The science journalist, author and broadcaster Bob McDonald discusses his memoir Just Say Yes (Douglas & McIntyre, 2024), with Joseph Planta.

Just Say Yes by Bob McDonald (Douglas & McIntyre, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Just Say Yes

Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

For over four decades now, Bob McDonald has devoted his working life to reporting on science. And in his inimitable way, he’s brought the study of the world and the world around us closer to audiences on television, through his writing, and of course, over thirty years on CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks. In his new memoir Just Say Yes, he tells the story of not just of how he ended up one of the preeminent science correspondents in the country, but his beginnings in Orilla, Ontario. It was a blue-collar experience for Bob and his family. He writes of the challenges of living in a small town, and the childhood abuse he suffered. He writes about all of his life candidly and captivatingly. It’s, as I tell him in our interview we taped about ten days ago, as though we can hear his voice as we read. Bob McDonald has hosted Quirks and Quarks since 1992. He is a regular science commentator on CBC News Network, and science correspondent for CBC’s The National. Before that he was the host and one of the producers of the television program Wonderstruck. He has received the 2001 Michael Smith Award for science promotion from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council, as well as the 2002 Sandford Fleming medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for Science. He also received the 2005 McNeil Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and the recipient of thirteen honorary doctorates. In 2014, asteroid 332324 was officially named BOBMCDONALD. This new book is published by Douglas & McIntyre. He joined me from his home in Victoria, BC. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Bob McDonald; Mr. McDonald, good morning.

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