Wisdom, The Book

Posted on | March 15, 2009 |

I received a note today about this book and film by a young man named Andrew Zuckerman.  He’s interviewed a raft of people prominent in art and politics over the age of sixty-five about wisdom.  He thinks we’ve spent so much time in the media focusing on young people and it might be time to ask older folks what they’ve learned in their lives about love, work, the environment and conflict resolution.  Indeed.

There’s some fascinating footage on the website.  Check it out for a few moments of inspiration and a look at some truly beautiful faces.  Wrinkles are so revealing of character!  And what these people say is moving and comforting somehow.  The wrinkles say that life is challenging for all of us and as one interviewee said—it’s so scary sometimes and so very beautiful and he’s glad to have experienced all that he has.  Me too.  I can’t say this is wisdom but life seems to get more beautiful as we get older and are able to see a little more of the big picture, I think.

http://www.wisdombook.org/

Zuckerman had a connection with Desmond Tutu who wrote to all the people in the book and asked them to participate.  Who could say no to Desmond Tutu?  No one did!  I went to Amazon to see about ordering the book but it’s sold out.  It comes with a DVD and doubtless they’ll have more in stock soon as the word goes around.  It’s great to hear from older people, I have to say.  It felt like a hole was filled where something had long been missing.  I’d love to sit down with most of these folks, for sure.   Desmond, Judi Dench, Graham Nash, Willie Nelson, Edward Kennedy, Chuck Close, Mary Quant.  They’ve contributed so much to this world and do still.

Comments