Meaning Spotlight: Anand Giridharadas
16 April 2019
Join us for Meaning Spotlight on Sunday 9 June in Brighton
One of the things that motivates us most about Meaning is the chance to hear from some of modern life’s real big thinkers. Faced with the challenges before us, and the multitude of ideas that bombard us, there are certain voices that ring out above the crowd, setting the standard in how to really tell truth to power.
Anand Giridharadas is one such voice. As a journalist, author and editor-at-large for Time Magazine his criticism of capitalists, corporatists and politicians is often scathing, but his honesty, humour and self-deprecation capture the attention of anyone who listens. His readiness to call out hypocrisy and bullshit is refreshing, combined with his deep understanding of human behaviour and the ways our society functions (and dysfunctions).
When we read Anand’s latest book Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, we knew we had to meet Anand and invite him to meet the Meaning audience. And rather than waiting until our next conference in November 2019, we seized upon an opportunity to bring him to Brighton for a special event we’re calling Meaning Spotlight.
Meaning Spotlight is a new approach for us. It’s an opportunity to focus. On 9 June, there will be the time and space for us to hear Anand Giridharadas explain the thinking and the philosophy behind his recent book – and his other writings. He’ll share his thoughts, challenge us to face some uncomfortable realities, and offer alternatives that may help our world to become a fairer, more just society.
A spirited examination of the hubris and hypocrisy of the super-rich who claim they are helping the world
Aditya Chakrabortty on Winners Take All
Of course, we’ll need big questions in order to provoke the big answers we’re looking forward to from Anand. So we’ve asked Aditya Chakrabortty, award-winning Guardian journalist, to host our Meaning Spotlight event. Aditya himself is well-versed on the issues at hand – with a remarkable career of reports, investigations and critiques of the inequality we have created within our society. When Aditya spoke at Meaning 2018, we were transfixed by the rigour and candour of his journalism – so we have invited him to return to Brighton, as the perfect match for Anand’s attacks on the status quo.
Meaning Spotlight, at Brighton’s The Old Market on 9 June, promises to be an evening of insightful analysis, shocking honesty, and informed analysis of where we’ve gone wrong – and how we can get back on track. Don’t miss it.
GET TICKETS FOR MEANING SPOTLIGHT