"This book works because Ron Truman is a good storyteller. His professional experience as a writer shines through the prose, even when it focuses heavily upon his personal health journey. Surely everyone thinks their story is unique but Ron's experiences, strung together with his pervasive sense of humor and a clear knowledge of the subject he discusses, make his memoir one that resonates with many of us. I did long for a bit more detail about his family but I sensed he steered clear of discussing them without their express blessing. And, anyway, it is a story about a man's journey through only his own lens. Myopic, perhaps, but entertaining as hell too." - Cherie D. Morris
"This is a story of a man's zest for an unusual life and how it carried him through devastating cardiovascular events. I chose the book because I met him and I was interested how he dealt with the double disaster of heart failure and a severe stroke and recovered to live an apparently normal life. I was not so much interested in the first half of the book which dealt with his career as a writer, except that it provided a perspective of his personality. More interesting to me was the last half because I am aware of stroke research. The writer's tenacity and drive is a guide for how to recover from a major disability. The descriptions of his clinical experience were well done and would be valuable for anyone who may have to deal with something similar." - By William E. Hoffman, retired Professor of Medicine (Neurology) , University of Illinois
Ron Truman had forty years experience as a professional writer before he sat down to write his memoirs. It shows. He writes brightly, seemingly effortlessly, with an easygoing flair for the right phrase, the telling anecdote, the interesting insight, the trenchant comment. Truman spent much of his freelance career with the Globe and Mail where he wrote over 500 feature articles. Though he doesn't say so, his prolific output for the Globe must be some kind of a record. His subject matter was wide ranging though focusing primarily on outdoor adventure and travel with several pieces on hunting and fishing. You won't be reading any reviews of this lively book in the Globe; Truman's assessment of his former employer is unrelenting, predicting that it is "doomed to decrepitude and decay under its current editorial direction". Not clear yet what he really thinks? He offers to write the Globe obituary stressing that it is a "victim of technological change and the unwillingness of the public to pay good money for the Orwellian dullness of its political correctness, the shrillness of its feminist columnists and the triviality of its petty intellectuals". But the Globe shouldn't feel special. Truman is equally harsh on academics, environmentalists, bureaucrats and politicians of all stripes though he seems to reserve a special place for the NDP which he describes as "little more than a collection of misfits and morons". For me, one of the most informative sections of the book deals with his 20 years experience in electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and energy conservation. He recounts fascinating anecdotes from his experience working for the Ontario government and for a private sector solar energy company. Many of his stories may be appearing for the first time in print. But he leaves this reader wanting more. The issues he deals with are even more current today; I would love to see his experienced and clear analytical mind focused on today's situation. This excellent section is a feature story, half done. The most moving part of this book is the last section that deals with Truman's struggles with what he calls his "cardiovascular adventures". First a rare heart disease and then some years later a massive stroke on his 70th birthday provide Truman with the fodder for a really touching piece of outstanding journalism. There is an emotional story arc here that makes it compelling reading. By now the reader likes the author and is cheering for his recovery. This is a seasoned writer at his best, candidly revealing his mental struggles with what he calls " the furies unleashed by stroke". There is a hint that there was partly a therapeutic motive behind beginning this revealing memoir. This is a feature story that deserves a wider audience. Truman used to write for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He knows how to make complex medical matters accessible to the lay reader. His intimate recounting of his personal journey would be helpful to many people who have had their own cardiovascular adventures. I've already shared it with a friend and highly recommend it to others. -Ron Doering, retired senior ADM Environment Canada, past president Canadian Food Inspection Agency, practicing lawyer
