Reddit mentions of Jacques Parizeau (Biographie / Editions Québec Amérique) (French Edition)

Sorry in advance, this sort of... turned into a wall of text before I noticed.

It might sound strange, but L'histoire du Québec pour les nuls was very well received. It was written by historian Eric Bedard who's well know of the public and whose work is respected. Sociologist Mathieu Bock-Côté says he enjoyed the book. Lionel Groulx's Notre grande aventure is more detailed and focused on the 1535-1760 period. It is an overview. I have learned about history through reading the works of Lionel Groulx (Nos luttes constitutionnelles), journalist Pierre Duchesne's excellent biography in three volumes of Jacques Parizeau who was minister of finances during the first referendum and prime minister during the second. There is also Laurent-Olivier David's Les patriotes de 1837-1838 which covers the attempted revolution of 1837. I recently read professor Guy Laforest's Trudeau and the end of a canadian dream which analyses Trudeau's Machiavellian actions in the aftermath of the first referendum and during the process that lead to the repatriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982 (which included a Charter of rights and an amendment procedure) against Quebec's will in spite of Trudeau's campaign promise to renew federalism in favor of Quebec in the event of a No vote.

Social media is a powerful tool. The mainstream media often favors established institutions. Having parallel networks that spread information can definitely help those who work for change. We've witnessed the same phenomenon but on a smaller scale a couple of years ago during what has come to be called Le printemps érable or Maple spring in somewhat clumsy reference to the Arab spring. It was a very large mainly student-based movement opposed to the government's decision to raise tuition fees and demanded not only that the fees stay the same, but also that the whole philosophy behind the higher education system be reviewed. During months, people took to the streets in protest. My university's faculty of law did not participate in the strike. I wasn't exactly opposed to the raise, but I did oppose the government's intransigent position. I followed social media as much as I could. Gatherings spontaneously happened as people tweeted they were starting a protest at this park or on the corner of those streets. It was beautiful to see the will of the people expressed in such a clear and simple way. A real breathe of fresh air in the morose and grey times of post-referendum national discouragement. It wasn't a nationalist movement. It was a left-wing one. But it was encouraging to see that there were still idealists out with convictions and democratic principles strong enough to keep their opposition to the established order mostly civil and peaceful.

If only I had had more time I would have loved to study literature. I try to read a good classic once in a while. What are you currently reading? I should really learn more about Scottish history. I have very vague notions of a William Wallace being a national hero but I don't think having seen Braveheart is really enough to claim knowing anything about it really! If you have recommendations in history or novels you really like, I'm always looking for new books however big the ''unread'' pile may already be!