WATCH: Conrad Black speaks about his new book Rise to Greatness: The History of Canada from the Vikings to the Present
MONTREAL — Boasting many titles, one more colourful than the other: Lord, former media baron and even former U.S. inmate, Conrad Black is also an historian who has just come out with his new book Rise to Greatness: The History of Canada from the Vikings to the Present.
But did you know he is also an avid ship model collector?
Here are five other things you might not know about the Canadian-born, British writer.
1. His favourite board game is Canada’s own Trivial Pursuit
What you might not know is he personally knows one of the creators.
“He approached me to get a job as a reporter,” he said.
The only available position was one as a sports reporter.
Black told him he could grant it under one condition: the creator had to answer a trivia question about the Dodgers, one nobody had been able to answer, until then.
“The guy knew everything about everything,” he chuckled.
2. He’s got an interesting contact list on his cellphone
As a former media mogul, Mr. Black has made important acquaintances around the world (British model and actress Elizabeth Hurley is one of his very good friends.)
So it might come as no surprise that he has many important names on his speed dial.
For example, the last person to send him a text message was Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary.
“He wants to have dinner with me,” he said casually.
3. His most prized possessions are books
But not just any book.
Famous books that were once owned by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and American president Abraham Lincoln are just a small part of his greatest collections.
4. His biggest accomplishment is surviving the American justice system
Black told Morning News anchor Richard Dagenais he served 37 months in prison after what he called a “ludicrous persecution in the United States.”
“I tried to make the most out it,” he said, after confessing he tutored some of the inmates there.
“The population of the compound I lived in was more interesting, and had a higher average IQ, than The Toronto Club,” he added.
5. His childhood dream was to become an adult
Why you ask?
“Adults had all the power,” he said with a grin.
Comments