The Longer I'm Prime Minister: Stephen Harper and Canada

The Longer I'm Prime Minister chronicles Stephen Harper's tenure as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, from his rise to power through his years leading the Conservative government. Author Paul Wells draws on his experience as a political journalist and insider access to document Harper's leadership style, policy decisions, and interactions with allies and opponents. The book examines key moments and strategic choices that defined Harper's time in office, including election campaigns, parliamentary maneuvers, and major policy initiatives. Wells provides context for Harper's approach to federalism, economic management, and international relations while exploring the Prime Minister's relationships with his party, cabinet, and the civil service. Based on interviews and firsthand observations, the narrative tracks how Harper worked to reshape Canadian politics and government institutions according to his vision. The story follows both public events and behind-the-scenes dynamics during a transformative period in Canadian political history. This political biography reveals patterns in how power operates at the highest levels of Canadian government, while raising questions about leadership, democracy, and the possibilities and limitations of political change through institutional means.

Readers view this as a balanced political biography that provides insight into Harper's leadership style and strategic approach. Multiple reviewers note Wells' insider access and detailed reporting while maintaining journalistic neutrality. Liked: - Clear explanation of Harper's decision-making process - Behind-the-scenes details of key political moments - Humor and engaging writing style - Thorough research and extensive interviews Disliked: - Can be dense with policy details - Some readers wanted more personal/biographical content - A few felt it focused too much on tactics over substance - Limited coverage of Harper's early life Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (227 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.3/5 (48 ratings) Sample review: "Wells manages to humanize Harper without apologizing for him. The book reveals how he maintained power through careful control and incremental change." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers mentioned appreciating that Wells avoided both hero worship and character assassination in favor of factual reporting.

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🍁 Paul Wells wrote the book while following Harper as a journalist for Maclean's magazine, Canada's oldest news weekly, where Wells served as political editor. 🏆 The book won the 2014 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing and the 2014 John W. Dafoe Book Prize. 📊 Stephen Harper served as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister for nearly a decade (2006-2015), making him the longest-serving Conservative Prime Minister since Sir John A. Macdonald. 📝 The book's title plays on a quote from Harper himself: "The longer I'm prime minister... the longer I'm prime minister." 🎓 Despite his reputation for being strictly business-minded, Harper is an accomplished pianist who has performed with professional musicians, including a surprise performance of Beatles songs at the National Arts Centre in 2009 - a detail explored in the book.