Its a problem many of us encounter personally Ive developed the view, that if I cant remember someone, I might as well just say so "hi, sorry, cant quite remember your name" certainly if you just keep ignoring people you cant remember the problem won't just magically resolve itself.
So try to remember everybody you meet from now on.... give yourself this challenge cause no matter what anybody says... this thing shows ure a self centered person with a little ego in you, and this Will make you lonly.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.