📖 7 Books in 16 languages 📚 including: How To Change The World A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech.
“I don’t know if he knows how much that meant to me, no"
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A few years ago, I got thinking about conversations that had changed my life. I became quite excited by the idea, and asked other people about it. Some of those people were (and are) well known, others less so. Some spoke to me spontaneously, as soon as the idea arose. Others scheduled a proper interview, thought about it beforehand, and talked for longer. I’ve got all the videos somewhere. This week I stumbled on the short highlight video I made at the time. There was something remarkable about it. I’d cut out all specific details of the conversations people told me about - but the highlight still managed to convey the wonder that can arise when we just contemplate the power of a good conversation. Look how animated they were: Roman Krznaric said he felt choked up just hearing himself describe the conversations with his father that meant so much to him. In a cafe, Gaylene Gould told me about a conversation that involved a total stranger. Agreeing to be interviewed on the spot, in a train station, Rob Twigger instantly remembered: “It was over 25 years ago, now…” My late friend Tazeen Ahmad talked about conversations with her sons. “This was a conversation that completely opened my heart,” said Henry Kimsey-House. I asked Ana Silvera about the person she spoke to. Did he understand the impact he’d had? “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I don’t know if he knows how important that was to me, no.” PLEASE tell me about a conversation that changed everything for youI REALLY want to know! (I’m not kidding!) Don’t reply directly to this email, because I want to collect the responses in a way that makes it easier for me to find them later. I’ve created a Google form that you can fill in VERY EASILY, here: *** If you prefer, you can listen to me reading this newsletter. 
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John-Paul Flintoff
📖 7 Books in 16 languages 📚 including: How To Change The World A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech.
Today’s date: 17 Dec 2024 Hello Reader This is the December newsletter for Special Projects members. Thank you for being one. THIS WEEK(!) Writers Support Group Brought forward, this month only, to avoid Christmas. Thursday at the usual times: 12.30pm and 6pm. Zoom LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7115311619?pwd=wta0p6xSe094BJRc6SITM66aN8rglx.1 Meeting ID: 711 531 1619 Passcode: 349566 Behind the scenes: WRITING I went to a book launch last week - a book of photos by Don McCullin. I can’t say...
Yesterday I told you that my late father in law, Jack, could distinguish between 50 to 60 industrial grades of paper. That got me thinking. Recently, on LinkedIn, I mentioned that printed newspapers still seem wonderful to me - even accounting for stories and opinions within them that I don’t like so much. One of the people who commented on my LinkedIn post made an interesting distinction between digital media and putting something on paper. Print demonstrates a commitment, he said. There’s a...
Hello Reader Yesterday I sent out a newsletter confirming that the next Writers Support Group takes place on 28 November (at 12.30 and 6pm UK). Someone gently pointed out that I have previously suggested, somewhere or other, that it would take place on 21 Nov. Aaargh. . [ Flintoff takes a breath. ] . Sorry for the muddle. . Where possible (not December, what with Christmas) I'd like to stick to the Fourth Thursday each month. So please join me on 28th November. BUT as it happens I was already...