Jeffrey Simpson spent time with doctors, including in hospitals, and did a lot of background research to produce this examination of Canada's heatlh care sysstem. Like all of Mr. Simpson's books that I've read, I found it well written, engaging and thought-provoking.

Mr. Simpson looks at Canadians' views (practical and emotional) about the health care system, at cost drivers in the system, successes and failures, international comparisons and brings to light aspects of the debate over the future of health care that I hadn't yet linked together.

Unlike most books on public policy, Mr. Simpson's recommendatons for improvement are not the weakest part of the book. He doesn't claim there is one right way forward, but the ideas he advances make sense.

Most importantly, he has opened the door to a reasoned debate on health care -- although I'm not sure Canadians, including our political leaders, will walk through it. Health Care is the Canadian version of the U.S. right to bear arms: it is our Constitutional right, our identity. U.S. gun control and Canadian health care reform will probably proceed at the same pace. ( )