Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Make smarter choices, do some good in the world, get stuff done — if those are your resolutions for 2025, you are incredibly lucky. A new crop of Canadian-made books seems tailor-made just for you.
The Certainty Illusion: What You Don’t Know and Why It Matters
Timothy Caulfield
Penguin Random House
In an age of misinformation, disinformation and outright lies, the only thing we know for sure is that we can’t believe everything we read, hear or see.
Separating fact from fiction is increasingly difficult, thanks to AI, unscrupulous politicos, scam artists and wellness “experts.” Fortunately, bestselling author (Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?) and Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta, Timothy Caulfield is here to help, with an engaging guide to spotting and avoiding truth traps.
For example, he takes a deep dive into the “devious dozen” — words and terms that lull consumers into believing they’re buying into a good — or at least harmless — thing. You might reconsider how you feel about foods and wellness products that are marketed as natural, holistic, organic, immune-boosting and even locally-grown.
Caulfield makes no bones about his aversion to the pseudo-science of homeopathy, greenwashing and plain BS. “Science-y” journals that seem like reliable sources are particularly tricky. Almost anyone can create a journal with a legitimate-looking name like Academy of Holistic Quackery or Scientific Americans.
Often, researchers pay to publish their work in prominent journals and in some cases, editorial oversight is lax or non-existent. Caulfield tells the story of Dr. Olivia Doll, who sat on seven editorial boards and was an acknowledged expert on topics such as “the benefits of abdominal massage for medium-sized canines.” Olivia, a.k.a. Ollie, was a Staffordshire terrier, a.k.a. a dog.
So what’s the solution? A multi-pronged, multi-generational approach to honing critical-thinking skills, sharing evidence-based knowledge and rebuilding trust in reliable information sources. This book is a good place to start.
For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss and Hope
Scott Oake
Simon & Schuster
When Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Scott Oake and his late wife Anne lost their son Bruce to a drug overdose in 2011, they decided to channel their grief into something positive.
In this candid memoir, Oake recalls the best and worst days of his life as a father, along with his family’s struggles as Bruce waged a losing battle with drugs.
Following his death at the age of 25, the couple and their younger son, Darcy, got to work fundraising, lobbying and, finally, launching the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. Located in Winnipeg, the centre offers free treatment in hopes of sparing other families from the devastation the Oakes suffered.
The Art of Doing: A Guide to Getting Motivated, Getting Unstuck and Getting It Done
Jesse Lipscombe
HarperCollins
Alberta’s Jesse Lipscombe was training to compete in high-jumping at the Beijing Olympics when he suffered a mini-stroke in 2007. Just like that, his Olympic dream was over, but Lipscombe never stopped being a high achiever. An actor, singer, activist, popular public speaker and entrepreneur, he leads a remarkably productive life. His book promises to be a “sensible, practical and inspiring” guide for readers who want to follow suit.