When the steaming soup arrived at the table, I impulsively seized the shallow bowl with both hands, cupped it to my lips and gulped it down. Moments later I was appalled at what I had done. It was the action of a starving man and I was merely chilled to the bone from hours of walking the frozen streets of Prague. It was March 1992. … Continue reading Čelakovice, 1992 A Glimpse into Life in Communist Czechoslovakia
October 25, 2017 “I wanted to combine my interest in meeting new people and learning about their lives; riding my bicycle from Estonia to Albania to explore the new Europe, and writing about a part of the world rarely written about these days,” says Barry Wood, the author of Exploring New Europe: A Bicycle Journey. The book is part adventure story, part an economic primer … Continue reading Transatlantic Magazine Editor Robert J. Guttman Reviews Exploring New Europe
On November 1, 2017 Barry discussed the Silicon Valley’s role in the world economy at a forum at the American Center in Prague. His power point slides are included. Silicon Valley Continue reading Silicon Valley as Global Center for Technology Innovation
In the eastern Czech Republic Barry Wood meets a Moravian family that had provided invaluable assistance during his 2,500 mile ride across Eastern Europe. Continue reading Reconnecting in Moravia
It’s nearly impossible for us living in the 21st century to imagine what life was like in the early years of the Great Depression after the 1929 stock market crash. The sudden arrival of what turned out to be a decade of hard times was a particular shock because the 20’s had been so good. Grand Rapids, Michigan had been booming because its several dozen … Continue reading A Father Scarred by the Great Depression
Barry D. Wood 