一些讀者有外國朋友。「芬蘭驚豔」或「驚歎愛爾蘭」給了他们共同的話題。特別是對當事國的芬蘭人和愛爾蘭人。這些老外因為自己的國家受到台灣人的親近，大感歡喜和好奇。
「有沒有英文版呢？」「這個作家的最大特點是甚麼？」讀者偶會轉來這類的外國式疑問。
「為甚麼會寫拒絕聯考的小子呢？不考大學有甚麼好寫成書的呢？」我還親身被一位美國的大學校長這樣問過。
昨天，一位朋友的印傭，看到「我是被老師教壞的---我最感謝的一所學校」上面的英文書名：The Teachers that Destroyed Me and The School that Saved Me，就打電話來，問有沒有英文版。這書名讓她非常好奇。她認識培正和我，看到書上我们父子的照片，覺得與有榮焉。因為「她的雇主有一個作家朋友」。
國情不同，感觸有別。解釋也總得多點善意和熱情。曾經，一位台裔美國人為我寫了一篇作家大事紀。也許，您用得著。甚麼時候用得著也難說。謹供您在2008年-2009年參考。
Brian Wu’s Chronicle of Works
1954 Born in the E-Land County, Taiwan
1974 Graduated from Chien-Kuo High School - the most famous and best boys high school in Taiwan.
1976 Published his first book - “The Kid That Said ‘No’ to the University Joint Entrance Exam” (by the YL Publishing Company) - an overnight success that made him a household name, and also an icon to the youth. In the book he talked about the pains and frustration of the young people under the system of the joint entrance exam. The book became a symbol of the revolution against Taiwanese education and the test system behind it. It was named “The Catcher in the Rye of Taiwan” by the late “Three Feathers” (writer) and was in demand for thirty years. The Joint Entrance Exam was finally abolished in 2002.
1977 Published his second book - “The Lad Who Cut off His Own Finger” (by YL Publishing Company, was first named “the Little Kid of the Rebellious Gang, and renamed after being banned)
1977 Worked as a journalist for The United Daily News.
1978 “The Kid Who Said ‘No’ to the University Joint Entrance Examination” was made into a movie that was a box office hit.
1978 Published his third book - “Taipei Sweetheart” (YL)
1979 The movie “The Lad Who Cut off His Own Finger” was a box office hit, too
1980 Left the United Daily News
1980 Worked as a sailor on a fishing vessel
1980 Published his fourth book, “The Scoop” (YL)
1981 The book “Taipei Sweetheart” was made into a movie
1981 Became a movie producer
1983 Joined the opposition group “Dang Wai” – meaning non-Party (the presence of an opposition party was forbidden by the martial law that had been in place for 35 years)
1983 Worked as the chief reporter for the first weekly magazine of “Dang Wai” - “The Progressive Weekly” which was the journey that turned him from a writer into a political critique.
1983 Criticized and judged Chiang Kai Sheik in public speeches. He was the first Taiwanese from that time to openly “attack” Chiang Kai Sheik and was crowned the “first individual that shattered the Fable of the Chiang’s Family”. (Chiang was regarded as Mr. President-Forever in Taiwan {1945-1974} until his death. And then his successor - his son, Chiang Ching Kuo was also a Mr. President-Forever, until his death in 1988. )
1984 The leader to the first reporter team to reveal the 228 Massacre. He was then the managing reporter for the Progressive Weekly. That news release was the first one done on the 228 event.
1984 Made editor and chief for the Progressive Weekly
1984 Was awarded a medal for “The Highest Contribution to the Freedom of Speech” by the Association of the Opposition Writers and Editors
1985 “The Progressive Weekly” was shut down after several banning
1985 Started the “Free Taiwan Weekly” which was shut down shortly afterward
1986 Started the “Front Line Weekly” which was also shut down the same year
1986 “Ou Lee is dead” was published in August (by Front Line) exposing the true face of Ou Lee, the master of the new “Dang Wai” generation. It ended the influence Mr. Lee had on the opposition party. In September, the opposition party DPP was established. Brian joined the DPP Party.
1987 Started the “Democratic Progress Weekly” and made major break-through in the media control by introducing DPP members as the cover people. He made known to the public the matters and people of the new opposition Party. It became the most popular political magazine. Martial Law was lifted later that year.
1988 Was charged with slander and more. Sentence was reduced, thanks to the death of Chiang Jin-Kuo. Spent 7 months behind bars.
1990 Sentenced to jail for slander again, but was reduced again for Chiang’s death. Spent another seven months in jail.
1990 The “Democratic Progress Weekly” was shut down
1991 Started the “People’s Weekly” which was shut down the same year
1991 The Eternal Congress of Taiwan was finally coming to an end with a new election in 1992, announcing the arrival of a new era for the political parties. Brian quietly left the DPP and formed the “Good Morning International PR Company” to facilitate professional campaign elections.
1995 Served more than sixty candidates and made several miracle winnings, which made a name for him in the election campaigning. He later changed his Good Morning International PR Company to “Wu’s International Public Relations Ltd”
2000 Having served 80 clients in total, 45 of which were elected, for campaign elections
2001 Monument of Taiwan Human Rights unveiled. He was on the Committee for the Monument.
2002 Published “Wu’s Book of Election Philosophy” (YL) with forewords by the Secretary Generals of the two major Parties. It has been regarded as the bible for elections in Taiwan. Very rare to see any political books recommended by leaders of the opposing parties.
2002 Frequently appeared as a guest speaker on TV talk shows
2003 More than seventy TV appearances
2004 The dramatic success of President Chen’s re-run caused the whole country to fall in extreme stand-offs. Wu decided to end his career as a political consultant after having served eighty-five political figures.
2005 Spent three thousand hours studying and touring Finland, and wrote a book - Finland Unveiled. After twenty-five years of political life, he has finally resumed his post as a writer. Made writing plans for the deep rooting work of the “Taiwan Identity” and “Taiwan Model Values”
2006 “Finland Unveiled” published (YL). It was a hit already before it even hit the shelf. It’s a popular book and receiving good reviews. Won “ Golden Tripod Award” as “The Best Author”. Golden Tripod Award is the highest honor of publishing in Taiwan. Getting several awards, such as “2006The 10 Best Chinese Writing in the World” and “Golden Book”, the former was given by Asia Weekly, the only one global Chinese news weekly in the world.
2006 27th of June, leaving for Dublin to start his writing journey in Ireland and UK.
2007 “Ireland Exclamation Mark” published (YL). It was a hit already also and his “country writing” series keep on going. Next country will be Norway.
“Ireland Exclamation Mark” won the medal of “The10 Most Influential Book of 2007 in Taiwan”.
2008 “Wu’s International Public Relations Ltd” has turned to be a one-man company since 2005. Having served 88 clients in total, 50 of them were elected.
2008 Having 186 times of interview or speech by May since “Finland Unveiled” published (YL).
2008 “The Teachers that Destroyed Me and the School that Saved Me”
Published（YS） in July. It has been being a best-seller too. “The First Option of the gift for the 2008 Father’s Day.” by Eslite Book Store.
2008 Plan to leave for Norway on 21st of August.