Jim Perkins
In a remarkable memoir that spans the globe and recounts unforgettable exploits in a variety of fields, Connecticut-based entrepreneur, adventurer and author Jim Perkins reminds readers that when we’re bold enough to pursue our passion, the results can sometimes literally change the planet.
Recounting his journey from a boyhood in which almost every waking moment was spent in the majestic wilderness of New Hampshire, followed by service in the U.S. Air Force and the enviable opportunity to rub elbows with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, By Way of Luck: How Chance Shaped a Storied Life details Perkins’ good fortune at finding himself in just the right place, at just the right time. Like a real-life Forrest Gump, Perkins was tapped to write a screenplay with the iconic Western star John Wayne, asked to help “the father of the sexual revolution” Hugh Hefner expand his publishing empire, and found himself at the center of numerous pivotal events in the fields of publishing and media. In this constantly entertaining account, Perkins reminds us how far an innate curiosity can take us, and the impact that can result from speaking our mind and following our intuition.
Among the countless colorful stories vividly captured in By Way of Luck is perhaps Perkins’ most notable achievement – one whose full impact, decades later, astounded him and earned him a place in the nation’s pantheon of leading conservationists. As a young Air Force lieutenant given the plum assignment of working in the Pentagon, literally surrounded by generals, he proposed that this branch of the armed services commit to the preservation of land throughout the U.S. This served as the catalyst for what today totals more than 30 million acres of protected land from coast to coast.
Even today, having entered his eighth decade, Perkins is a man on a mission, actively involved in preserving the natural beauty of western Connecticut, and reminiscing about the joyous life that can result from following one’s passions and embracing the opportunity to collaborate with likeminded colleagues determined to make a difference in the world.
Spending time with this remarkable author and adventurer is sure to leave a lasting and inspiring impact on any audience. Jim Perkins will not only captivate listeners of all ages, but is likely to send them on their way in search of ways they, too, can leave their mark on the world!
