For years I've read books about Canada written for Canadians. For some bizzarre reason, we're facinated with our own navels. And we never tire of trying to either deconstruct our psyches, or just plain beat ourselves over the head with our own history, as though this is some way at fault for us being the way we are.

However that way may be.

Which usually makes up about 85% of the book, followed by about 15% shrugging of shoulders and scratching of pates… and the end result is usually something akin to: 'I dunno…'

You want to understand the intellectual part of the Dominion's reasons for being? Great! Grab that book by Pierre Burton called Why We Act Like Canadians [Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1982], 'cause that's not what you're going to get from me.

No sir, I am providing a book that explains the country to people who still think we live in igloos in the forest, chop trees with axes, hunt fur-bearing animals, and know everyone else in the country by their first name because we all live within 20 minutes on horse-back from one another.

I'm talking about otherwise intelligent, informed, rational, and world-view possessing people: Foreigners.

Who, What, Where, How, and Why We Are Like This
Now the hard part. Making it entertaining, funny, informative, truthful (occasionally), and in some way worth slapping down a few bills to have your very own copy.

The book version will be a companion to the 75-minute live presentation in lecture format about our country that I am quite willing to admit is inspired by (i.e.: stolen from) Eddie Izzard. If you've never heard of him, follow that link and you can thank me later. If you have heard of him, then rest assured I will not be wearing a skirt, as much as I wish I could wear make-up as some days… well, looking in the mirror can be a bit off-putting.