Gary Goldschneider Joost Elffers

Gary Goldschneider (1939-2019) was a multifaceted individual recognized as a writer, pianist, composer, and personologist. His most widely known contribution is the "Secret Language" book series, which explored character traits by analyzing over 14,000 individuals, drawing upon principles from astrology, numerology, and tarot to generalize personality characteristics associated with each day of the year. Goldschneider also gained notoriety for his ambitious piano performances, undertaking "marathon" recitals of entire classical sonata cycles. His most celebrated Beethoven Marathon, featuring all 32 sonatas in a single performance, drew an audience of approximately 10,000 people and garnered national attention in the Netherlands in 1984. He also performed complete cycles of Mozart's sonatas on multiple occasions. Beyond his performance art and popular books, Goldschneider was a composer and collaborated with other musicians. He passed away on October 5, 2019.

Gary Goldschneider developed a unique system of personology, most famously documented in his "Secret Language" book series. This extensive research involved the detailed study and assessment of character traits for more than 14,000 individuals. By synthesizing insights from astrology, numerology, and tarot, Goldschneider aimed to identify and articulate generalized personality characteristics corresponding to each day of the year. His published works, including "The Secret Language of Birthdays," "The Secret Language of Relationships," and "The Secret Language of Destiny," co-authored with Joost Elffers, brought this personological approach to a wide audience. Other related titles like "Charting the Times of Your Life" and "Personology" further explored his theories on understanding human nature through calendrical and astrological frameworks.

In addition to his literary endeavors, Gary Goldschneider was an accomplished pianist renowned for his extraordinary endurance performances. He undertook several "marathon" piano recitals, challenging himself by performing extensive classical works in their entirety without interruption. His most significant achievement in this domain was a performance of all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas in a single sitting. This particular concert, held in Amsterdam on August 19, 1984, was a landmark event, attracting an estimated 10,000 spectators and achieving widespread national media coverage. Goldschneider also dedicated himself to performing all of Mozart's sonatas in one sitting on separate occasions, with these performances typically lasting around six hours.