Michael Decter

Today was a very special day.
The first copies of The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook have arrived, and holding the book in my hands makes this feel very real.
Mike McCarthy and I wrote this book for patients, families, caregivers, and anyone who has ever felt lost, dismissed, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn inside the health care system.
It is a practical handbook about how to advocate for yourself and the people you love — how to ask better questions, push when you need to push, organize information, and fight for what you need.
I’m very proud to share this with you.
The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook: How to Fight for What You Need is coming soon from Sutherland House.
Pre-order now at michaeldecter.com

When I am writing – or like now preparing for the launch of a new book – I like to have another book on the side. One I am reading.

In my latest Substack, I write about the power of biography, some of my favourite biographers, what I’m reading now and why books continue to shape the way I think about leadership, politics and public life.

I hope you’ll have a read. https://substack.com/home/post/p-194716419

I also share confirmed launch details for The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook, my new book with Mike McCarthy.

Toronto and Ottawa events are now announced, with more to come.

A thoughtful conversation featuring Mike McCarthy, co-author of The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook, from CPAC - Cable Public Affairs Channel

This discussion offers a glimpse into the experience and perspective that informed the book and it is just one of many voices and lived realities that shape its approach to navigating Canada’s healthcare system.

Watch the full conversation

Pillars of Democracy: Tainted Blood — Mike McCarthy CPAC’s documentary series, “Pillars of Democracy”, tells four pivotal stories of democracy that changed the political and social landscape in this country in...

A recent Toronto Star article by Hanan Hammad explores the future of virtual health care in Ontario.

An interesting piece which points to a real disconnect. Governments appear lukewarm on virtual care, while continuing to prioritize in-person visits that are nearly impossible to get.

It’s also exactly why Michael McCarthy and I wrote The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook; a practical guide to getting the care you need in a system that isn’t always easy to move through.

Coming May 5, 2026. Pre-Order your copy today at the link below.
https://michaeldecter.com/books/the-canadian-healthcare-guerrilla-handbook/

The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook is currently ranking across four Indigo categories (including #4 in Health Care Current Events) ahead of its release.
We’re grateful to see early interest in a book focused on helping Canadians navigate the health care system.

Coming May 5, 2026.

If you’d like to pre-order:
https://michaeldecter.com/books/the-canadian-healthcare-guerrilla-handbook/

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reach out about Mike McCarthy and my new book, The Canadian Healthcare Guerrilla Handbook.

This project has been a long time in the making. It reflects decades of experience, advocacy, and a shared commitment to helping Canadians better understand and navigate the healthcare system.

We set out to create something practical — a resource for patients and families that offers real guidance when it’s needed most.

It’s an honour to bring this work forward, and we’re grateful for the early support and encouragement.

Learn more or pre-order here:
https://michaeldecter.com/books/the-canadian-healthcare-guerrilla-handbook/

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

After decades working in Canadian health care, as a consultant, writer, board chair, and Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Health, I’m returning to the subject with a new book.

The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook: How to Fight for What You Need, written with Mike McCarthy, will be published May 5, 2026.

The book shares real stories of Canadians who challenged the system and fought for the care they needed; and highlights what others can learn from those experiences.

I’ve written about the journey behind the book in a new Substack post: Lessons from The Godfather.

Read it here:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-189574729

And pre-order The Canadian Health Care Guerrilla Handbook: How to Fight for What You Need today: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-canadian-health-care-guerrilla-handbook-how-to-fight-for-what-you-need/9781997701316.html

Books written with one goal in mind: making systems work better for people.

Grateful for the conversations these have sparked; and for the ones still to come.

Before turning to fiction, much of my writing focused on health policy and health systems. Navigating Canada’s Health Care, which I co-authored with Francesca Grosso, grew out of that work — and continues to resonate with readers.

“An indispensable, practical guide… it arms readers with strategies to become better advocates for themselves and for their loved ones.” — Goodreads Review

If you’re interested in understanding what the system does, what it doesn’t, and how to move through it more effectively, you can learn more here:

https://michaeldecter.com/books/navigating-canadas-health-care/
You can also find my ongoing writing on Substack, Bookends by Michael Decter