Customer Reviews

Wisdom: The Greatest Gift One Generation Can Give To Another

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I bought Zuckerman's Wisdom based on excerpts I read in Reader's Digest. Now that I've received the book and had a chance to read it, I am blown away. It is stunningly beautiful, both the pictures and the words. I'm only 39 so I don't have the "perspective" someone 65 or older would but I can appreciate every line, every word, every image in this book. I teach high school English, history, and humanities and I can't find a single interview in this book that I couldn't share with my students somehow. We read Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and his interview in the Zuckerman book only adds to what he wrote in his novel. I was so moved by what Nick Nolte had to say about finding peace in ourselves and then finding that same, sacred peaceful space in others. (There's more to him than that crazy DUI mug shot.) I had to order two more copies of the book--one to keep in my classroom and one to give to friends. I will ship more at Christmas. Really, the book is filled with so many different points of view, so many perspectives, so many ways to look at life and how to live it. Each interview is thought-provoking in its own way. The 56 minute Wisdom DVD that comes with the book is icing on the cake. It's one thing to look at the (beautiful) photographs and to read the interviews that go with them, and another to watch the subjects and hear their voices. I just can't say enough about this book and how moved I am by it. I saw that a previous reviewer commented on the font/text size and layout of the book, and while I agree it would make reading a challenge, I think the layout works. One, you can't put too many words on a page. I like to think of the white space as thinking space. The words are placed for effect. This isn't meant to be a textbook and the layout of the book is artistic and adds to the overall effect. My only hesitation in recommending the book is that politically conservative readers may object to some of the interviews in the book where the subjects criticise the current political administration. (I know my mom would dismiss the book when she got to Kris Kristofferson's comments about the wars, for example.) Having said that, the value of seeing things from another person's point of view is a great exercise in thinking and considering another viewpoint. Buy the book!

I just received my copy yesterday, eagerly tore the wrappings off and started on it. The book is WONDERFUL! The photos are FABULOUS! The insights are AMAZING! Here's the DISAPPOINTMENT; the text, as important as it is, is set in light weight, small type, impossible for people the same age as those represented therein, to read comfortably or at all, without a magnifying glass.

What on earth would possess the lay-out people to do such a thing? Is there anybody out there in the publishing world wise enough to realize that older people don't buy books that are an uncomfortable strain to read? I had intended this to become my Christmas gift for at least 5 other seniors in my circle of friends. No chance of that happening now that I've seen it. What a shame!

Andrew Zuckerman's "WISDOM" is a big and beautiful book, offering up huge color portraits (razor-sharp for this HI-DEF age!) . . . combined with `words of wisdom' from the minds of 51 public figures, mostly from the world of arts & entertainment, but with a few `political' icons included as well.

The `cover photo' honor went to Clint Eastwood who counsels: "Take your profession seriously; don't take yourself seriously."

Jazz giant Dave Brubeck (in one of my favorite insights in the entire book) recalls the time when his late, great alto sax player Paul Desmond "covered (other musicians') mistakes."

"When we recorded with the NY Philharmonic, with Bernstein conducting, a trombonist hit a B-natural instead of a B-flat, by mistake; Paul was improvising and brought that (wrong note) right into the improvisation immediately, and it's so beautiful!

"I always say `There is no mistake . . . if you can resolve it!' Whether it's in your music or your life. Sometimes the mistake actually motivates you - elevates you, into a better circumstance."

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When I opened this book for the first time today, I went straight for the thoughts of one of my heroes, Desmond Tutu - the former Anglican primate of South Africa and 1984 Nobel Peace prize winner.

Perhaps better than anyone else in this book, the saintly 'Archbishop Emeritus' offers us the clearest connection between true wisdom and true happiness:

"Happiness is when I see others happy. Happiness is a shared thing. When you bring a gift to someone on their birthday and you see their face light up with joy . . . it's quite incredible what that does for you -- the giver.

"Jesus did say, actually, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Because in giving - (although it may not seem so at the time) - you receive.

"And for me, happiness is that feeling you get when you see someone else happy; happiness is when you are peaceful and serene.

"Serve others. The unfailing recipe for happiness and success is to want the good of others."

Andrew Zuckerman's "Wisdom" (which includes a DVD) is also a bargain (that might have cost twice as much, were it not "printed in China") that would be a pleasing surprise for the reflective people on your 2008 Christmas gift list!

Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Canada

The concept, and the whole idea of honoring wisdom is great. And there are some wonderful pearls that come out of it. But look who was chosen. With few exceptions they have to be photogenic and look the part of a wise elder. They are famous, accomplished people. So is it surprising how many references there are to taking chances, changing the world, etc? If they were to do it again I would suggest they go to neighborhoods all over the world and ask who are those people in the area generally agreed to be wise. Not the famous, may or may not be greatly accomplished. Just quiet, private people leading wise lives and having a positive effect on the world around them. It is the most underrated and powerful way to make a better world, and what they would, no doubt, find many a wise person doing. This project is a hybrid of wisdom and attractive celebrity. A purer version of it would be that much better.

FANTASTIC photos and inspirational writing! Wisdom is full of thought provoking and actually useful advice for people of all ages. Although it may not feature the "hip, cool" celebrities of 2008-2009, even kids will recognize some, and should be taught about others. As previous reviews mention, the font size and color is a big problem. The words here are even more important than the portraits, so it is annoying that they are printed in light gray and too small. I'm not a "senior citizen," but I still found the book quite hard to read. At least if they were printed in black, the size wouldn't matter as much.

Feed me and I shall not hunger today = Teach me to farm and I know not hunger. Wisdom - a list of expected and quite surprizing individuals cast upon the reader a wealth of deep seeded words of wisdom.

Achebe - No one can teach me who I am.
Eastwood - Confidence, be what you are.
Mandela - good head + good heart = formidable combination.
Chuck Close - More interesting that problem solving is problem creation.
Buzz Aldrin - Fear is a paralyzing emotion.
Jane Goodall - Uniqueness of animals.
Personal codes for living better lives.

Zucherman has put together quite an impressive book of profound honest verbage from 50 individuals you shall come to consider friends. Redford, Shankar, Wyeth, Tutu, Nolte, Nelson, Albright, Bruna, etc.

An extraordinary legacy for the 21st century and you and me. This big book makes for a great gift for that 'thinker / intellectual' hungry friend.

Diverse creative types are brought together and asked to reflect upon what they have learned and what they have to give others most often in their own area of accomplishment. The collection has a large group of people from the visual arts, but it also has writers, composers, a few scientists. There are page-sized photographs of each of the contributors, and short bios of each one in the back of the book.It seems to me that profundity is not in long measure here but I may have missed something while squinting to read the miniature
size type.There is quite a bit of triviality here. And to tell the truth I did not find any single contributor's thoughts very helpful. Of the writers Nadine Gordimer seems to feel everyone has to take the same kind of bus- rides she taken to be an 'observer' and thus a candidate for being a true writer. Chinua Achebe seems to resent those who have been criticizing him for his English school education. He defiantly shouts out 'Nobody can tell me who I am'I liked the contribution of Astronaut Buzz Aldrin who tells us 'Fear is a paralyzing emotion' He speaks about how those in dangerous situations have to control the fear and anticipate what to do.Combat was more dangerous than space- flight and required much more anticipation. Another contributor I appreciated was the composer Burt Bacharach who found that if he was up all night with an idea that was a test of its quality. The designer Mary Quant tells us 'To risk it and go for it'. This is not the most overpowering document but it has many insights and is worth a quick look at and read.
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I bought this for a friend who was graduating from high school. It nearly brought tears to his eyes. Truly a great gift.

This book is a nice addition to your coffee table collection. The photographs are high quality and the writing inspires careful thought and inspiration.

Excellent! Excellent! The book also comes with a dvd of the actual live interviews. What a nice surpise that was! Great value for the book and dvd. The photography is outstanding. The interviews are thought provoking. Loved it.