Ray Josephs
Ray Josephs was an American journalist, author, and international public relations consultant. He reported from Argentina during the 1940s, wrote bestselling books on time management and executive efficiency, and advised global corporations through his firm, International Public Relations Co. Ltd. His work spanned sixty-five countries and included clients such as Toshiba, Elf Aquitaine, and the Concorde project.
Early life and education
Josephs was born in Philadelphia to Russian‑Jewish immigrant parents, Isaac and Eva Josephs. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and began writing early, founding a neighborhood newspaper at age eight. He joined the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in 1929 and remained on staff until 1939.Journalism career
South American reporting
In 1939, Josephs was sent on assignment to locate former Philadelphians living in the Amazon and Andes. The trip led him to Buenos Aires, where he remained for five years. He worked as a gossip columnist for the Buenos Aires Herald and freelanced for Time, the Christian Science Monitor, the Chicago Sun, and Variety.His reporting provided him with access to actress Evita Duarte, later Eva Perón, and insight into the political climate surrounding Juan Perón's rise. These experiences informed his book Argentine Diary: The Inside Story of the Coming of Fascism, which offered a critical portrait of pro‑Nazi and militarist factions in Argentina.
During this period, Josephs also assisted Allied efforts in Argentina and was involved in suppressing imported Nazi propaganda materials.
Lectures and later reporting
After leaving Argentina, Josephs lectured widely in the United States on political conditions in South America. He continued to publish books on the region, including Latin America: Continent in Crisis and Those Perplexing Argentines, the latter co‑authored with U.S. ambassador James Cabell Bruce.Public relations career
Josephs transitioned into public relations after meeting industry leader Ben Sonnenberg. Drawing on management theories from W. Edwards Deming and Peter Drucker, he developed a consulting practice that eventually operated in sixty‑five countries. His clients included Toshiba, General Motors, Elf Aquitaine, and the Concorde project during its campaign for landing rights in New York.He served as president and chairman of Ray Josephs Public Relations Ltd. and Joseph Associates, Inc., and as managing director of International Public Relations Co. Ltd., an affiliate of a Japanese firm.
Books and authorship
Josephs became widely known for his bestselling book How to Gain an Extra Hour Every Day, which sold more than two million copies, particularly in Japan. Based on surveys of professionals, homemakers, and political leaders, the book compiled practical time‑saving strategies aimed at increasing leisure rather than productivity.He also published works on creativity, management, and Latin American politics. His books were translated into French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and German editions.
Personal life
Josephs married Juanita Wegner on February 22, 1941. She was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany whom he met on a blind date in Buenos Aires. The couple lived for many years at Sutton House, a cooperative apartment building at 415 East 52nd Street in Manhattan, which Josephs used as both his residence and professional address. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary shortly before his death.Known for his disciplined lifestyle, he maintained a daily exercise routine, ate small portions, and cultivated a dapper public image.
Death
Josephs died of kidney cancer at his home in New York on April 5, 2005, at the age of 93.Selected works
Spies and Saboteurs in Argentina Argentine Diary: The Inside Story of the Coming of Fascism Latin America: Continent in Crisis Those Perplexing Argentines How to Make Money from Your Ideas How to Gain an Extra Hour Every Day Streamlining Your Executive Workload Our Housing Jungle and Your Pocketbook The Magic Power of Putting Yourself Over with People- ''Memoirs of a Live Wire''