Overview

As President of the World Bank for a decade, James Wolfensohn tackled global poverty and its consequences with a passion and energy that made him a uniquely important figure in this fundamental arena of change. Now the renowned financier, philanthropist, and public citizen writes of his life and his beliefs in an autobiography with international appeal. Born in Australia, Wolfensohn was an Olympic fencer, a skilled cellist, and a man of surpassing imagination and drive. He was educated at the University of Sydney and at Harvard and became a prominent banker in London and New York. He served as chairman of the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and amassed a reputation for effective leadership in the private and non-profit sectors. But it was his tenure at the World Bank that made him an international force. Since its creation after World War II, the Bank has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into projects to alleviate poverty. At times it has been seen as a symbol of what can be done. At times, it has been a symbol of frustration and misunderstanding. James Wolfensohn in his work, and in this book, explores the causes of continuing poverty and his approach to fighting it. Using a lifetime of experience in the banking sector, Wolfensohn motivated, devised, schemed, charmed, and bullied all the constituencies at his command to increase the worlds wealth. Here Wolfensohn assesses his successes and his failures. The book is also an exploration of Wolfensohns personality and character. As a Jew, he faced anti-Semitism in the merchant banking world of London, as an Australian, he navigated New York and Washington with uncommon skill, and as an international public servant, he carved a distinct path in Asia, Africa, and Europe for the World Bank. In 2005, he was a special envoy in managing the transition in the aftermath of Israels withdrawal from Gaza, an undertaking that tragically collapsed. This is the story of an astonishing career and an endlessly fascinating personality.

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9781586482558

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Reviews

<p> Kirkus, August 15, 2010<br> The author's candor ... is refreshing, as is his frank assessment of his own strengths and shortcomings.... An often engaging memoir that is especially strong in its insights into global poverty. <p>Kofi A. Annan<br> A Global Life is an eloquent and moving memoir of one man's journey to make a difference in the world. In his typically candid and refreshing style, Jim Wolfensohn describes the milestones in his life which led him to believe that unless we tackle the core issues of development and poverty, we will not create a peaceful world for our children. This is a book that will inspire all those who see the need for change in this world, and wish to make a contribution. <p>Michael Beschloss Jim Wolfensohn is not only a hero to the world's poor, but a preeminent global leader in politics, philanthropy, business and finance, the arts, international security, and even sports. He is a force of nature; there is no one else like him; and this elegant and absorbing book gives us the inside story of how he did it all. Anyone who seeks to understand the global history of the last half-century should be sure to read it. Vartan Gregorian This is an absorbing memoir written by an extraordinary man who has lived through extraordinary times. The arc of James Wolfensohn's career has spanned the globe, from Australia to England to the U.S., building the Global Life he writes of in these pages with great eloquence and honesty. Wolfensohn's utter commitment to living a life of dignity and to promoting equity and social justice resonate through every page of this volume. It is a must-read. Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. It's a long way from Sydney, Australia to the pinnacle of the world's public and private sectors. Jim Wolfensohn made the journey with courage, confidence and ability. A Global Life is instructive, inspiring, powerful. Strobe Talbott As Jim Wolfensohn's vivid and powerful story makes clear, he is a rare and in many ways unique citize

Kirkus, August 15, 2010 The author's candor ... is refreshing, as is his frank assessment of his own strengths and shortcomings... An often engaging memoir that is especially strong in its insights into global poverty. Kofi A. Annan A Global Life is an eloquent and moving memoir of one man's journey to make a difference in the world. In his typically candid and refreshing style, Jim Wolfensohn describes the milestones in his life which led him to believe that unless we tackle the core issues of development and poverty, we will not create a peaceful world for our children. This is a book that will inspire all those who see the need for change in this world, and wish to make a contribution. Michael Beschloss Jim Wolfensohn is not only a hero to the world's poor, but a preeminent global leader in politics, philanthropy, business and finance, the arts, international security, and even sports. He is a force of nature; there is no one else like him; and this elegant and absorbing book gives us the inside story of how he did it all. Anyone who seeks to understand the global history of the last half-century should be sure to read it. Vartan Gregorian This is an absorbing memoir written by an extraordinary man who has lived through extraordinary times. The arc of James Wolfensohn's career has spanned the globe, from Australia to England to the U.S., building the Global Life he writes of in these pages with great eloquence and honesty. Wolfensohn's utter commitment to living a life of dignity and to promoting equity and social justice resonate through every page of this volume. It is a must-read. Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. It's a long way from Sydney, Australia to the pinnacle of the world's public and private sectors. Jim Wolfensohn made the journey with courage, confidence and ability. A Global Life is instructive, inspiring, powerful. Strobe Talbott As Jim Wolfensohn's vivid and powerful story makes clear, he is a rare and in many ways unique citizen of the world-a man for all seasons and all regions. He was a transformative president of the World Bank, and his indefatigable (and hitherto undervalued) efforts on behalf of peace the Middle East could not be more relevant to today's headlines from those troubled lands.

Author Information

James D. Wolfensohn was born in Australia in 1933 and is a naturalized US citizen. He holds a BA and LLB from the University of Sydney and an MBA from Harvard Business School, served as an officer in the Australian Air Force, and was a member of the 1956 Australian Olympic Fencing Team. Wolfensohn was President of the World Bank from 1995 to 2005, prior to which he established his career as an international investment banker with a parallel involvement in development issues and the global environment. A Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, he has received many awards for his volunteer work. He and his wife, Elaine, have three children - Sara, Naomi, and Adam.

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