Thatcher versus Douglas: The CCF, the Liberals, and the Mossbank Debate of 1957by M. G. BucholtzPublished by Wood Dragon BooksReview by Toby A. Welch$21.99 ISBN 9781990863349 Saskatchewan never fails to amaze me! Its political history is richer and deeper than many of us realize,and Thatcher versus Douglas captures one of its defining moments. Ross Thatcher and Tommy Douglas both played integral roles in shaping modern Saskatchewan and this book explores how their ideas – and their rivalries – helped define our political identity. Before reading Thatcher versus Douglas, I had never heard of the Great Debate that happened in 1957, apparently a pivotal point in Saskatchewan politics. At a time when politicians relied on speeches, door knocking, and newspaper coverage, Thatcher and Douglas debated face-to-face with a moderator between them, with reporters covering it for newspapers and the discussion broadcast over radio. What feels commonplace now was groundbreaking then, foreshadowing the future of media-driven politics. As the chapters unfolded, I found myself wondering which of the men I would’ve aligned with had I been alive seventy-five years ago. Both men are fascinating and Bucholtz dives deep into their lives so we can see what shaped their political views and careers. Even readers who…

Charged!: The Dangerous and Misguided Promise of the Electric Vehicleby M.G. BucholtzPublished by Wood Dragon BooksReview by Toby A. Welch  $21.99 ISBN 9781990863677 I’ve always been wary about how so-called experts have pushed consumers to purchase electric vehicles over gas powered modes of transportation. Logically I can’t wrap my head around it. After all, running an electric vehicle takes electricity, a resource that requires energy to make. Just like gasoline and diesel take energy to get to the pump. Does electricity make more sense to power a vehicle? I never felt knowledgeable enough to make an informed decision about that. So when Charged hit my radar, I was thrilled for the opportunity to become more educated about electric vehicles. Should my next car be an electric one? I dove into Charged with gusto, eager to learn everything I could on the topic. And Bucholtz is the perfect teacher. The Mossbank, Saskatchewan, resident is an engineer by trade and is clearly an expert on geopolitics, numerous areas of science, and future trends. But he didn’t just rely on his expertise to author Charged. There’s over twenty pages listing where Bucholtz sourced the information included in the book.  One of the many fantastic things that stood out to me about Charged was that…