The life of one of the most influential builders of 20th century Canadian culture, in his own words.

Words to Live By is the memoir of William Whitehead who, from the 1950s onwards, has been a participant in, and spectator to, the development of Canadian culture. But Whitehead's book does far more than document the events and people of this dynamic period -- it tells the story of a prairie boy who trained as a scientist but fell in love with the stage, the story of a man whose adventures and misadventures in the written and spoken word have given new meaning to the phrase "words to live by," as it tells the story of a man deeply engaged with and involved in our country's theatre, radio, television, and literature.

Reading Words to Live By is like having the best seat at an amazing dinner party, one where your companion delights and entertains you into the small hours of the night.

Timothy Findley was one of Canada’s most compelling and best loved writers, from the publication of his first novel in 1967 until his death in June 2002. His acclaimed novels include Spadework, Pilgrim, The Piano Man’s Daughter, Headhunter, Not Wanted on the Voyage, Famous Last Words and The Wars. Findley was a two-time winner of the Governor General’s Award: The Wars won the 1977 award for fiction; Elizabeth Rex, a play, won the 2000 award for drama. The recipient of many accolades for his fiction, non-fiction and drama, including the Chalmers Award and the Edgar Award, Findley was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.

William Whitehead's profile page

• Short-listed, Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour

“This is a charming account of a time gone by – by a masterful raconteur.”

Edmund White

“[An] Engaging look at the Findley and Whitehead combination … touches down, comments, regales the reader, then skips on to the next episode in a remarkable and sometimes riotous life.”

London Free Press