Published Books: Gift and Humor Books

In 1999, the Canadian painter Robert Genn started emailing personally addressed letters to some of his friends. One by one, in the viral nature that is the Internet, these letters were copied, shared and generally passed around. Gradually at first, Robert’s list grew until tens of thousands now go out in nanoseconds from a state-of-the-art dedicated server to creatively-minded people in 115 countries. These totally free letters trace Robert’s artistic pursuits, his wide range of interests, the struggles of his profession, and his remarkable travels. They also inform, inspire, motivate and give tangible meaning to Robert’s abiding faith in the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Artists. Here, between these covers, is the collection so far, with all its lumps and bumps, high points and low. These letters have been opened with anticipation and joy. Here they are, all of them, for the first time in one place.

Did you know that on:

• January 27, 1959 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Quebec Premier Maurice Duplesis was personally liable for ruining the business of a Jehovah’s Witness?
• April 19, 1907 Aboriginal Canadian Tom Longboat won the Boston Marathon with record time and attracted celebrity status?
• May 12, 1820 Florence Nightingale was born and her strong math skills—discouraged by her mother—led to the innovation that saved so many soldiers?
• June 13, 1986 Henry Vlug became Canada’s first deaf lawyer?
• July 28, 1755 Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence ordered the deportation of thousands of Acadians after years of discrimination?
• September 23, 1992 Canadian Manon Rheaume became the NHL’s first woman hockey player?

You will be amazed, horrified, delighted and inspired by what you read as you absorb each human rights event for every day of the year. Even the acts of discrimination or worse will encourage you to want to do your part to make Canada and the world a better place.

In this hilarious and insightful essay collection, nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist Lisa Earle McLeod turns traditional thinking on its head by asking:

• Can Sponge Bob get you into Mensa?
  
• Why isn’t Pocahontas president of the United States?
  
• Does Buddha need Botox?
  
• Why isn’t marriage as fun as dating?
  
• What if peace were sexy?
  
• Where have all the dumb girls gone?
  
• Can you become CEO by standing next to the water cooler?

Always funny, often touching, and sometimes politically incorrect, Finding Grace When You Can’t Even Find Clean Underwear is a wickedly funny take on the people and problems that vex us all.