Get to know Canada Reads panellist Humble The Poet

Humble The Poet championed Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis to a win during Canada Reads 2017. Watch André Alexis pose a series of questions to Humble The Poet to get to know him better. 

Canada Reads took place March 27–30. Check out all the details and get to know this year's contenders here.

Where is your favourite place to read?

My favourite place to read is outside under the sun.

How do you describe Canada Reads to people who don't know what it is?

A reality show for books.

Describe Canada Reads in one word.

Intense.

Describe my book in one word.

Death.

What is your favourite place to visit in Canada?

I really liked Whistler.

What is the first book you read that made you love reading?

God's Debris by Scott Adams.

What was it about my book that you connected with?

I don't consider myself a very emotional person. However, dogs still have a direct access to my feelings. Any time I see a dog in any capacity, it definitely hits me emotionally. To read about 15 dogs and their various triumphs and struggles with this gift of human intelligence, really had a huge impact on me. To also, for the first time, see an interaction between a human and a dog where they can both debate, discuss and explore the idea of love, I thought was probably the most fascinating thing. I wish I could've done it with a dog that I had in my life.

Who or what is your favourite character from literature?

You know what, I'm going to say Prince the poet from your book Fifteen Dogs. He taught me a lot about how important it is to simply soak in life and it's not about winning or losing, being happy or unhappy, it's about experiencing it all and being grateful that you get to.