A book that is at once a buddy comedy, and an imaginative thought experiment on canadian politics may not seem like one to put at the top of your TBR, I’m hoping to convince you that you should.

The book follows Daniel, an ex-political staffer who convinces Angus McLintock, a mechanical engineering professor to run for the liberals in an upcoming election, in exchange for Daniel taking Angus’s place teaching English for Engineers at UofO. Running in a conservative stronghold, it is a given that Angus would not win, so when the writ is dropped and the election period starts, two punk engineering students and an octogenarian join the campaign that is doomed to fail from the start… until the conservative candidate is caught up in a scandal that rocks the riding. Angus is elected, if with a marginal mandate, and heads to Ottawa as a newly elected liberal MP in opposition to a minority conservative government.

From here is where the political nerds will have a lot of fun: how would an MP, not intending to get elected, and with no interest in re-election, operate in government? Angus’s first priority is to do what is best for Canada, followed by what's best for his constituents. And this leads to hilarious face-offs with business owners looking for backroom deals, lobbyists, and even his own party, and even the party leader. 

Angus, Daniel, the punk volunteers, and all the other characters are so enjoyable to spend time with, and seeing Angus defeat crusty political expectations with pure motiviations is so refreshing. This book is well-worth its numerous awards.