Books for Changemakers: Colum McCann - Apeirogon

16 November 2021

17:30 - 19:00 CET

Books for Changemakers: A drop-in book club to resource you and your fellow changemakers. Dive or dip into important and inspiring resources and ideas, connect with kindred spirits and explore your inner wisdom.

A masterpiece, a novel that will change the world

(The Guardian)

Widely acclaimed, long-listed for the 2020 Booker Prize, winner of the Prix du Meilleur Livres Etranger and of the 2020 National Jewish Book Award, this hybrid novel is crafted out of a universe of fictional and non-fictional material.

Named for a shape with a countably infinite number of sides, Apeirogon is a tour de force about friendship, love, loss and belonging.

The book is based on true events and tells the story of Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, who both lost daughters in the continuing conflict in their country.

Rami and Bassam inhabit a world of conflict that colours every aspect of their daily lives, from the roads they are allowed to drive on and the schools their daughters attend, to the checkpoints, both physical and emotional, they must negotiate.

Their worlds shift irreparably after ten-year-old Abir is killed by a rubber bullet and 13-year-old Smadar becomes the victim of suicide bombers. When Bassam and Rami learn each other’s stories, they recognize the loss that connects them and they attempt to use their grief as a weapon for peace.

To take part in this session please:

Read the book,

or consult one of the following resources:
•   Read this article in The Guardian, or this one in the New York Times
•   Watch this interview with author Colum McCann
•   Check out Colum McCann’s website

…and join us on November 16 at 17:30 CET at our Books for Changemakers book group. See you then!

Facilitator: Neil Oliver

Neil Oliver is a Certified Professional Facilitator with experience of working with diverse groups across a wide range of sectors in the UK and internationally. Most of his experience comes from working with complex public sector organizations including the UK National Health Service. Since 2011 Neil has worked with Initiatives of Change Switzerland organizing conferences and providing training. Neil is part of the Tools for Changemakers team. He has a particular interest in working with multi-cultural groups and teams.

Books for Changemakers is part of the Tools for Changemakers programme of Initiatives of Change Switzerland. Discover here more Tools for Changemaker events.