.
But it's different to see the machinations of political parties from the inside. Ignatieff doesn't try to hide what he did or why he did it, he discusses successes and failures of all parties, (but mainly Conservatives and Liberals). Through his experiences I even gained a little, not respect, but understanding of Harper and why he made some of the choices he did.
Ignatieff unwinds the thought processes and the why behind some of the decisions politicians make that seem so baffling to us the public, and tries to show us that politicians are not bad, they are merely working at a profession where truth and loyalty to the party have to find an uneasy balance.
I am still sorry that we didn't get to see where an Ignatieff lead Canada might have gotten us, but Mr. Ignatieff leaves us with the hope that in politics today, or in the very near future might be a leader that is ready to champion the cause of Canada and inspire us to be the best that we can be. The book is a short read, less than 200 pages, but expect to take some time reflecting and thinking about some of the ideas he puts forth. You might take a closer look at politicians the next time elections come around and ask who are they really working for, us, or themselves.
But it's different to see the machinations of political parties from the inside. Ignatieff doesn't try to hide what he did or why he did it, he discusses successes and failures of all parties, (but mainly Conservatives and Liberals). Through his experiences I even gained a little, not respect, but understanding of Harper and why he made some of the choices he did.
Ignatieff unwinds the thought processes and the why behind some of the decisions politicians make that seem so baffling to us the public, and tries to show us that politicians are not bad, they are merely working at a profession where truth and loyalty to the party have to find an uneasy balance.
I am still sorry that we didn't get to see where an Ignatieff lead Canada might have gotten us, but Mr. Ignatieff leaves us with the hope that in politics today, or in the very near future might be a leader that is ready to champion the cause of Canada and inspire us to be the best that we can be. The book is a short read, less than 200 pages, but expect to take some time reflecting and thinking about some of the ideas he puts forth. You might take a closer look at politicians the next time elections come around and ask who are they really working for, us, or themselves.