You Had to Be There: An Intimate Portrait of the Generation That Survived the Depression, Won the War, and Re-invented Canada

Christine Hughes is a policy analyst at the Ontario Native Affairs
Secretariat.

You Had to Be There is a fascinating account based on Robert Collins’s
interviews with 181 Canadians of diverse backgrounds and economic
circumstances. What the interviewees have in common, however, is that
they are all members of “Generation M” (for mature), the 3.6 million
Canadians over age 65 who comprise 12 percent of the population. They
survived the Great Depression and World War II, shaped post-war Canada,
and raised the baby boomers. This generation witnessed unparalleled
technological change, and are better educated, more affluent, and
longer-living than any generation before them.

Collins traces the history of Generation M from the Great Depression to
the present. Separate chapters consider the changing role of women in
Canadian society, parenting the baby boomers, and Generation M’s
values and attitudes. Collins skilfully weaves the stories of his
subjects into the various themes, and intersperses his own narrative
with transcripts selected from his interviews.

This book will have a popular appeal to a wide audience. Members of
Generation M will likely enjoy reminiscing along with Collins and his
interviewees. Baby boomers may be interested to share in the experiences
of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. Indeed, Collins
challenges boomers to reconsider some of the factors that have
contributed to the generation gap. A series of black-and-white
photographs contribute a visual portrait of the times.

Collins has published 12 works of nonfiction and is a frequent
contributor to Maclean’s, Tor-onto Life, and Reader’s Digest.