About the Author

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.

Reviews

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