The Disbeliever's Dictionary

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

“Free Trade: Code term for vague plan to make life easier for
financial sector personnel and nasty, brutish and short for everyone
else. ... Hockey: Game of choice for semi-literate male cement-heads
that supposedly reveals the Canadian national character. ... Vimy Ridge:
One of Canada’s genuine moments of national glory and a long way from
Somalia.”

A large part of Brian Fawcett’s literary career has been devoted to
sticking sharp little pins into large things, whether those be
governments, corporations, cities, or people. This book, a cross between
John Ralston Saul’s The Doubter’s Companion and Frank magazine, will
appeal to readers who enjoy epigrams as a blood sport. In his softer
moments, Fawcett is not averse to bestowing praise. He seems
particularly taken with Margaret Atwood and with Yukon Gold potatoes.
Unfortunately, his “nice” entries are less entertaining than the
ones with the barbed hooks.