Being Lucky: Reminiscences & Reflections

by Herman B. Wells

The autobiography of the legendary Indiana University president, as he originally intended.Painstakingly restored from original archival materials and featuring over a dozen fascinating vignettes and talks that were cut from the original edition, Being Reminiscences and Reflections, The Complete Edition is a must read for Hoosiers everywhere.In this absorbing autobiography, Herman B. Wells recalls his small-town childhood, the strong influence of his parents, and his pioneering work with Indiana banks during the Great Depression. His first contact with Indiana University was as an undergraduate in 1921, when the still provincial school had fewer than three thousand students. At the end of his twenty-five-year tenure as president in 1962, IU had gained an international reputation and a student body that would soon exceed 30,000. Wells’ reflections on his years as university president are both lighthearted and illuminating. They describe in candied detail how he approached the job, his observations on effective administration, his thoughts on academic freedom and tenure, his approach to student and alumni relations, and his views on the role of the university as a cultural center. Also included are his fifty maxims for young college presidents. Finally Wells discusses the national and international service that helped shape his presidency and the university.Being Lucky is a nourishing brew of the memories, advice, wit, and wisdom of a remarkable man.“Much more than the title might suggest [this is] a heart-warming account of a young boy and his parents determined that a son should have a college education, a classic and detailed account of his widening involvement with every aspect of higher education, and a stirring story of a wise administrator. [Wells’s] life is an astonishing success story. . . . He was not just lucky, he was careful and courageous.” —Journal of Higher Education“Being Lucky is as entertaining as it is informative. Wells’ biographer, James H. Capshew, called it “a manual of higher education management.” . . . Reading Wells’ fascinating autobiography shows why it is no wonder that Indiana University is so proud of the great man and honors his accomplishments.” —Louisville Courier Journal“An honest report by a most successful educator [and] a tribute to a great university and to a man with foresight who also had the courage to act on his convictions.” —The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette“Wells’s humor, wit, and humanity pervade every chapter.” —Indiana Magazine of History

Genres: Education

544 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1980

Reviews

[Jonathan Hawkins-Pierot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming view of a fascinating period in the history of American higher education.

[Stephanie Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to use Wells’ autobiography for my dissertation and I ended up reading the entire thing. His writing is accessible and he provides a wide view of his time as a commerce professor, his presidency and his civil service to international agencies. I enjoyed part one about his role as a professor and then IU president. I learned a lot about how a university ran and some wonderful IU history. I was vaguely familiar with IU history but Wells detailed who was who and the history behind buildings and departments. I wasn’t too interested in his international part. It’s interesting work but those parts were more descriptive. Talking about who he worked with and less about what he learned. I wish Wells reflected more on the lessons he learned from his civic engagement. He also has an idealistic view about tough problems. For example, he discussed how he ended segregation at IU and in Bloomington, but he concludes that segregation is over and the problem is solved. Racism at IU is certainly not over, and it is a complex issue that campus constituents have struggled to deal with. Also as a precaution, Wells uses outdated language like referring to Asians as “Orientals.”

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Life Journey!

President Herman Wells, Indiana University, witnessed the camps growth from his predecessor of horse and buggy era, to a modern day US university. In his memoir, described with vivid detail and recollection, he outlines his contributions towards making IU an world renouned educational institution.