Born to an Ontario farm family in the post-war baby boom, Wayne Baker was an original from the get-go. Already a fluent reader of Treasure Island and many other books by the time he started school, he was soon bored in his one-room classroom, excelling each year despite increasingly erratic attendance. High school and university careers would follow a similar pattern of high achievement coupled with a skeptical attitude, a fondness for practical jokes and sports, a willingness to play the system and unwillingness to suffer fools (or rules) gladly.

All About a Man Who Says Nothing and Does Nothing is part one of Mr. Baker’s memoirs, taking readers from his earliest memories and school career, through his emigration to Australia as a young newlywed and new-minted teacher and his years teaching and travelling there. But with a family history of difficult relationships, alcoholism and mental illness, life is not all clear sailing. Mr. Baker also has to deal with personal conflicts, a bizarre drug dealing accusation and his own use of booze (finally giving up alcohol altogether).

Along the way readers are treated to the musings, deadpan humour and frank opinions of an incisive and outspoken observer and critic of Life.