Author Dunk Dougan IX brings a satirical, sometimes farcical, occasionally hilarious, and frequently astute viewpoint to the current Covid-19 pandemic with The Road to Covid-30: Self-Help Satire for the Soul. Viewing the pandemic from the perspective of a Canadian citizen, the author takes a jaundiced and satirical look around the world at how others have handled the pandemic and what it all means for us, the poor citizens of the world. No leader is spared the author’s cutting and rapier-like wit, from “The Oracle” (Guess who that might be) to Bolsonaro, Xi, Justin (not the one from accounts), Putin, and of course, the ultimate world leader in Thicc Boi (Kim Jong Un). Much prestige and power are also given to the man of prayer who has a direct line to Jesus (Mike Pence). This is an irreverent and at times chaotic look at how we’ve handled Covid-19, what we can learn from the experience and how this will all apply to the next pandemic (Covid-30?) which, as sure as your bicycle being stolen in Vancouver, is bound to come.

Writing satire and being funny in literature is an art form and with The Road to Covid-30 Dunk Dougan IX has made an honest and largely successful effort. Some of the writing is genuinely funny and some of the author’s observations are not only cutting but, in some cases, extremely close to harsh truths we must all realize and react to with respect to the way in which leaders all over the world have used the pandemic to further subjugate their citizenry. At times, I did find myself laughing out loud at the author’s observations but more importantly, some of the salient points made throughout the narrative were insightful and worthy of note. Two things that will stick in my mind as relevant to the narrative are first, the poem to the poor of Brazil, by Dr. Bolsonaro, who has clearly led his country down one particular path and to hell with his people. Second, the observation that one of the hardest things the pandemic has forced us as humanity to face is what is the economic value of human life? How many deaths justify disrupting our precious consumerism and economic growth? To me, points like this that the author raises are what make this book so pertinent. Besides, we can all do with a chuckle in these troubled times and this book gives us that. I can recommend this read.

In 2020 the world was hit with a global pandemic. The Road To COVID-30 by Dunk Dougan IX takes a fresh, satirical look at how countries including Canada, the US, North Korea, and the UK dealt with COVID-19 and how the citizens of each country were affected. This comical self-help guide aims to unravel the thought processes behind governments on the most effective way to deal with this health crisis. There are also survival tips to ensure your mind, body, and soul are kept in optimum condition during the lockdown. These include ridding your home of any poltergeists or getting a divorce to ensure a restful night's sleep. There is also an analysis of the effectiveness of the coughing police, surveillance, lockdown enforcement measures, and grocery shopping etiquette. How will countries around the world consider the success of their regulations and tactics to control a population that sometimes fought against being controlled? Some important questions were asked by many to ensure their safety such as: “Should I wash my lettuce with peroxide?” and “Are provincial parks super-spreader events?” Throughout the pandemic we were asked to stay home and save lives, but what about yours? Should we care more about others or take personal responsibility for our own well-being?

Although this is a satirical look at the pandemic situation and the many different responses to the crisis, I feel there were times of enlightenment too regarding human behavior. I found the references to North Korea during the outbreak really funny such as, 'They will bury you in your sleep before you even have a chance to infect anyone else.' The Oracle's response to how to respond to COVID-19 in the US was simply shocking. I do feel that the reaction of certain people was depending on their culture and religious views. Also, there were announcements that we should all behave as if everyone including ourselves has the virus; this message was quite chilling. The tips on how to deal with co-workers, working from home, and other people in your household were laugh out loud funny, and really clever. The Family Fun-Time Questions were absolutely brilliant. The humor in The Road To COVID-30 was intelligent and sharp throughout but also hidden beneath was very clever irony around the nonsensical reactions of humanity in times of hardship. The Happy Jingle to sing while washing your hands was infectious. I loved the final chapter and the advice on how humanity should treat one another with respect and kindness.

The Road To Covid-30: Self-Help Satire For The Dead is a satirical take on self-help books whose tips on life improvement were rendered useless during the pandemic. Written by Dunk Dougan IX, the book follows life around the globe during the pandemic as lockdowns get enforced in democracies and dictatorships alike, while followers of the Oracle in the Divided States of America continue to pin their hopes on thoughts and prayers. Dunk Dougan IX offers numerous tips to pass the time during lockdowns, including workout routines, and suggests ways of getting the necessary paperwork approved by the proper authorities in order to roam free. He also briefly touches upon topics involving the party scene in the UK, the gentle nature of the Indian Police, the transparent policies of the CCP, and the kind-hearted Brazilian President Bolsonaro.

The Road To Covid-30: Self Help Satire For The Soul is exactly the kind of self-help book you need to get out of your rut during the pandemic. Filled with memorable quotes and laced with sharp wit and dry humor, Dunk Dougan IX's guidebook feels like a refreshing take on the Covid-19 crisis. The author's meta-commentary seems to hit all the right notes, and the contents of the book felt extremely relevant and relatable in the current climate. His use of facts and real-life incidents felt seamlessly woven into the narrative that evokes some conflicting emotions of both humor and sadness. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for light-hearted satire during the pandemic.

The Road To COVID-30: Self-Help Satire For The Soul by Dunk Dougan IX is not exactly the type of book you read if you are seeking some life-changing epiphany. You read it because it sets the bar when it comes to pointing out the deficiencies in human behavior in facing a global issue, and it then becomes a topic for the absurd. Joy certainly awaits because the pandemic has allowed all of us to take a step toward common ground, so yes, you can relate to the satirical bites of Dougan IX’s prose. From absurd quotations to navigating your way toward the new normal, the paradox that encapsulates this work is that you cannot take it seriously, yet you cannot help but digest the truths underneath the satire.

The Road to COVID-30 makes light of a serious matter but makes social issues heavy because these are implied rather than heavily stated. In doing so, you cannot help but ask if Dunk Dougan IX is protecting himself from culpability. Perhaps not. The Canadian television and newspaper critic John Doyle once said that there are specific periods when satire is necessary. What better time for satire to be necessary than in these periods of isolation and uncertainty. Dougan IX’s writing style is quite compelling in critiquing the aspect of realities molded by the pandemic. He is not much of a verbal aggressor, but more of an idiosyncratic gadfly that goads you to get out of your comfort zone and embrace a new social order. He effectively does this by using exaggeration and an unusual context to emphasize a point. And for that, his work becomes a fascinating read. If you are into satire, put this at the top of your list.