Scott McIntyres memoirtells of a remarkable creative life even while addressing in an engaging and deeply moving way the entire saga and struggle of Canadian publishing over the last halfcentury Its a story of astonishing grit determination risk courage and above all love of country and faith in the integrity uniqueness and importance of its literary voice This book and especially at this time is perhaps a moment for all Canadians to acknowledge with gratitude someone who is truly a national heroScott McIntyre gave us his all mortgaged his life both literally and metaphorically so that we might all come to see the glory of what it means to be born in such a place to be children of such a land WadeDavis CM author and anthropologist

Its a trenchant tale wonderfully told invigorating enlightening hilarious and heartbreaking Every student of Canadian history and everyone who thinks they have anything to do with Canadian culture should read it RobertBringhurst poet and author

Filled with fascinating figures A Precarious Enterprise handles the world of publishing so well and Scott tells his story courageously A fine read David Staines University of Ottawa scholar and writer

Of all the things that Scott accomplished with DampM of all the authors he has fostered all the talented staff members he has mentored all the books he has brought to Canada and the world the contribution that I value most is this he did more than any other person to transform Canadian publishing from a localto a national industry Carolyn Wood former executive director Association of Canadian Publishers

A Precarious Enterprisehas all of the DNA necessary for future historians to fully understand the joyous and unexpected rodeo that was CanLit 10 It was a cherished window in time and Scott tells of it with love and the ultimate insiders POV Douglas Coupland author and artist

What unfolds in A Precarious Enterprise is a mixture of the vagaries and cautionary tales of the business of book publishing along with a kind of rolling whos who of authors and playmakers and sometimes but not often moneymakers and a quieter undercurrent of a determined sometimes opportunistic and indefatigable champion of the arts Ian Gill The Tyee

A Precarious Enterprise Making a Life in Canadian Publishing is a valuable read for those mystified by the historic traditions of publishing and its many challenges as well as just how lively and exhilarating publishing in Canada was during its literary golden age The BC Review

If youre interested in book publishing youll find it absorbing and rewarding Ken Whyte

McIntyres A Precarious Enterprise reminds us that the survival of Canadian publishing is not simply a business concern but a national onemore central to our future than ever before Literary Review of Canada