If not for a willingness to take risks and try new things, Bob McDonald might never have become a household name as the host of CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks. Just Say Yes: A Memoir chronicles the highlights of McDonald’s life, from his youth in Orillia to his status as a high-profile science reporter and radio host. Along the way, McDonald discusses how being open to new opportunities was a key to his success.
Just Say Yes is divided into three main sections. The first section covers McDonald’s life from childhood to his time working in the Ontario Science Centre. The second section describes events from the start of his freelance writing career to his job at Quirks and Quarks. These two sections are followed by a chapter titled “Interlude: The Sailing Life,” about McDonald’s adventures (and misadventures) on the various sailboats he has owned.
McDonald notes that in his youth, he wasn’t someone who would have been pegged by teachers and classmates to achieve great things in the world of science journalism.
The final section, “Space,” covers shuttle launches, McDonald’s encounters with various space-related personalities including Canadian Chris Hadfield, the Voyager probes, and meeting Stephen Hawking, among other topics. Whether it was because of McDonald’s own enthusiasm or my personal interest in the topic, it was the “Space” section that I found most riveting, though the other sections were interesting as well.
McDonald notes that in his youth, he wasn’t someone who would have been pegged by teachers and classmates to achieve great things in the world of science journalism. Though he enjoyed science, he wasn’t a great student, and ended up dropping out of university before completing his degree. But perseverance, and following his passions, led McDonald to say “yes” to opportunities that in turn enabled him to develop and hone his skills in preparation for future challenges.
McDonald has seen a lot of places, as a result of his work as well as a six-month jaunt that he took in his younger years. This trip included a visit the Pyramids in Egypt as well as travel to Nepal, Australia, and other venues. In the course of his memoir, he takes us to many of these locales so we can vicariously enjoy them through this descriptions.
McDonald provides an honest, open, and engaging account of his life, recounting his foibles as well as his triumphs. He describes one instance when he ran his sailboat aground near Long Point, and is open about a time in his life when he took on too much and became overwhelmed. In these sections, as well as others, McDonald’s wit and his willingness to laugh at himself are part of the book’s appeal, reassuring us that despite attaining celebrity status, he, like the rest of us, is only human.
The book also briefly discusses incidents of sexual abuse McDonald endured as a child, and he talks about how this affected his ability to build relationships. As McDonald noted in an interview with The National’s Ian Hanomansing in November, 2024, he shared this information, not to seek sympathy, but to provide other survivors of abuse with the hope that it’s possible to overcome trauma.
He describes one instance when he ran his sailboat aground near Long Point, and is open about a time in his life when he took on too much and became overwhelmed.
McDonald has seen a lot in the five decades spent in the field of science journalism—exciting discoveries, intriguing research, and interesting personalities. But in the book’s Epilogue, he also discusses a disturbing, and possibly dangerous, trend: the decline in respect for science and scientists. Conspiracy theories, misinformation, and pseudo-science are all factors that inhibit our action on climate change and other important issues, and this is particularly irksome for McDonald, who remembers encountering research about the warning signs climate change early in his career. Despite all this, he remains optimistic about humanity’s future prospects.
McDonald’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the value of being open to new possibilities. Do we always have the courage to say yes to opportunities? Probably not—but McDonald’s memoir shows, by example, that good things can happen when we do.
Bob McDonald has been the host of CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks since 1992. He is a regular science commentator on CBC News Network and science correspondent for CBC TV’s The National. He has been honoured with the 2001 Michael Smith Award for science promotion from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, as well as the 2002 Sandford Fleming Medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for Science, and the 2005 McNeil Medal for the public awareness of science from the Royal Society of Canada. In November 2011, McDonald was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is the recipient of thirteen honorary doctorates and, in 2014, asteroid 332324 was officially named BOBMCDONALD in his honour. He lives in Victoria, BC.
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre (September 14, 2024)
Hardcover 9″ x 6″ | 288 pages
ISBN: 9781771624206
Lisa Timpf is a retired HR and communications professional who lives in Simcoe, Ontario. Her writing has appeared in New Myths, Star*Line, The Future Fire, Triangulation: Habitats, and other venues. Lisa’s speculative haibun collection, In Days to Come, is available from Hiraeth Publishing. You can find out more about Lisa’s writing at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/.