Unabashed Bumf

"Covering the years from his childhood at 24 Sussex to his McGill days during the tumultuous time of the Charlottetown accord to his first campaign in Papineau to his role as Liberal leader today, the book will capture the foundational moments that have formed the man we have come to know and informed his vision for the future of Canada."
Harper-Collins Canada

Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press    Justin Trudeau will release a candid memoir with HarperCollins this fall. 

At the hand-rubbing prospect of making best-seller status and scads of profit, the publisher of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's vanity memoir, set for publication in the fall of 2014, the author (or his ghost) is set to join the likes of Jean Chretien, Michael Ignatieff and Barack Obama, writing self-reverential books explaining the genesis of their exceptionalism and their sterling capacity to rise above the crowd.

This exercise of ego over common sense and talent does go far, however, to fulfilling the curiosity of onlookers and admirers who seem to believe that the essence of the subject can be distilled from the subjective view of self, family, society and history. "Mr. Trudeau's candid memoir will reveal to its readers the experiences that have shaped him over the course of his life and show how his passion for Canada and its people took root."

Do we really care? There are times when autobiographies can add significantly to the understanding of their subject, but these are for the most part reminiscences written by people of note who have lived lives of value to society, a value that is lasting and significant in good measure. The young(er) Trudeau has distinguished himself in the opinion of some by demonstrating how a mediocrity can rise to prominence on the presumption of inheritance, looks and sunny personality.

We know that he seems to enjoy drama, and taught high school drama classes in a private Vancouver school. We know that he is astonishingly capable of procreating, a feat that certainly does not go too far to set him aside from most other feebly-endowed intellects. We know too that he sees nothing amiss in padding his bank account by giving people what they want; the appearance of knowing what he's talking about; smiling often and generously helps.

Justin Trudeau modestly asserts that he is "pleased to have this opportunity to tell my life's story, particularly as a teacher, Member of Parliament and father. These experiences and the many people who have played a role in my life have all shaped my outlook on politics, public service and what it means to be a Canadian."

From the heights of his years looking back on his experiences, he is gifting the paying public with his very own, intimate story.

Yawn.