Today my guest is author Mark Henry. Mark has spent a lifetime analysing trends, understanding what drives them, and explaining their implications. With a wealth of experience in market research and in applying psychology data to the world of business, Mark led the research and strategy function for Irish technology companies before turning to do the same for the tourism sector. His book, In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100 is an effort to prove beyond doubt that Ireland is a unique success story, and to explain how it has achieved that. The book explores 100 remarkable achievements of Ireland’s first 100 years as an independent nation and identifies factors that have accounted for Ireland’s extraordinary success. It’s a fascinating read that is both inspiring and surprising, and I was delighted to have Mark on the show for a chat, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.
I asked Mark about the book’s layout and how easy it is to pick a chapter and just start reading (02:05), his inspiration behind the book (03:27), and why statistics have always been something he enjoyed (04:36). We then talked about the topics covered in the book, such as language, history, diplomacy and overseas aid (05:30). I asked Mark his thoughts on the media in Ireland (29:42), and Ireland’s reaction to its 100th birthday (39:22). I finished our chat by asking Mark what he hoped his readers would get from the book (41:35), and what he is watching at the moment (44:11).
Show Notes
- Mark’s website
- A review of In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100
- Where to purchase Mark’s book
- Mark on Twitter
- For more, hear my conversations with Brian Milne, Moe Dunford and Clodagh Finn.
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