Carol Off is a widely respected Canadian journalist, the longtime host of CBC’s As It Happens. As such, and because I have read a book by Off before, I felt confident this book would be illuminating and fair and it did not disappoint. In this book – “Conversation in an Age of Rage” – Off dissects 6 different words. Starting with their dictionary meanings but going far beyond that to look at what they mean, what they have meant, and what they have come to mean in our current state.
These words are: Freedom, Democracy, Truth, Woke, Choice, and Taxes. With these 6 words, Off covers much of the current political scene, particularly in Canada and the US, as well as economics and social justice. It’s a large undertaking and while she can’t of course cover everything in less than 400 pages, she does an admirable job. Off sketches some broad political and social history, while also bringing some of her own story in, but does assume a basic understanding of history from her reader.
While a lot of the focus is on the United States, Off also gives a lot of history and context for Canadians, detailing some of our similarities and differences. She also looks at other countries around the world as examples – Hungary and Brazil, for a couple. As a Canadian, I appreciate a book like this because we are hugely affected by our American neighbours but I also want to know what Canada is doing and how we might be similar or different. So much of our Canadian identity exists in simply being “not Americans” and yet there is danger in that complacency.
Reading this book in January 2025, just months after its publication, there are already parts that feel slightly outdated. Particularly around the US election, when Off speaks about the next American president without knowing who won that vote. Reading this book in the same week of Trump’s inauguration felt like we really are living in the darkest timeline. At the same time, it gave me a renewed sense of the importance of our next federal election here in Canada and just how much really is at stake.
Karissa Reads Books 
There is this weird movement in the U.S., which I’ve mainly noticed thanks to bumper stickers, calling taxation “theft.” I’m sorry, did you really put a bumper sticker calling taxes theft on you car and then drive on a road maintained by taxes?? It’s so weird, so I’m curious what she wrote about taxes.
I’ve never seen a bumper sticker like that! How silly! I’m sure that attitude exists in Canada too but in general I think we’re more socialist than Americans. I don’t need my house to burn down to know I want my taxes paying for firefighting equipment. And on the months that none of us need healthcare, I like to imagine my MSP payments helping another family. Off talks about the attitude you’re seeing represented in those bumper stickers. Taxes used to be a commitment we made to each other as a society, to care for one another. But we’re becoming increasingly self-focused and it’s damaging so many parts of our lives.
Ugh taxes as theft is such a short-sighted and stupid argument, I get so annoyed hearing that viewpoint. And good point re: the firefighting equipment! LOL
I went to a book event for this release, where Off spoke about her time writing it, but also her time as a journalist, etc. This was before the election of course, so no doubt it does feel a bit outdated, but I thought her word choices were very poignant. She came across as a very intelligent woman, so not surprising her book is just as smart 🙂
She’s going to be one of the featured authors at our Writers Fest this summer and I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve seen her there before and she really is so smart and bold. I’m curious as to how she’ll talk about these things now, post-election in the US.