Chrétien: The Will to Win

Lawrence Martin traces Jean Chrétien's path from his modest beginnings in rural Quebec through his early career and entry into Canadian politics. The biography draws from extensive interviews and research to document Chrétien's formative experiences and the development of his political instincts. The book examines the personal qualities and background that shaped Chrétien's leadership style, including his working-class roots, bilingual upbringing, and natural political intuition. Martin reconstructs key moments and relationships that influenced Chrétien's trajectory toward becoming Canada's 20th Prime Minister. Through its analysis of Chrétien's early years and rise in politics, the book reveals themes of determination, resilience, and pragmatism that would define his later approach to governing Canada. This first volume establishes the foundation for understanding one of Canada's most significant political figures.

Readers described this as a straightforward political biography that humanizes Jean Chrétien through personal stories and details from his upbringing. Reviewers appreciated: - Inside stories from Chrétien's early years - Coverage of key policy decisions and leadership style - Balance between personal and political coverage - Martin's access to Chrétien's inner circle Common criticisms: - Too favorable toward Chrétien - Lack of critical analysis of his policies - Limited coverage of certain controversies - Writing style can be dry Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (42 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.2/5 (6 reviews) One reader noted "Martin captures Chrétien's scrappy determination but glosses over his flaws." Another said "Good historical record but reads more like authorized biography than journalism." LibraryThing reviewers praised the research but found it "more celebratory than analytical" of Chrétien's leadership.

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🍁 Jean Chrétien was born with facial paralysis from Bell's palsy, which affected the left side of his face - a condition he later turned into a political asset with his famous "It's better to have a prime minister with a crooked smile than a crooked mind" quip 📚 Lawrence Martin interviewed over 100 people who knew Chrétien during his early years, including family members, childhood friends, and early political associates 🏠 Chrétien grew up as one of 19 children in a working-class family in Shawinigan, Quebec, where his father worked as a machinist in a paper mill ✍️ The biography was published in 1995, during Chrétien's tenure as Prime Minister, and is part of a two-volume series, with the second book "Iron Man" covering his political career 🗣️ Despite struggling with English in his early years, Chrétien went on to lead Canada for over a decade (1993-2003), becoming one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers in Canadian history