A boomer who was there and watched as the world kept on turning with Aotearoa New Zealand tagging along, and concluding that history keeps repeating itself, for humans anyhow.
From a young fella to an octogenarian. A rocky road with many twists and turns, made enjoyable along the way by a bundle of laughs and wonderful people, and the occasional challenge by some bastard or other.
Mulitple life experiences, shared with honesty, humour and empathy, but with no hesitation of calling out those who deserve it and taking opportunity to settle the odd score. Well, the pen is mightier than the sword according to Edward Bulwer-Lytton, so might as well put it to some use.
What struck me most is how The Silver Lining moves beyond memoir and becomes a social document of Aotearoa New Zealand over the last eight decades. It captures the rhythms of ordinary life with warmth and humour, while also exploring identity, belonging, and cultural change with honesty. That balance between the intimate and the universal is very rare. A key strength I noted was the humour as truth-telling and the wry observations that bring levity to even serious reflections, which makes the story accessible and deeply human. Further, the lens on Te Reo Māori, biculturalism, and social shifts adds depth that distinguishes this from a purely personal memoir. Weaving songs into the narrative is a beautiful touch, it grounds the reader in a specific time and place while evoking memory and emotion.
Australian roots. Bryant war days. Hometown in the fifties. School days. Call of the surf. Becoming an accountant. Off to UK. Rumpus & Rogernomics. Witness for the prosecution. Going global. The Tamihere story. Behinds the scenes. Hero's I have met. Bastards I have met. Three score and ten, plus.
The Silver Lining of the Long White Cloud is made up of 52 chapters, covering 435 pages, with 129 pictures and 97 songs for the reader to ponder.
In the tradition of John Mulgan’s 'Man Alone' or the brusque tongue in cheek humour of Barry Crump's 'A Good Keen Man', Bruce Bryant is a yarn teller among the very best of them. While weaving a personal narrative of life, interwoven within this framework is a wonderful social commentary of Aotearoa New Zealand, its people, its thinking, with all its cringe-making ideas amidst those not afraid to speak against the dominant cultural narrative of the time. Stunning.
The Silver Lining of the Long White Cloud by Bruce Silver Bryant made for a very interesting read; a book that was hard to put down. Complex in many ways and gives an insight into the author’s very fascinating and diverse life. It is apparent that Bryant has never being scared to tackle tough issues or personalities in his quest for what he believes is right, and clearly, he hasn't time for people that he deems to be foolish. He boldly verses well his downfalls and was not frightened to portray his weaknesses. Also, a very interesting insight into his connections with Māori. The Silver Lining left one wanting more. A very fine read.
Whow, what a great read, I couldn't put it down, and I am not a great reader so that’s saying something. What a remarkable journey, absolutely gobsmacking in parts. Your story telling is next level mate. I loved it!
I recently had the pleasure of reading The Silver Lining of the Long White Cloud. I found it to be a beautifully layered narrative, more than just a memoir, it felt like a living, breathing account of Aotearoa New Zealand's evolving identity. For anyone interested in Aotearoa New Zealand’s recent past as lived by a thoughtful insider-outsider, Bryant’s book offers both entertainment and substance. It’s a love letter to memory, to imperfection, and to the endless search for silver linings in a world often clouded by complexity.
Profoundly honest BSB. A great memory you have, and what a great story teller. I am going to read it again now.
Your narrative voice is as honest as it is engaging, carrying readers through the many layers of life in Aotearoa New Zealand. I found myself especially moved by the way you juxtapose humour with deeply personal reflections examining identity, race, and class without ever losing the human warmth that makes your story relatable. The characters you meet are real, flawed, vivid and offer a rare, grounded portrait of Kiwi life that lingers long after the final page. It felt like listening to an old friend tell the kind of yarn that’s both raw and refined.
Author
Over his life to date, Bruce Bryant has been a paperboy, a lifeguard, a compliance-chartered accountant, a forensic accountant and financial auditor, an independent director, trustee and chairperson, an expert witness and an entrepreneur. Also, but not in this order, he has been a beekeeper, a book buyer and seller, a breeder of cows, a bull farmer, a pig farmer, a property developer, he owned a pub for a couple of years, at one stage a restaurant, a marathon runner and completed a 10 year tenure as a Senior Lecturer and Adjunct Professor at two tertiary institutions, then on to plan a village for homeless people. He is now focusing on forensic and investigative accounting, writing and the joys of father and grandfather hood.