AGAINST the TIDE - My Memoir

by William D. Gairdner

Biography & Autobiography

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Against the Tide recounts the journey of a frail young boy who found his strength in running, sparking his dream of becoming an Olympic athlete. His adventures included lumberjacking in British Columbia and working on a tramp steamer to the Arctic. Running led him to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where he set a Commonwealth record in the Decathlon. Eschewing the family investment business he pursued a writing career, earning a Ph.D. from Stanford in English Literature and Creative Writing. He returned to save The Fitness Institute, one of the finest health and medical clubs of its time from bankruptcy, he eventually sold it to focus on writing. His political and moral instincts awakened, he wrote against Canada's rush toward socialism, starting with his #1 bestseller, The Trouble with Canada. This book established him as a favourite among libertarians and conservatives, and a target for the left. Subsequent books, like The War Against the Family and The Book of Absolutes, cemented his reputation. Through it all, he built a rich family life with five children and sixteen grandchildren, leaving a legacy of resilience and conviction. Against the Tide is the captivating story of a man who chose "the road less travelled," defending the core political and moral traditions of his country and Western civilization.

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