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Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values
Our front pages scream US military, social and fiscal policy. It may appear that — with immigration questions, airport and border restrictions, debate about common currency and talk of private health clinics — we are drifting inevitably towards a greater political and philosophical alliance with the United States. The implication is that we share their values. As Canadians, we have long defined ourselves as “not Americans.” We cherish our differences from our powerful neighbour but, as the United States grows ever more dominant on the world stage, can we hope to hold on to our national identity? Are we fated to become Americans in a generation or two? In Fire and Ice, Michael Adams challenges the myth of inevitability that has led us to believe our Canadian way of life is doomed to extinction. Drawing upon a decade of never-before released pulse-taking from both sides of the border, he reveals that Canada and the United States are not coming together, but are diverging in significant ways. From the vehicles we buy to the deference we pay to authority, Canadians prove to be firmly separate in their attitudes and opinions. If you have ever wondered whether Canada can survive and prosper as a distinct society in an era of globalization and dizzying technological change, Fire and Ice provides fascinating evidence that the cultural divergence between our country and the United States will continue for years to come.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Michael Adams
6 books7 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Michael Adams is the president of the Environics group of research and communications consulting companies which he co-founded in 1970. In 2006 he founded the Environics Institute for Survey Research, where he also serves as President.
Mr. Adams is also the author of six books, including: Sex in the Snow: Canadian Social Values at the End of the Millennium (1997); Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values, (2003); and Unlikely Utopia: The Surprising Triumph of Canadian Pluralism (2007). Fire and Ice won the prestigious 2003/04 Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy and was selected in the fall of 2005 by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the 100 most important books ever published in the country.
Michael Adams is the president of the Environics group of research and communications consulting companies which he co-founded in 1970. In 2006 he founded the Environics Institute for Survey Research, where he also serves as President.
Mr. Adams is also the author of six books, including: Sex in the Snow: Canadian Social Values at the End of the Millennium (1997); Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values, (2003); and Unlikely Utopia: The Surprising Triumph of Canadian Pluralism (2007). Fire and Ice won the prestigious 2003/04 Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy and was selected in the fall of 2005 by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the 100 most important books ever published in the country.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 30, 2021
The questions raised and the answers compared are more interesting than in normal opinion polls. For example, why was the notion that "a man must be the head of his family" gaining popularity in the USA, but losing it in Canada?
August 23, 2007
I had the (mostly) good fortune of dating a Canadian girl* for about a year and the experience alerted me to the realization that even an educated, well-traveled, cultured wanker like me could labor under the misapprehension that Canadians were just Americans with health insurance, a funny accent, a weaker dollar, and French cereal boxes...Nothing could be further from the truth. (Although they DO have pretty damn funny accents). Michael Adams charts how far from being sucked into a more "Americanized" society, Canadian social attitudes are slowly but surely beginning to drift further and further away from those of their larger-than-life neighbors down south. Apparently, Montreal is the most hedonistic and idealistic city in North America...I wanna go.
*If you should ever find yourself romantically involved with a Canadian, never, ever, ever talk shit about The Tragically Hip...Even if you really do think their lead singer sounds like a goat...Just keep it to yourself, okay?
*If you should ever find yourself romantically involved with a Canadian, never, ever, ever talk shit about The Tragically Hip...Even if you really do think their lead singer sounds like a goat...Just keep it to yourself, okay?
August 16, 2008
Written by a social economist, the book is a report of thousands of surveys of both Canadians and Americans over the last decade. The surveys rated respondents on social values scales like violence, religiousity, independence, idealism and survivalism. It is probably the most interesting and well written book of statistics I have ever seen.
Adams doesn't pull any punches when it comes to pointing out the negative values that emerge from the surveys, something that seemed to irritate many of his conservative reviewers, but this book explains in clear language what I have intuitively felt and failed to be able to express since living in the US. His injection of humor into what could be a dry analysis of how Canadians and Americans aren't becoming more alike makes this a very easy to read book.
My favorite quote from the text: “…we Canadians sometimes find our neighbours baffling. Between their rhetoric and our own (the left’s admonitions about the dangers of convergence with the gun-toting free marketers to the south, the right’s insistence that we shed our outdated national differences like garments on a long-awaited wedding night and join our industrious, innovative Yankee friends in an orgy of free trade and economic growth), Americans are reflected in so many funhouse mirrors that it would be remarkable if we saw them, collectively, as anything other than caricatures” (20).
What was really interesting for me, coming from Alberta to New England was the way in which the entire U.S. is far more conservative than the whole of Canada (generally speaking of course). Even liberal New England (the most liberal of the seven 'sections' of the U.S.) was more conservative than Alberta (the most conservative 'section' of Canada).
In some ways, this feels like a vindication of sorts. At least I know I'm not wacko or just overly sensitive, my sense of the difference between these two places follows what these statisticians have found out.
Overall, a very interesting book.
Adams doesn't pull any punches when it comes to pointing out the negative values that emerge from the surveys, something that seemed to irritate many of his conservative reviewers, but this book explains in clear language what I have intuitively felt and failed to be able to express since living in the US. His injection of humor into what could be a dry analysis of how Canadians and Americans aren't becoming more alike makes this a very easy to read book.
My favorite quote from the text: “…we Canadians sometimes find our neighbours baffling. Between their rhetoric and our own (the left’s admonitions about the dangers of convergence with the gun-toting free marketers to the south, the right’s insistence that we shed our outdated national differences like garments on a long-awaited wedding night and join our industrious, innovative Yankee friends in an orgy of free trade and economic growth), Americans are reflected in so many funhouse mirrors that it would be remarkable if we saw them, collectively, as anything other than caricatures” (20).
What was really interesting for me, coming from Alberta to New England was the way in which the entire U.S. is far more conservative than the whole of Canada (generally speaking of course). Even liberal New England (the most liberal of the seven 'sections' of the U.S.) was more conservative than Alberta (the most conservative 'section' of Canada).
In some ways, this feels like a vindication of sorts. At least I know I'm not wacko or just overly sensitive, my sense of the difference between these two places follows what these statisticians have found out.
Overall, a very interesting book.
December 30, 2022
“Americans go where no man has gone before; Canadians follow hoping to make that new place livable.”
Quite enjoyed this comparative analysis of social values in Canada and the US. How do Canadians embody their values? Is Canada really just a 51st state? Tbh really just some niche self-discovery.
Just one of the points I found interesting: “In Canada, religion is perceived more as a means of confronting the mysterious aspects of our lives and of building into our daily routines some practice that honours the great imponderables of existence…. Americans who register high levels of religiosity are more likely to see religion as a way of eliminating rather than exploring mystery…. In America, our data suggest, religion is the end of dialogue, not its beginning, almost a retreat from other points of view rather than an effort to understand and accommodate them.”
Quite enjoyed this comparative analysis of social values in Canada and the US. How do Canadians embody their values? Is Canada really just a 51st state? Tbh really just some niche self-discovery.
Just one of the points I found interesting: “In Canada, religion is perceived more as a means of confronting the mysterious aspects of our lives and of building into our daily routines some practice that honours the great imponderables of existence…. Americans who register high levels of religiosity are more likely to see religion as a way of eliminating rather than exploring mystery…. In America, our data suggest, religion is the end of dialogue, not its beginning, almost a retreat from other points of view rather than an effort to understand and accommodate them.”
June 10, 2013
I was given this book as part of a post-grad course with an assignment to write about any insights into Canadian culture I found. Unfortunately, most of the insights in gleaned from this book are insights into the author's worldview. Although based on surveys, the book is mostly ideological leaps made by the author, skewing the survey results to back up his preconceived notion that Canadian and American values are diverging rather than tracking on similar paths.
The basic premise of the book can be summed up in three sentences. "Postmodern thought is good." Canadians are more postmodern than Americans." Therefore, "Canadians are better than Americans."
Like some other reviewers, I found the book quite biased, and I was left wondering about his surveying and statistical methods. One survey answer that showed a 2% difference between Canadians and Americans was deemed statistically and sociologically significant. The author would present data that contradicted his premise that Canadians and Americans are divergent in their values, yet would ignore the data, stating that his premise remained true just the same. Towards the end of the book, he presents findings showing that Canadian youth are becoming more conservative in values, similar to the US. Yet he ignores the findings and sticks to his own hypothesis. In a number of cases, I don't find that he follows the data to come to conclusions.
One of the more obvious biases in the book is his denunciation of all things Bush. He has only negative things to say about the Bush administration (from an academic? No!!) and the implication is that the rather alarming findings about US society that he found is due to Bush. In short, he found an alarming trend toward nihilism, acceptance of violence, sexism and xenophobia among a growing number of US youth. The ironic thing is that the survey results he based these conclusions on were taken between 1992 and 2000 -- THE EIGHT YEARS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION! Adams totally misses the boat in failing to ask what it was, if anything, about the eight Clinton years that would have caused such a seismic shift in American values. In general, I would recommend you avoid this book. If you want to find out about the trends in Canadian values, I would recommend anything by Reginald Bibby instead.
The basic premise of the book can be summed up in three sentences. "Postmodern thought is good." Canadians are more postmodern than Americans." Therefore, "Canadians are better than Americans."
Like some other reviewers, I found the book quite biased, and I was left wondering about his surveying and statistical methods. One survey answer that showed a 2% difference between Canadians and Americans was deemed statistically and sociologically significant. The author would present data that contradicted his premise that Canadians and Americans are divergent in their values, yet would ignore the data, stating that his premise remained true just the same. Towards the end of the book, he presents findings showing that Canadian youth are becoming more conservative in values, similar to the US. Yet he ignores the findings and sticks to his own hypothesis. In a number of cases, I don't find that he follows the data to come to conclusions.
One of the more obvious biases in the book is his denunciation of all things Bush. He has only negative things to say about the Bush administration (from an academic? No!!) and the implication is that the rather alarming findings about US society that he found is due to Bush. In short, he found an alarming trend toward nihilism, acceptance of violence, sexism and xenophobia among a growing number of US youth. The ironic thing is that the survey results he based these conclusions on were taken between 1992 and 2000 -- THE EIGHT YEARS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION! Adams totally misses the boat in failing to ask what it was, if anything, about the eight Clinton years that would have caused such a seismic shift in American values. In general, I would recommend you avoid this book. If you want to find out about the trends in Canadian values, I would recommend anything by Reginald Bibby instead.
February 20, 2008
Anyone who thinks Canadians and Americans can be lumped into one category culturally should read this book. Michael Adams is a social values researcher who surveyed both countries and came up with some surprising results. A very interesting and informative read.
February 16, 2011
A solid book of analysis, but the writing style is too dry for my taste. It also feels slightly dated...which makes me wonder if a Can/US culture comparison can ever be truly generalized, or only a snapshot of any particular era.
January 28, 2012
Do you think people right books about the differences between Australia and New Zealand? Just a question. For those of us who live in Canada the differences between the Canadians and Americans seem pretty obvious and we should cherish those differences. However it seams to me that the author had an ageneda or bias before he even started his research. Anything he found was going to support his already established opinion. So he ends up painting a picture of Americans as fat, overworked, stressed, narcistic, violent, evangelical Christians - which when you think about it kind of leaves an image that looks like an obese, buffet eating, Columbine, gun toting church going youth. On the other side Canadians are described as being spritual (but not Christian) more open minded, better educated, more open to immigration, less racisit, ultimately more post modern, and I think you get the idea. Both descriptions are incredible generalizations - which the author admits - but ultimately leads one asking the question why write a book about generalizations. I also think that raising Americans issues with slavery without giving sometime to Canada's relationship with its First Nations peoples is laughable. We also have to ask the question if the Americans are less open-minded than us how is it that they elected an African American president before us. So, if I had to describe the author I would say he's a well educated but ultimately insecure Canadian baby boomer. The book reminds me of those Canadians who want to compare Lester B. Pearson with Abraham Lincoln - when you do that sort of thing you just end up sounding ridiculous. Stop it already we live in a great country and are blessed to be a part of Canada just leave it at that - no need to make others look stupid in an effort to make us look better. Also it's worth noting that the reseach he developed is from the 90's and I think its starting to date itself, especially in his evaluation of youth.
March 11, 2011
Fascinating book. We all knew that there are differences between Canadian and American culture but I've never seen it laid out in such a clear, logical, and scientific analysis. I think if you're Canadian you're going to love this book (obviously, bebcause it's written from a Canadian point of view so it's pro-Canadian). If you're American, you may find this book interesting if you are open minded to new social ideas etc., or a democrat. If you're American and are in the Sarah Palin/ultra Republican mindset, then I suggest you don't pick this book up because it will simply make you mad.
February 22, 2009
Canada and the United States are not experiencing converging values.
January 30, 2021
“ You cannot speak to Canadians as if they were Americans, not just because it’s politically incorrect but because they have different values and priorities and live in a very different context.”
I picked this up a few days after the infiltration of the White House. I needed to make sense of why it was happening and this book answered many of my questions. While it was published 20 years ago, I found it not only relevant but in ways prophetic.
The authors writing style made all concepts and theories easily understood. As much as the content was shocking, I actually enjoyed this book very much. However, I wish he had not overlooked Canada’s many faults, painting us as a utopia.
I picked this up a few days after the infiltration of the White House. I needed to make sense of why it was happening and this book answered many of my questions. While it was published 20 years ago, I found it not only relevant but in ways prophetic.
The authors writing style made all concepts and theories easily understood. As much as the content was shocking, I actually enjoyed this book very much. However, I wish he had not overlooked Canada’s many faults, painting us as a utopia.
June 30, 2020
If you ever wondered why Canadians always describe themselves as 'not Americans', this book is for you. Rated by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the 100 most important books ever published in Canada, this book won the 2003 Donner prize for best book on Canadian public policy. Very worthwhile in understanding America in modern times (a definite re-read needed in 2020).
May 13, 2019
Very good book looking at the similarities and differences between the two cultures.
July 26, 2024
I would be very interested to see an updated version of this book with the polarization of politics that we see today.
Want to read
July 2, 2007He gave an awesome lecture on TV Ontario's "Big Ideas". His thesis is that the real difference isn't as much between red and blue Americans/states; but rather those who do and do not participate in the political process. This fits right into the questions and ideas Michael Moore raises in "Sicko".
July 30, 2008
really interesting look at the cultural differences between Canada and the US. Nothing is said here that isn't backed up by data.
October 25, 2008
Excellent look at the differences between Canada and the US. A must read for anyone thinking we are converging into one nation.
April 17, 2020
Interesting take on how Canada and the United States seem to be changing in their ideological stance (with Canada becoming more like the US)
July 15, 2011
interesting, but sadly quite biased. he might be onto something but it's hard for me to share this with my american friends the way it's presented.
January 22, 2012
Politics between Canada & US. This is a dead on book of truth in how the 2 countries are so divided. I thought of this book after Obama rejected the pipeline.
January 31, 2013
A poorly-researched book in which the author uses carefully-worded polling questions to obtain the data he needs to back his arguments.
October 20, 2016
Basically predicted success of Trump and Trudeau
March 27, 2012
Hopelessly biased.
January 30, 2017
Interesting, though a bit dated. Does agree with my experiences in both countries (and explains why I might be more at home in Canada)
July 8, 2017
It's always nice to see arguments backed by data. I would be interested to see how things have changed in the last 15 years.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews