Dubai: Mr. Ben Okri, the acclaimed author who won the Booker Prize, is set to kickstart Expo City Dubai’s Connecting Minds Book Club at the Terra Auditorium on June 1. This initiative aims to celebrate the profound impact of books on raising awareness and driving action on climate change and sustainability.
In collaboration with the Emirates Literature Foundation, the Book Club will create a community of readers who can engage with influential authors and their stories. The inaugural event will feature the global launch of Mr. Okri’s book, Tiger Work, which combines fiction, essays, and poetry inspired by environmental activism and a passionate plea for addressing climate change.
Climate change is the single most important issue of our time, and I feel a great responsibility to draw attention to it using the immense powers of literature. Introducing Tiger Work to the world at Expo City Dubai, an innovative city committed to advancing sustainability, makes the launch even more meaningful. It is important to have these conversations in advance of COP28 to lay a solid foundation.
Mr. Okri commented.
Ms. Nadia Verjee, Executive Director, Expo Dubai Group, Expo City Dubai, shared that “the Connecting Minds Book Club brings together a community of book lovers committed to harnessing the power of stories to inform, inspire, and spark action on our changing climate. I can think of no better author to raise the curtain on this exciting new cultural series than Ben Okri.”
The Connecting Minds Book Club will serve as a platform for renowned storytellers worldwide, offering captivating talks, author signings, and workshops for children. Exciting upcoming events and notable writers will be announced in due course.