Here Be Dragons: Telling Tales of People, Passion and Power

What better way to exprience a nationthan through the lives of it's people. This ultra-connected Canadian and incredibly entertaining writer tells stories that can't be forgotten. A must-read!

Biographies are usually dull, because they implicitly brag about the achievements of the rich and powerful and famous and glamorous rather than dealing with a topic that's really important and interesting -- ME ! This book is an exception to the rule. It's a fascinating story of a once super-privileged Jewish boy whose family escaped pre-war Czechoslovakia because a Roman Catholic priest gave them certificates to slip past the Holocaust. Being Catholics enabled his family to emigrate to Canada, where he became the leading political analyst in newspapers, magazines and books. Like many immigrants, he is more Canadian than most people born in the country; the result is a book written with humour, kindness and a sense of shattering disappointment and disillusion. Political journalism is a slash-and-burn war in the US, anchored by the pure hatred of right-wing zealots such as Rush Limbaugh and his ilk; or the pompous twits who debate whether dissent to erudite liberal wisdom ranks above or below the grunts of orangutans. In Canada, journalism proves "the emperor has no clothes" by laughing at the foibles, faults, fears and follies of politicians. Newman is a 'Mack the Knife' artist, he doesn't use the blunt force trauma of a California Terminator. Newman wielded the best scalpel in Canadian journalism for decades, and he did so with such skill that his victims never felt obliged to drop him from their Christmas card list. In this book, he provides the delicious details of how it was done,. But it's much more. Think of Newman as an intelligent Garrison Keillor, who talks for 20-minutes every week about the inanities of ordinary folks in Lake Woebegone. Newman tells even better stories about the motivations of the rich and powerful leaders of America's largest trading partner (the single largest source of foreign oil, for example). Newman's harshest criticism is of his own shortcomings, not the faults of the unworthy villains writhing on the point of his pen. But he also portrays the absolute perfidy of some Canadian politicians, the devils who make any US president look saintly by comparison. It's the approach many wish they could have used against newman 40 years ago. A few years ago, Newman visited the Theresienstadt concentration camp where most of his relatives died. He also saw10 names the same as his -- Peta Neumann -- ranging in age from 10 months to 10 years. This is what he escaped in a series of events that would put the film world to shame. But this is not another Holocaust book; it is a story of a life that soared to greatness when nourished by the freedom of Canada. Instead of the "scorched earth" journalism of the US which I favoured, he used humour to puncture the hubris of the high and haughty. In the US, humour is often acerbic. Newman embodies the definition by Stephen Leacock, "the essence of humour is human kindliness", but he accompanies it all with his

i picked up Peter C's new book on Friday and couldn't put it down until the wee hours of Monday morning. The master raconteur has turned out a literary prize full of anecdotes, scintillating stories and rich Canadian history. Peter has met and written about everybody newsworthy in the country over a lifetime filled with danger, drama, self-deprecating humour, lust and love. Conrad Black and Barbara will not be happy campers...but they will be in good company. Peter tells all!

Darcy Rezac: Author, Frog and Prince Secrets (Vancouver) - See all my reviewsI picked up Peter C's new book on Friday and couldn't put it down until the wee hours of Monday morning. The master raconteur has turned out a literary prize full of anecdotes, scintillating stories and rich Canadian history. Peter has met and written about everybody newsworthy in the country over a lifetime filled with danger, drama, self-deprecating humour, lust and love. Conrad Black and Barbara will not be happy campers...but they will be in good company. Peter tells all!

i picked up Peter C's new book on Friday and couldn't put it down until the wee hours of Monday morning. The master raconteur has turned out a literary prize full of anecdotes, scintillating stories and rich Canadian history. Peter has met and written about everybody newsworthy in the country over a lifetime filled with danger, drama, self-deprecating humour, lust and love. Conrad Black and Barbara will not be happy campers...but they will be in good company. Peter tells all!