Kumaran Nadesan releases “The Impolite Canadian: Why Playing Nice Is Costing Us the Future” with Forbes Books. ISBN-13: 979-8887507408
FORBES BOOKS
NEW YORK (June 9, 2026)—The Impolite Canadian: Why Playing Nice Is Costing Us the Future by Kumaran Nadesan is now available on Amazon and at major booksellers. The book is published with Forbes Books, the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes.
In The Impolite Canadian, 369 Global Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Kumaran Nadesan, delivers a sharp and timely critique of one of Canada’s most widely known national traits: politeness. While often seen as a defining strength, Nadesan argues that an overreliance on agreeableness and conflict avoidance has quietly limited the country’s ability to lead, compete, and fully realize its potential on the global stage.
Nadesan’s experience across government, business, and international markets illuminates his examination of how this cultural tendency manifests in policy decisions, economic strategy, and leadership styles. He laments that Canadian innovation is frequently developed at home but scaled elsewhere, and how hesitating to assert national interests can result in missed opportunities. The book connects these patterns to a broader mindset that prioritizes consensus over conviction and caution over ambition.
Rather than dismissing politeness entirely, Nadesan reframes it—calling for a new archetype: the “Impolite Canadian.” This figure is not rude or dismissive, but clear, confident, and willing to challenge assumptions in pursuit of progress.
“An impolite Canadian is someone who breaks free from the country’s cultural myth of quiet deference and instead leads with boldness, clarity, and conviction,” Nadesan said. “They’re someone who speaks uncomfortable truths, challenges the status quo, acts decisively in the face of complacency, and stands unapologetically for Canadian values and interests without losing respect or integrity.”
Thorough and thought-provoking, The Impolite Canadian speaks to leaders, professionals, and engaged citizens who are concerned about Canada’s place in an increasingly competitive world. It offers both a diagnosis of systemic challenges and a call to action for those ready to move beyond playing nice and toward shaping a stronger, more influential future.
This release is posted on behalf of Forbes Books (operated by Advantage Media Group under license).
About the Author
Kumaran Nadesan is Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of 369 Global, a Canadian group of companies focused on skills training, media, and global talent mobility. A former civil servant in the Ontario Public Service, he has led initiatives in policy and innovation, partnerships and growth, and intergovernmental affairs. Kumaran has participated in national trade missions and is a vocal advocate for everyday Canadian leadership.
Named a CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, Established Professional of the Year by the Canadian Tamil Professionals Association, Inspirational Leader of the Year at the CanadianSME National Business Awards, and a Delegate at the 2026 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, he brings a rare mix of public insight and entrepreneurial drive. The Impolite Canadian is his debut book.
Kumaran lives in Brampton, Ontario, with his wife and two children.
About Forbes Books
Founded in 2016 in partnership with Advantage Media Group, Forbes Books is the exclusive book publishing imprint of Forbes Media. Forbes Books offers business and thought leaders a way to share their ideas and expertise with the world. Authors are carefully vetted to ensure their stories and insights align with the Forbes mission of driving success through innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. For more information, visit books.forbes.com.
Forbes Books Media Contact
Allison Vittardi, avittardi@theauthoritycompany.com
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