Wisdom: The Greatest Gift One Generation Can Give To Another

by Andrew Zuckerman

Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can give to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience, multi-award-winning photographer and filmmaker Andrew Zuckerman has recorded the thoughts and ideas of fifty of the world's most prominent writers, artists, designers, actors, politicians, musicians, and religious and business leaders, all over sixty-five years old. To create profound, honest, and truly revealing portraits of these luminaries, Zuckerman has captured their voices, their physical presence, and the written word. The resulting book and film, included here on a DVD, provide an extraordinary legacy for the generations that follow, and a timeless portrait of the common experiences that unite us all. 

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Art, Biography, Philosophy, Self Help

216 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Bickety Bam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Certainly, the subjects of this book have much to impart to the rest of us, but for the most part this book doesn’t do them justice.

The photographs have a consistent look—stark lighting and white backgrounds—designed to bring out every line and pore on the subjects faces. However, as the author admits in the end material, this type of photography is uncomfortable for the subjects. Even some of the actors appear to have a difficult time avoiding grimacing. Sure, some turned out pretty well, but many show no personality and are even difficult to look at with the eyes squinting and the pupils severely contracted.

Then there is the written portion. Apparently, the subjects were interviewed and did not write their own words of wisdom. In most cases, the questions were left off the essays and apparently the questions were not all the same. Some of the interviews/essays are extremely disjointed and hard to follow, making the subjects seem, probably unfairly, like disorganized thinkers or worse. Still, there are some great nuggets in here, so it isn’t a total loss.

Then there is the design. For such a big, heavy book, much of the text is tiny and in a font so thin it looks gray rather than black. It is torture to read.

For all the presumed effort put into making these portraits and conducting the interviews, the end result is a rather disappointing failure.

[Jenny Esots · Rating 5 out of 5]

A combination of classic up close detailed portrait photography with excerpts from 50 well know people over the age of 65. This is a BIG coffee table book, and heavy too.
It is not until the end of the book that the mini biographies of the 50 people are noted and an outline of the books aims and process.
The emphasis therefore is not on knowledge, but wisdom.
Save your time storing up on details and read about the personal.

Two quotes from people stand out:
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination - Nelson Mandela
Wisdom is the constant questioning of where you are. And when you stop wanting to know, you're dead. You're walking, and you're dead - Billy Connolly

[Diane B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illuminating portraits.

With the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he released Wisdom in 2008 as a book, feature length documentary film, and traveling exhibition. Over 50 individuals from across disciplines participated in the project, including Nelson Mandela, Andrew Wyeth, Jane Goodall, and Ravi Shankar.

Here's the film that accompanies the book: https://designingprogress.com/post/14...

[Darryl Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me years to finish this particular piece because I studied where all 50 of these individuals got to the level of wisdom through their lives and work. An amazing read and one making me wonder - whom of my peoples are wise in our lifelines, whom are connected to wisdom from the generations before us. Will read again!

[Peter Langston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most interesting. Previously I had only skimmed this coffee table book with its wonderful photographic portraits but this time through I read the words of the subjects. I’ not sure I am wiser but I am certainly intrigued.

[Angela Huang]

hoshi rec

[Ex Libris Meis]

CLINT EASTWOOD
“Take your profession seriously; don’t take yourself seriously.
If you take yourself seriously you’re not going to be able to move forward and use your best artistic instincts.
You’re going to be hampered by always wanting to look in the mirror and see if you have enough tuna oil in your hair or something like that.”
http://www.exlibrismeis.com/en/2020/0...

[Kotryna · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those coffee table books that you can read small bit after a small bit slowly or with long pauses and still get the most of it. Highly recommended for those lost in their life: as most of the people interviewed are older than an average person, it put things into perspective and brings you back to basics with no masks or 'smart words' for smart words sake. A lot of emphasis on global issues (ecology, freedom, law), art (design, architecture, painting, theater, humor, television, etc), humanity and personal relationships. Opens a lot of doors for further reading on different issues, which is my idea of a good read.

[Louise Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is Wisdom? Zuckerman asks over fifty of the world's elders and gives us significant advice from each one, plus magnificent close-up portrait photographs.

This is all packaged together in an over sized art book format and includes a DVD with little sound bytes from the author's interviews.

It's not so much the wisdom, the information are all practical things we all know, it''s having the intimate look at each of these people- up close and very personal, getting to feel like they are good old friends.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice idea, especially with the DVD interviews but a very limited selection of interviewees. I can understand the need for celebrities (need to interview a few poor peoplr who have almost nothing to balance) but there is a big lack of people away from the arts spectrum. Surely a decent sprinkling of rational thinkers such as cosmologists, geneticists, and other scientists would be better than some of the actors and musicians used. Even a Timothy Leary figure for a different perspective would be nice. A nice big eye catching coffee table book that does have some great figures in it.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gorgeous. What I have read so far is gorgeous, too. I highly recommend the book's website, wisdombook.org, where you can watch a video trailer of some of the folks whom Zuckerman interviewed for the book.

The passages are unedited interviews without the interview questions, so they read like stream-of-consciousness prose. If you can work with that, it's great. I am taking one wise teacher at a time and enjoying every bit of it as I go.

[tiffany]

great coffee table book, quite large with wonderful pictures accompanying each persons thoughts regarding wisdom. each person talked more about their work versus wisdom for wisdoms sake. this would be my only negative to speak of.

[J]

Photos of famous folk with words of wisdom on the opposite page.

[Vladimir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories of passion and celebration of life.

[Tony Sacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great source for my portrait drawings...

[Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a nice book

[Christopherseelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the writing in this is truly great. Some is okay. Inevitably, when trying to gather wisdom, some of the material will contradict other material. The photographs are lovely.

[Cyrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

video was good; book pretty good.

[Teri Temme · Rating 5 out of 5]

50 people over 65 offering their view of life. It's awesome. 60 minute film also included with purchase.

[Kim Bitner-drottz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The portraits are spectacular, and they clearly show each person's authentic self. The interviews add beautiful support to the portraits - rather than it being the other way around.