This video interview with Walter Breuning, the world’s oldest man, is nothing short of remarkable. Breuning, who celebrated his 114th birthday on Tuesday, has lived in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and his mind is still sharp. He can remember the early days of the automobile, when you had to change your tires every five miles; he remembers the stock market crash of 1929; he remembers the inventions of radio and television as some of the most significant, although he also notes the importance of the computer — as it appeared in the 1960s, when it changed the face of business.
Breuning says that the most memorable event he experienced was Halley’s Comet: “All the people in the towns stayed up to see that ball of fire … that was quite a sight, I’ll tell you.” He recommends eating well, “keep[ing] that mind and that body busy doing things,” and getting as much education as you can. But his most resounding advice may be his simplest: “Be good to everybody. Be kind to everybody. People should be helping other people. The more you do for other people, the better you’re going to help yourself.”
