Party leaders...
under the microscope

LIVING OR dead, Canadian
prime ministers (and poten-
tial PM's) are fair fodder for
the pens of political pundits.

This year our choice of new
books includes: one on the cur-
rent leader (Dark Kingdom ~
Brian Mulroney and the Transfor-
mation of Canada, by Norman
Snider; Random House); one on a
former leader (Reign of Error —
The Inside Story of John Turner's
Troubled Leadership, written by
Greg Weston, McGraw-Hill Ryer-
son); one on part of the life of a
deceased leader — and hold the
Turner quips, please — (Diefen-
baker for The Defense — by Gar-
rett and Kevin Wilson, James

MIKE
STEELE

book reviewer

Lorimer & Co.); and of course one
dealing with a hopeful leader (Ed
Broadbent — The Pursuit of
Power, by Judy Steed for Viking/
Penguin Books).

While the Mulroney and Turner
works will undoubtedly offer us
more muckraking for our money,
not to mention amusement, we
have to make do with the only
book available at the moment (the
other titles will be released short-
ly): Ed Broadbent — The Pursuit
of Power (370 pp.; $24.95 in
hardcover).

It must be said that not everyone
will be pleased with Ed Broadbent
— in fact some readers will be
deeply disappointed.

Untike the upcoming Reign of
Error and Dark Kingdom, which
have about them the air of a post
mortem examination of foibles and
failings and the corollary of much
to poke fun at, Steed’s book is a
personal history of a man who
might be Canada’s prime minister.

Steed has exhaustively traced
the Broadbent beginnings and
development to provide us with a
substantial understanding of a ma-
jor Canadian political figure of
largely unknown potential.
Therein lies the difference.
Untested at the helm of the federal
ship of state, “Honest Ed” has
yet (if ever) to have the opportuni-
ty to furnish writers with much
muck to be raked.

Steed deserves applause for the
depth of research evidenced by
this work, but readers expecting
fireworks and profound revelations

will find neither here. Instead, the
author has delivered a solid bio-
graphical book that examines the
Broadbent roots, motivations, phi-
losophy and goals.

Ed Broadbent may seem a bit
bland or heavy-footed at times,
but if Steed’s objective was to give
us a thorough understanding of
the leader of the New Democratic
Party, she has done so with un-
qualified success.

if she is guilty of anything it
might be overkill: the number of
insights and analyses from Broad-
bent family, f friends and colleagues
is excessive and redundant, but
the net result is that the readers
will know the subject to an un-
precedented degree.

From Broadbent's blue-collar
background to his puckish sense
of humor and love for practical
jokes, from theorist to practising
politician, Steed explores all.
While the final impression after
reading this book might be that
Broadbent is just plain likable, the

reader will be under no delusions
as to the weaknesses and idiosyn-
crasies of the subject, because
Steed leaves none of the prover-
bial stones unturned.

What emerges from this work is
a three-dimensional image of a
remarkable, compassionate and
highly intelligent Canadian who
may one day be prime minister of
Canada — and inevitably the sub-
ject of future dissection.

Books in Brief

The Natural History of Canada
by R.D. Lawrence has received
mixed reviews in the past few
weeks but this large-format, hard-
cover book (Key Porter Books; 304

pp.; $39.95 in hardcover) is a
highly informative, interesting and
profusely illustrated work that is by
far the best available on natural
Canada.

While the author makes no at-
tempt to mask his pro-conserva-
tion stance, it must be said that the
subject will inspire similar views in
most readers. For its wide-ranging
and colorful look at our favorite
country, The Natural History of
Canada is highly recommended
both as reference and inspiration
for the armchair explorer.

Nature lovers will have the op-
portunity to meet Natural Histo-
ry’s author on Sept. 9; Lawrence
will be delivering a slide-show as
well as signing copies of his book
at the King Edward Campus
Auditorium, 1155 East Broadway
in Vancouver,

The show is scheduled to run for
45 minutes with a discussion
period following. For further in-
formation, please call the Nor-
thwest Wildlife Preservation Socie-
ty at 736-8750.

21 - Friday, Seplember 2, 1988 -

Tal ARIFS (Mareh 21-Anril 20):
Home and home-related
issues permeate much of this

Take cure of these concerns.

weck.

| TAURUS (Aprit, 21-May
a | 20): Be ready to call, contact
~-—~l and meet with certain in-
dividuals. This is a week that focuses
directly on your fundamental

security.
Money matters are a number

as one priority item. Gains can

be realized, if you use your special

brand of intuition.
[¥] The centre of the stage is
yours. Keep in mind that all

performances will affect your

finances.
After some behind-the-

scenes work and research,

you’re ready to spring a new idea or

proposal.
[x] What had seemed so elusive
in the recent past is about to
stage a comeback. Know this, and
develop a new course of action.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

1EO (July 23-Aug. 22):

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

North Shore News

Weok af
Sept. 4-10, [988

{Seot WANS

TEP he mek Tle

7a 1s
|G D, on re prepared to stand
—! your ground now, And well

you should, since more than you had
Originally estimated is involved.

fue SCORPIO. (Oct. 23-Nov.

22): Be willing to look to the

future for the answers that

you now need. They exist, just as
our_work exists.

& SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23
-Dec. 21): Allow yourself to
feel what needs to be done

during this cycle. Just deciding on
your own may not help your current

cause.
19): An assortment of

ae alliances and agreements are

threaded throughout this week. And
several of them will have money-

related themes.
Pre

18): Work as long and as

hard as you must right now.

New procedures and new ar-

rangements will be the favorable

result.

oat °

tates! Love and romance dominate
your thoughts at this time.

And if you have your way, they will
most certainly dominate your life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

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he North Shore News will be open for business on
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