Religion

or maybe even closely. But your question sure piqued my interest in finding it. So I googled a bunch of guesses yesterday and again this morning in an attempt, but came up empty handed. Sorry.

I do know the author's name (Walter Burns) but that's about it. Couldn't find the book under that name either. We were Peace Corps Volunteers together back in the mid-70s. I was in my mid-twenties at the time and he was retired (I'm guessing early sixties). As a PCV, Walter worked with the country's national development corporation developing foreign markets for local products (mostly mohair wool and associated wool products and African art/decor) and recruiting manufacturing enterprises into the country (textiles mostly). He was a neat guy.

His book was a small, red hardcover (maybe 7x5" and 3/4-1" thick). He brought or had a number of them shipped over and gave them out to some of the folks he worked with and other PCVs. I declined to take one permanently, but as I said, I did look through it. But I do remember that it came up when he and I were having a discussion one day (we used to get together to play chess) and our conversation wandered into religion. That's how I remember the first chapter of his book and the fact that it was about what he called the greatest sales campaign in the history of mankind. I suspect the book was a very limited edition and not a best seller.

The last time I saw or talked with Walter was back in about 1986 or 87. I'm thinking he was in his late 70s at that time, and my memory tells me someone (another ex-PCV but can't remember who exactly) informed me some years ago that he had passed.

Anyway, your question triggered a great trip down memory lane for me. Walter was a remarkable person -- actually, just being a relatively wealthy Peace Corps Volunteer in itself made him remarkable. .... If I ever for some reason remember or find the name of his book, I'll keep youi in mind and let you know.