This is an entertaining and informative autobiography of a Canadian journalist who covered Canada's politics and history from 1970's to about 2008. He was also a foreign corespondent who served in Washington during the Ronald Reagan presidency. He also traveled to war zones including Argentina during the Falklands War that while not close to the battle fields turned out to be dangerous for foreign reporters. A trip to El Salvador turned out to be very dangerous and he was in Panama for the fall of President Noriega.

The real fun in the book is his descriptions of the governments of Pierre Trudeau, Joe Clark, John Chretien, and Stephen Harper and the maneuvers that brought them to power or led to their defeat. He knew these leaders and the power brokers that made things happen in Ottawa and he is quite open in his descriptions of who did what to whom.

Another important part of his life was wilderness canoe tripping which he took to the highest level canoeing 30 rivers in northern Canada some of which his party was the first group to do them. His canoeing party included fellow journalists Tim Kotcheff, Bill Fox and Ross Howard but also politicians of various persuasions such as Pierre Trudeau, John Godfrey and Bill Fox.

He ends by describing his loss of vision and how he learned to accept it and how he continued working while slowly becoming blind.

A truly entertaining and informative book that will bring back memories to Canadians who lived through the period and followed politics of the period. ( )

When I heard Craig Oliver was writing a book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Having watched his newscasts, commentaries and Friday evening conversations with Steve Murphy on Halifax's ATV News, I expected it to be forthright and informative. I was not disappointed.

In his memoir, Oliver’s Twist, Craig takes us through his life as a journalist and within the pages we are introduced to the many interesting people he has met on his journey. Oliver’s Twist will alternately make you smile, frown, perhaps shed a tear, and definitely laugh out loud.

No person or subject is out of bounds for Mr. Oliver, and anyone interested in the news – past and present – will find themselves enthralled with the many stories and anecdotes throughout the book. Oliver takes us on a journey through both his professional and personal lives, with none of the 'airbrushing away' of details so often seen in a biography.

This book is an easy recommend, and being a bit of a newshound myself, I am so grateful to Mr. Oliver for taking the time to write it.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel L Little www.daniellittle.com ( )