Summary: part of a broad shift in the political economy of canada post-wwii (automobiles > trains, us > britain, toronto > montreal, etc.) both began in the 30s and was characterized by cultural shifts in the bourgeoisie, because the National Policy capitalists were not politically or socially equipped to deal with the interwar crises. capitalists that were instead more open to state intervention (or different forms of it), more meritocratic than aristocratic in style, and more oriented to the u.s. than britain in culture, politics, and business took the reins. this is mainly illustrated by chapter-length bios of fat cats (which I found mind-numbing), but there is increasingly other content - e.g. lots about workers' resistance in oshawa auto plants in the 30s - as the book goes on.

i barely even "grad school"-style read this, mainly because part I is so soul-crushingly boring and I was unclear what argument was being made. It became clearer and more interesting in the second half, but by then i was on study group deadline to "finish" it quick.

i would suggest maybe reading the conclusion, which is short and quick and clear, and if you want to read the rest from there, you'll have a better sense of what the point is.