He issued a public invitation through the BBC for everyone who was interested to join him in Regent’s Park in London at a particular date and time, and to celebrate his birthday by talking to someone they didn’t know. Hundreds of people showed up. Each of them was tasked with having a one-on-one conversation with a stranger. In lieu of food, at each setting was a Zeldin invention called the “Conversation Menu” that led the pairs through six “courses” of talk. Under the heading of “Starters” were questions like “How have your priorities changed over the years?” and “How have your background and
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