This month I am delighted to share a recent interview I had by email with Writing It Real member Merle R. Saferstein about a book project dear to her heart. I think readers will be inspired not only by the book itself, but by the teamwork that went into producing it.

Sheila
Wisdom of the Century, the book you worked on that recently launched, is an anthology of 90 interviews with men and women over the age of 90. It is described on the website as “lessons from a generation that has experienced wars, pandemics, economic and social collapse, political upheavals, poverty and success, immigration, and the exponential development of technology—changes they could not even imagine a century ago.” The result of the interviews, the description continues, is about love, life, and legacy.

How did the book’s project start?

Merle
It all began with a phone call from my friend Sandra Coiffman. “I have an idea and would love you to join me in making it happen,” she said. Sandra explained that she wanted to interview 100 people who were 100 years or older, tell their stories, and share their wisdom in a coffee table book.

Sheila
Why did she want your involvement? I am sure there was a reason based on the work that you do.

Merle
Sandra had volunteered at the prejudice reduction programs we held when I was the director of educational outreach at a South Florida Holocaust center. While we didn’t know each other well, she knew I had worked with Holocaust survivors to help them pass along their legacy of remembrance. When I retired, Sandra heard I was continuing to do legacy work. She asked me to do an ethical will-writing workshop with her friends, and after that, she felt that this might be a project that would interest me and one I could contribute to in some way.

Sheila
What did you think of the idea?

Merle
While the idea intrigued me, I initially doubted we’d find enough people in that age range. Instead, I suggested we aim for 90 people over 90. Sandra agreed and promised to get back to me.

A few months later, we embarked on our journey to interview a diverse population in Florida, where we both live. As we considered the experiences of this remarkable generation, we realized they had lived through wars, pandemics, economic collapses, political upheavals, immigration, poverty, success, and the exponential development of technology—changes that would have been unimaginable a century ago.

Sheila
How did you find the 90 people you would interview?

Merle
We began by talking to our friends and community leaders about the project. It didn’t take long to spread the word, and suddenly, people were calling us to suggest individuals who were nonagenarians and centenarians. Since we wanted diversity, we began to reach out beyond our communities. Sandra visited various places, including houses of worship, Native American reservations, retirement homes, etc., to find a diversified cross-section of people to interview. When we finished interviewing 90 participants, we had a waiting list of many more who wanted to be included in the book.

Sheila
How did you develop the interview questions you would ask, and what did they turn out to be?

Merle
Since I had been doing legacy work for several years, I easily came up with questions that would be appropriate, interesting, and thought-provoking. We knew that we wanted to capture their life experiences and their words of wisdom.  The questions served as a framework for each conversation. Some of the questions included: What do you want your legacy to be, and are you living your life in a way that reflects that? What do you consider your greatest accomplishment, and why? Can you tell me about a decade or period in your life that stands out as particularly significant? Who influenced you most, and in what ways? What gives your life meaning, and how has that changed over the years? What lessons and wisdom do you want to pass on?

Sheila
What were the settings like where you did the interviews?

Merle
The interviews took place mainly in the interviewees’ homes. A few were elsewhere in surroundings that were special to them. We never knew exactly what the interview would involve when we walked into each person’s home. In most cases, we knew little about the person we were interviewing. Before we began, there was often a mix of anticipation and curiosity—for us and our interviewees. Many were eager to share their stories, while others hesitated, unsure if they were up to the task. But within minutes, the interviews flowed naturally.

Sheila
What allowed the natural flow after only a few minutes?

Merle
Every person we met immediately welcomed us warmly. Because we were in their comfortable space, they were more at ease. Another factor in these interviews going smoothly was that they often became more of a conversation with a good deal of storytelling. The interviewees all seemed happy to share their lives with us.

Sheila
What were some of the most touching times during the interviews?

Merle
Dr. Enid Pinkney shared her journey as a young Black child growing up in Miami, where she faced tremendous racism. The weight of prejudice shaped her early experiences and perceptions of the world. Seeking a life free from discrimination, she bravely left the South for Chicago, hoping to escape the racial tensions of South Florida. However, one pivotal moment made her realize that racism was not confined to one place. While serving as a social worker with eleven white women, they all went to lunch together at a restaurant one day. When the food arrived, everyone’s meal was served on a plate, except for Enid’s, which was placed in a basket. At that moment, she understood that racism was a pervasive force that could follow her anywhere. This realization led her back to Miami, where family and community could surround her. Enid switched careers, became an educational administrator, and dedicated herself to activism, working tirelessly to improve the lives of others. Her story is a powerful reminder of resilience and purpose and deeply moved me by her journey.

Victor Billig’s story unfolded in a different yet equally inspiring way. He began his career as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force before using the GI Bill to pursue higher education. Victor became a mechanical and electrical engineer, contributing to defense and designing bomb bay doors for airplanes. Yet his vision reached beyond his career. He became deeply involved in international space programs, determined to bridge the digital divide by providing internet access to underdeveloped regions via orbiting satellites. After years of hard work, he achieved this vision and played a key role in the design of Helios, a spacecraft that orbits the sun. His career took him around the world, where he lectured and consulted on groundbreaking technology. During our interview, it was clear that Victor’s passion for making the world a better place remained as vibrant as ever. His unwavering commitment to using his expertise for the greater good left a lasting impact on all who knew him—and beyond.

Each interview revealed a rich tapestry of personal narratives, unique experiences, and invaluable insights. No two stories were alike, but every single one offered a poignant glimpse into the individual’s life. Since completing the interviews with these ninety remarkable people, we’ve sadly lost thirteen of them. Although their passing was an inevitable part of our journey, we feel profoundly grateful to have captured their stories. Their legacies will live on through our work. The above snippets are from the lives of two extraordinary individuals who have since passed away. We honor their memories and cherish the moments we spent with them.

Sheila
For the book, how did you capture what it felt like to talk with the people you interviewed?

Merle
Sandra envisioned combining their stories with the timeless art of photography. Soon after, Pipe, a talented professional photographer and artist, joined our team. Reflecting on his experience, Pipe said, “In this project, I had the privilege of sitting down with Sandra or Merle during each interview. I learned about the subject’s life, and at the end, I was honored to take their portrait. I carry with me all the wonderful perspectives of life and will hold on to the world of wisdom and love they shared with us.

“Being old is just a concept in the mind. Many of these individuals are younger in spirit and lifestyle than people my age. Some have found love in their nineties; some are still working; others are planning future projects. Some dance, sing, cook, and tend to their gardens, while others are quieter, more introverted, yet content. I’ve learned that all these ways of living are valid, as long as you live with respect and purpose.”

Sheila
When you look at the photographs in the book, how do they speak to Pipe’s reflections on his experience of the 90 people who shared their stories?

Merle
Pipe’s photography has always revolved around what the subject connects to most in life. His style employs the available natural light of the space. Since the project entailed interview visits to each of the subjects’ homes or a location of their choosing, Pipe photographed them in their environment, displaying a little glimpse into their worlds with each portrait.

Sheila
What obstacles did you face in creating the book after you had the interviews? Were they about size? Editing the interviews? How to organize them? What was your conceptualization process?

Merle
Both Sandra and I did the interviews. Sandra did all the Spanish speakers and transcribed them into English. She then sent them to me. We both took notes and recorded the interviews. My job was to synthesize the material.

We wanted to focus on the words of wisdom, so I first separated those from the interviewees’ stories. Sometimes, the interviews were longer than an hour and included the person’s multiple experiences over their lifetime. The greatest challenge was honoring their words and stories, capturing their essence, and determining what was most important to the interviewees.

We had a clear idea of how we wanted to organize the book. From the start, we knew each person would have one full page of their portrait and another page containing the interviewee’s story and life lessons. Putting them in alphabetical order made the most sense to us and helped us to keep track of all ninety interviews.

Sheila
You had a team of people you and Sandra worked with. Can you tell us about them?

Merle
Pipe was an integral part of the process from the start. Because he was at each interview, he was the only one of us who had met all the interviewees. As we conceptualized the final product, we knew we needed a talented designer to bring it all together. I recommended Jenny Menzel, a graphic designer who had illustrated and formatted my previous books, Living and Leaving My Legacy, Vol. I and Vol. II. Jenny quickly joined the team, revamping our logo, social media, and online presence. With her keen eye for detail and aesthetic sense, she helped us build our brand and the book from the ground up.

As the team’s youngest member, Jenny shared, “As the designer of Wisdom of the Century, my main role was to transform all the content into a visually compelling book. To do this, I read every story. Having recently turned 40, I’ve faced what many would consider a particularly challenging life in my 20s and 30s. At times, I’ve been confronted with the societal message that my worth as a woman diminishes with age. However, as I immersed myself in these stories, I discovered that many of the individuals featured in the book endured hardships and traumas far beyond what I could have imagined. Their ability to overcome adversity and lead meaningful, fulfilling lives has been an incredible source of inspiration. It reminds me that I hold the power to decide when the best years of my life will be, and it encourages me to continue pushing toward my goals, regardless of my age.”

When reflecting on the project, Sandra said, “Each story reminded me of the beauty in resilience and the strength in vulnerability. Some spoke of enduring the Great Depression, others of war, or love lost and rediscovered. But more than the history, it was their warmth, humor, and gentle wisdom that lingered. They didn’t tell me what to do or how to live; they simply shared, allowing me to weave my own understanding from their truths. It taught me that life is a patchwork of moments—many small, some monumental—all stitched together with a kind of quiet bravery. There was a sense of reverence in sitting across from someone who had lived through nearly a century of history—someone who had felt the world shift and change in ways I could only imagine.”

Sheila
How do you describe this special book’s value to its readers?

Merle
Capturing these narratives preserves their legacies and offers invaluable lessons for future generations. Reflecting on their stories has instilled a profound sense of responsibility and gratitude. Each interview revealed the struggles and triumphs of these individuals and their enduring hope and wisdom. Their experiences remind us of the power of resilience, the importance of community, and the impact one person can have on many lives.

As we continue our journey with Wisdom of the Century, we remain committed to honoring these legacies. We aim to ensure that their voices are heard and their stories shared, and we hope to inspire others to reflect on their own lives and the legacies they wish to leave behind.

Sheila
What is the next part of the journey?

Merle
When we began searching for a place to hold our book launch, we came upon the HistoryMiami Museum. Once we met with the event planner and toured the facility, we knew this would be a perfect place to hold our event. While walking through the museum, we noticed an exhibition room. We looked at each other and immediately considered creating an exhibition with the interviewees’ photographs. The seed was planted, and together, our team created an exhibition. In addition to the photographs, we have a 17-minute video from behind the scenes of our interviews. That will play in a loop throughout the two months of the exhibition at the HistoryMiami Museum. Our plan is to show it in other locations and encourage others to share their stories.

Sheila
I am certain that your December launch was moving and impressive!

Back to your questions:

• Who influenced you most, and in what ways?
• What gives your life meaning, and how has that changed over the years?
• What lessons and wisdom do you want to pass on?

For writers, there are many essays, poems, and stories we can write from these questions no matter our ages, and we can write from those questions yearly to find new essays, poems and stories.

Thank you so much for showing us how the book Wisdom of the Century came into being and how your journey with the book is continuing.

I know readers will be interested in perusing your website to meet the four of you on the team, the book’s 90 contributors, and the enthusiastic responses from South Florida venues.

Congratulations! And again, thank you so much for this interview.