There Was a Time for Everything (University of Toronto Press) by Judith Friedland is the kind of memoir which is often written for personal satisfaction, or for the interest of extended family, but rarely published. What is fascinating about the book is not what makes Friedland notable, but rather the sections which portray the ordinary parts of life. Friedland was born in 1939 and grew up in the milieu of Toronto’s Jewish middle class, with a father and maternal grandparents who had arrived as poor immigrants. She married a boy from a similar background. She was smart and went to university, but after marriage it was her husband, Marty, who called the shots. For decades, their life revolved around his legal career, which included several stints living abroad. Friedland’s life was giving birth and looking after children. But this wasn’t enough, and she found ways to restart her career in the caring professions (which were considered suitable for women). At the time Friedland trained, her field of occupational therapy was still focussed on the therapeutic advantages of crafts like basket-making, weaving and ceramics. She saw it transform into a modern profession with more emphasis on cognitive science and the practical needs of people with illness and disabilities. The nuances of occupational therapy and its history are a revelation—what an unusual discipline! Friedland, among others, managed to integrate her field into the Canadian medical system but often struggled to be taken seriously. Eventually, Friedland asked the question: why is it acceptable for women to be considered adjuncts and second-class citizens at home and in the workplace? She did not find easy answers. But she did take action, and her ambition grew until she became a leading figure in occupational therapy, eventually becoming an esteemed academic, researcher and administrator. This is her “noteworthy” accomplishment, but the many chapters about her professional life become dull. Each academic success is recorded in more detail than necessary, and though her resume is impressive, Friedland doesn’t need to list her career accolades to deserve attention. Her descriptions of the ups and downs of her life are a prompt for all readers to ask questions about how we think about our own lives and how we will be remembered by others. —Kristina Rothstein

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