This selection of autobiographies allows readers to learn more about their favourite Canadian celebrities.
By: Arjot Sandhawalia
Canadians have been making their mark all over the world. These five autobiographies get up close and personal with some very successful Canadian stars.
As a student trying to figure out their journey in the world, it is refreshing to learn about the mistakes and the milestones of such successful people. It puts them in a different light and humanizes them in a way we as readers would never view them. In this social climate where everyone’s life is public, it is important to remind ourselves that not everything works out. Each person has a journey so unique to them. The stories written in these autobiographies remind us of that.
Check these autobiographies out for inspiration, for some laughs, or even just to learn about the careers of these notable Canadians.
1. Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL’s First Black Player by Willie O’Ree and Michael McKinley
Born in Fredericton, O’Ree is a former professional hockey player and the first Black player to play in the league. His career spanned 19 years as a right-winger for the Boston Bruins. In 2018, O’Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Currently, he works as the NHL’s diversity ambassador, where he travels to schools across North America to promote diversity and inclusion.
O’Ree’s memoir follows his journey as the first Black professional hockey player in the NHL. It reveals the harsh racism O’Ree faced throughout his career on and off the ice. There are many compelling anecdotes shared by the former hockey player about his career, his accomplishments and his aspirations as a young player. The book also reveals O’Ree’s view of himself as a hockey player and a Black man, and how those two identities always intersected. His book speaks to the harsh realities that many people of colour have faced and still face today. Buy it here.
“All I ever imagined as a kid was the game itself. The question of colour was never part of it. It’s interesting to think that the tradition of Hockey Night in Canada on the family radio, which was so much a part of Canadians’ lives back then, allowed me to imagine a version of the game that had a place for a player like me.”
— Excerpt from “Willie”
2. Yearbook by Seth Rogen
Born and raised in Vancouver, Seth Rogen moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in comedy, where he ultimately landed his breakout role in Freaks and Geeks. Since then he has written, produced and starred in many films and TV shows like The Interview and Superbad.
Yearbook is an informal, lighthearted memoir that explores Rogen’s struggles with pursuing standup and building relationships with his parents and grandparents. Rogan writes many hilarious stories about his encounters with other celebrities like Tom Cruise, George Michael, Kanye West and many more. Rogen is known for his wit and sense of humour and he often provides insight into his persona and celebrity life in this memoir. “It speaks to Rogen’s storytelling prowess and eventful adolescence that by the time he gets to his Hollywood experience, one almost forgets that this is, in fact, a celebrity story,” writes The Washington Post. Rogen’s anecdotal style of writing makes the reader comfortable, as if they are having a conversation with Rogen himself. Buy it here.
3. Talking to Canadians by Rick Mercer
Rick Mercer is a comedian, television personality and political satirist. He is most famously known for his show The Rick Mercer Report, where he interviewed Canadian politicians, performed news parodies, and travelled to various cities to interview people about local news or events.
Talking to Canadians is the first time the popular but private comedian tells his story. After his 15-season show ended, many people began to question what the comedian had planned for himself. As one final comedy act, Mercer wrote his memoir to make his supporters laugh one more time. He shares many stories from his childhood and teens that pushed him to pursue comedy. We learn about his big break in his one-man show Show Me The Button, I’ll Push It ( or, Charles Lynch Must Die) where he became an overnight sensation. Buy it here.
4. “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power by Jody Wilson-Raybould
Starting her journey in the We Wai Kai community in British Columbia, Wilson-Raybould became the first Indigenous federal justice minister in Canada from 2015 to 2019. It all began with her roles in the community as the daughter of a hereditary chief and Indigenous leader, which kickstarted her leadership responsibilities and skills.
“Indian” in the Cabinet touches on many aspects of Wilson-Raybould’s personal and professional life. Her story is compelling, inspiring, and truthful. She discusses many challenges she faced personally as an Indigenous woman and how she overcame them. From her experiences sitting in Parliament and in the Canadian cabinet to the SNC Lavalin scandal to her eventual resignation as the justice minister, this book offers a behind-the-scenes look at Wilson-Raybould’s career in Parliament, and is a must-read for anyone interested in Canadian politics. Buy it here.
5. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
Chris Hadfield is an astronaut, engineer and former fighter pilot who is known for being the first Canadian to complete a spacewalk. He has been on two space missions, the second one lasting approximately five months. Since then, he has retired from being an astronaut and currently has a very active social media presence. He is also a huge David Bowie fan — watch his rendition of “Space Oddity” by Bowie here.
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life documents Hadfield’s experience with the difficulties and the successes of being an astronaut as well as some rare insight into his thoughts during his space missions. Readers learn about mistakes made during his own missions and ones he helped supervise. His stories about the mysteries of space travel keep the reader engaged throughout the entire book. Buy it here.
“I felt some trepidation. Once you close the hatch to the airlock, you’re saying goodbye to redoing anything. I knew I’d been careful, but if I’d messed something up or they were missing a piece of gear, we might not find out until halfway through the EVA … it never left my mind that my crewmates were outside, doing something crucial; I was also very aware of their vulnerability. Relief wouldn’t really come until they were back inside.”
— Excerpt from “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth”
Everybody has a different start and a different story. These stories allow for a personal insight into some well-known Canadians and can inspire all of us. Whether it is breaking barriers in hockey or becoming an overnight comedic sensation, these autobiographies have something for everyone.
