Books by Bob Plamondon
Plamondon's books have been excerpted in Maclean's magazine and numerous Canadian newspapers, and have been reviewed in Quill and Quire, Literary Review of Canada, The Globe and Mail , Inside Policy and The Washington Times. He has been featured on The Next Chapter with Shelagh on CBC Radio One as well the CBC's The House and The Current
Jean Chrétien’s critics have said he was a man with no vision and a short attention span — a small-town hick who stumbled his way to become Canada’s 20th prime minister. Whatever credit the Chrétien government deserved was often given to Paul Martin, the heir apparent who was touted to be the brains behind the operation.
But while Chrétien was the subject of ridicule, he was quietly giving his competitors — both inside and outside of the Liberal party — a master class in politics, leadership, and nation-building.
His decisions, which often ran counter to elite opinion, fundamentally reshaped and strengthened Canada as it entered the 21st century. Chrétien restored sanity to government finances, kept Canada out of the Iraq war, turned a brain drain into a brain gain, and established clarity over national unity.
Relying on new evidence, detailed analysis and exclusive interviews with former cabinet ministers, provincial premiers, political staff, strategists, and high-ranking bureaucrats – many of them speaking publicly for the first time – bestselling author and historian Bob Plamondon tells the surprising inside story of the Chretien years.
Until now, the story of Chrétien’s time as prime minister has been largely misunderstood. Plamondon sets the record straight and provides compelling lessons about political leadership and problem-solving from a critical chapter in Canadian history.
FROM LAWRENCE MARTIN OF THE GLOBE AND MAIL
"Having written two volumes on Chrétien back in the day, I can assure you that Plamondon's book has much to add. I highly recommend it. "
From the CBC's The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers
Finally, after over 30 years of hagiographies, comes a book that sets the record straight and tells us the truth about Pierre Elliott Trudeau. In this unprecedented and meticulously researched sweep of the record, Globe and Mail bestselling author Bob Plamondon challenges the conventional wisdom. With new revelations, fresh insights, and in-depth analysis, Plamondon reveals that the man did not measure up to the myth. While no one disputes Trudeau’s intelligence, toughness, charisma, and the flashes of glamour he brought Canada, in the end, the damage to our prosperity, unity and national security cannot be ignored.
It’s time Canadians understood the truth about their Conservative political history.
Blue Thunder: The Truth about Conservatives from Macdonald to Harper is an insightful and definitive look at the accomplishments and failures of Canadian Conservative leadership and is essential reading for anyone who follows Canadian politics.
Full Circle: Death and Resurrection in Canadian Conservative Politics tells the dramatic story of how the conservative movement imploded into rival factions in the early 1990s leaving Canada without meaningful democracy or effective opposition in the House of Commons. This critically acclaimed national bestseller is the definitive account of an unprecedented period in Canadian political history.
Hay West: A Story of Canadians Helping Canadians is a heartwarming story of how two small-scale farmers with big hearts and big dreams captured the attention of a nation and gave hope to those in despair.
O Canada: A celebration of 150 years
Canada: A Quintessential Compromise
Chapter Contribution