Lucky Conversations
Visits With the Most Prominent People of the 20th Century
by Morris Wolff with Karen Weber
The middle of the 20th century brought us radical change in civil rights, political activism, and renewed efforts to achieve world peace through massive global student exchange programs and the Peace Corps. We dedicated ourselves to educating young world leaders in peaceful negotiation skills without resorting to war and bloodshed and getting to “yes” through conversation and discussion. One man, Morris Wolff, is at the forefront of many of these changes. He established the first international AIESEC Secretariat offices in Geneva in 1960 with exchanges in 33 member nations. Morris also worked closely in 1963 in the Oval Office with President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to write the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and get it passed through the Senate with John Sherman Cooper.
Morris Wolff is a man of wisdom and purpose, courage, integrity, and stamina. He gets things done. Morris is a man constantly on the move whose incredible life story of perseverance and a positive mental attitude you will enjoy while reading these exciting short chapters. He is a forward person who loves to reach out and meet new people and hold meaningful and enjoyable conversations. His ingenuity led to his unexpected and impromptu meeting in Accra, Ghana, with President Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba of the Congo in 1960. He met with Nelson Mandela in prison in South Africa in 1993. He later helped negotiate the peaceful transition of power from white nationalist Prime Minister Willem de Klerk to President Nelson Mandela without a single drop of bloodshed or violence. Morris Wolff loves peace and still believes it can be achieved.
You will read about how and where Morris’ unique and lucky conversations unrolled during the past 75 years with world leaders, political activists, famous poets, and great actors and writers. You will feel you are right there, “walking in the corridors of history” with the author. Some events happen by chance, others are carefully planned, and some occur as if by a miracle or pure serendipity.
Why not start reading this fascinating book? With a warm and human touch in each anecdotal chapter, Morris delivers a unique set of captivating stories. Reticence is not part of his nature. As you will learn in the Nkrumah-Lumumba “chance meeting” chapter and many others, he goes out and makes opportunities happen. He teaches you how to overcome your own shyness and how to put a hand and a warm smile forward to say hello, and by doing so, begin your own pleasant journey of meeting famous people. A bit of courage and charisma, and choosing the right time and the right place are essential parts of this life-changing experience.
