Richard B. Goldbloom

Autobiographies of the “common” man or woman—untitled and not-so-famous—can be tricky to execute well. To do so, the book needs to be a compelling read, targeted to one or more audiences.

With A Lucky Life, distinguished Halifax pediatrician Richard Goldbloom has penned just such a book. In terms of general readability, it is Goldbloom’s self-deprecating humour and joie de vivre that keep the pages turning.

There is also a particular appeal to the book’s cultural tone. A secular Jew, Goldbloom nonetheless “remains unalterably and proudly Jewish in other respects.” This includes the “traditional Jewish way of thinking,” which places high value on family, education, humour and good food—all of which are highlighted in the book.

Yet other readers will enjoy the stories about “medical comets” and gifted figures in the worlds of theatre and classical music. For all, Goldbloom’s lively “rectrospectoscope” details a life rich in luck, love and endeavour.

A Lucky Life
by Richard B. Goldbloom
$29.95, hardcover, 302 pp.
Formac, October 2013