David Suzuki: The Autobiography
LC Class | GE56.S8 A3 2006 |
David Suzuki: The Autobiography is the 2006 autobiography of Canadian science writer and broadcaster David Suzuki. The book focuses mostly on his life since the 1987 publication of his first autobiography, Metamorphosis: Stages in a Life. It begins with a chronological account of his childhood, academic years, and broadcasting career. In later chapters, Suzuki adopts a memoir style, writing about themes such as his relationship with Australia, his experiences in Brazil and Papua New Guinea, the founding of the David Suzuki Foundation, and his thoughts on climate change, celebrity status, technology, and death. Throughout, Suzuki highlights the continuing impact of events from his childhood.
This is Suzuki's forty-third book and, he says, his last.[1] Critics have called the book candid, sincere, and charming, with insightful commentary if occasionally flat stories. Suzuki's scientific background is reflected in the writing's rational and analytic style.
Suzuki's autobiography spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Maclean's list of non-fiction best-sellers and six weeks at No. 6 on the Globe and Mail's list. The book won two awards in 2007: the Canadian Booksellers' Association's Libris Award for Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the British Columbia Booksellers' Choice Award.[2][3] The publishers, Greystone Books and Douglas & McIntyre, won the CBA Libris Award for Marketing Achievement of the Year.[2]
Background
Suzuki's working title for this second autobiography was The Outsider, a title intended to express the author's view of his own role in society. The origin of this outsider feeling comes from isolation suffered at a
Suzuki's objective in writing the book was to document his experiences of personal rewards gained from the environmental movement and to illustrate, specifically for young people, opportunities in environmentalism.[9] Suzuki believes that he has been unfairly labelled as "the master of doom and gloom" by conservative media outlets and that this book will help balance that view.[10] He intends this autobiography to be his final book. Following its publication he planned to reduce his work week from seven to four days to spend more time with family and personal pursuits.[1]
Contents
The book has eighteen chapters with a two-page preface, which explains his experience with Metamorphosis and how this book complements it. The thesis of this book is identified by one reviewer as: "the importance of childhood's formative years for the development of the person. In Suzuki's case, it is the effects of racism, notably time spent in
Suzuki recounts his youth and academic years as a student, professor, and genetics researcher. On his broadcasting career, Suzuki recalls early interviews that demonstrated an affinity for public speaking and the jobs that allowed him to travel the world. Regarding his personal life, he describes his relationships with his five children and the development of his two marriages. In a review in the New Zealand Listener, David Larsen observes: "Step by step, you see him thinking his way into full-fledged environmentalism: not because he's a natural zealot, but because he's an intellectually honest man brought face to face with evidence that our current economic and energy policies are digging our grandchildren's graves."[12]
Later chapters tell of events since Metamorphosis. In British Columbia, Suzuki spends time on the
Style and genre
Suzuki's tone is relaxed and understated.[4][20] Robert Wiersema notes that Suzuki's style has "an analytic quality ... probably rooted in his scientific training".[20] Suzuki shows a humble, dry humour and instances of blurting out surprising statements.[9][20][21] One reviewer describes the style as a "fusion of by-the-numbers personal narrative and passionate, insightful commentary".[12]
The book begins as a chronological narrative of Suzuki's life with photographs of his family and friends.[22] The first five chapters cover the same time period as the first autobiography, from childhood to age fifty. Later chapters use a memoir style with personal thoughts developed around themes. Suzuki recounts his experiences with indigenous groups and his personal relationships with individual members. A travelogue of his journeys in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and some places in Canada is presented. Scientific concepts and explanations occur throughout the book.[23]
Publication and marketing
Two weeks before its release on April 22, 2006, an excerpt was printed in the national daily newspaper
Reception
The Autobiography was No. 1 on Maclean's list of nonfiction bestsellers in Canada for four weeks[26] and spent fifteen weeks in the top ten.[27] The book was on The Globe and Mail's non-fiction bestsellers' list for five weeks and peaked at No. 6.[28] The book won the 2007 Canadian Booksellers Association's Libris Award for Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the 2007 British Columbia Booksellers' Choice Award.[2][3]
Critics variously described his writing as "forthright," "chatty", and "charming".
A number of reviewers compared this book with the earlier one, Metamorphosis. The Edmonton Journal considers David Suzuki: The Autobiography to be more candid and insightful than the previous book.[31] On the other hand, Peter Desbarats, writing in Literary Review of Canada, suggests that Metamorphosis had more personal charm. Desbarats is disappointed that The Autobiography does not provide a better reflection on the themes of Metamorphosis. He points out that the best parts, Suzuki's early years, are condensed from one third of Metamorphosis to a single chapter in The Autobiography. Desbarats states that neither book ends with a "satisfying final word" and concludes that Suzuki "is his own worst and most frustrating biographer".[34]
References
- ^ Times-Colonist, Victoria, British Columbia, pp. C9
- ^ a b c CBA Libris Awards 2007 - The Winners (PDF), Canadian Booksellers Association, 2007, archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-07-13, retrieved 2008-04-12
- ^ a b BC Book Prize Winners, BC Booksellers, 2007, archived from the original on 2008-02-15, retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ a b c d Kennedy, Janice (2006-04-23), "The Icon in Winter", Ottawa Citizen, pp. A8
- ^ Books and Audio: Complete List, David Suzuki Foundation, 2007, archived from the original on 2008-02-12, retrieved 2008-02-09
- ^ Ubelacker, Sheryl (2006-04-29), "The green man", Brantford Expositor, pp. D8
- ^ Keen, Paul (November 2006), "Tireless Activist", Books in Canada, archived from the original on 2007-12-16, retrieved 2008-02-08
- ^ )
- ^ a b Short, Sue, "Science of Life", Weekender, Quest Community Newspapers, archived from the original on 2013-01-15, retrieved 2008-01-27
- ^ Keenan, Tom (2006-05-06), "The righteous rebel", Calgary Herald, pp. F1
- ^ Wolfe-Wylie, William (2006-06-26), "One on one with David Suzuki - Scientist speaks about childhood, family, and the power of the people", The Peak, vol. 123, no. 8, archived from the original on 2007-03-15, retrieved 2007-01-27
- ^ a b c d Larsen, David (2006-08-26), "The reluctant saviour", New Zealand Listener, vol. 205, no. 3459, Auckland, retrieved 2008-01-27
- ISBN 1-55365-156-1
- ^ Suzuki, 134–154.
- ^ Suzuki, 155–174.
- ^ Suzuki, 288–304.
- ^ Suzuki, 195–216.
- ^ Suzuki, 217–266.
- ^ Suzuki, 370–398.
- ^ The Vancouver Sun, pp. F15
- ^ a b c d Brett, Brian (2006-04-22), "Self-portrait in green", The Globe and Mail, Toronto, pp. D14
- ^ Suzuki, David, B.C. BookWorld, 2007, archived from the original on 2011-05-26, retrieved 2008-02-04
- ^ a b Burns, John (2006-04-27), "David Suzuki turns up the heat on Harper", The Georgia Straight, retrieved 2008-01-27
- ^ Suzuki, David (2006-04-08), "Excerpt from David Suzuki: The Autobiography", The Globe and Mail, Toronto, pp. F1
- ^ a b c d CBA Libris Awards 2007 (PDF) (PDF), Canadian Booksellers Association, 2007, archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-20, retrieved 2008-02-09
- ^ "Top selling fiction and non-fiction titles", Maclean's, 2006-05-08, archived from the original on 2011-05-18, retrieved 2008-01-27. Note: The book was listed at No. 1 in the May 1, May 8, May 15, and June 5 issues.
- ^ "Top selling fiction and non-fiction titles", Maclean's, 2006-07-19, archived from the original on 2011-05-18, retrieved 2008-01-27
- ^ "Hardcover bestsellers", The Globe and Mail, Toronto, pp. D17, 2006-05-27. Note: The book was listed at No. 6 in the May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27, and June 17 issues.
- ^ Richardson, Owen (2006-09-08), "Book Review: David Suzuki: The Autobiography", The Age, retrieved 2008-01-27
- Cosmos, archived from the originalon 2008-01-20, retrieved 2008-01-27
- ^ a b Struzik, Ed (2006-04-30), "Suzuki a compelling character", Edmonton Journal, pp. E11
- ^ Kett, Andrew (May 2006), "David Book Review: Suzuki: The Autobiography", Quill & Quire, retrieved 2008-02-09
- London Free Press, archived from the originalon 2006-09-03, retrieved 2008-01-27
- ^ Desbarats, Peter (June 2006), "Scientist, Activist or TV Star?", Literary Review of Canada, 14 (5): 20–21, retrieved 2008-01-27
Further reading
- Suzuki, David (2007), David Suzuki: The Autobiography, Greystone Books, ISBN 978-1-55365-281-6
External links