Academics, especially those whose writings and research have had genuine impact on events and decisions, are sometimes burdened by an understandable, if vaguely irritating, conceit. They will, if they attempt an autobiography, conflate events in their life with the huge historic trends or cataclysms that occurred during their period in history. Some will even connect their personal chronological pilgrimage with some greater global significance—or at least try. Politicians and business leaders, not to mention self-appointed cultural icons, also fall victim to this conceit. But John Meisel, originally from Vienna and a Canadian since 1942, is too superb a raconteur, too thoughtful an academic, too graceful and humble a writer even to be tempted by this all too common self-indulgence.
Instead, A Life of Learning and Other Pleasures is more of a warm and inviting train ride through many stages of a remarkable life. It is replete with adventure, discovery, danger...
Hugh Segal was a political strategist, senator from Ontario, and principal of Massey College. He wrote The Right Balance: Canada’s Conservative Tradition, among other books.
Advertisement
Advertisement