We are thrilled to welcome Anthea Lawson to Blackwell’s to discuss How Not to Save the World: Doing Good Without Annoying Everyone, a look at activism and ways to work together, without alienating the people we need to convince.

Hailed as ‘a wise, rich and crucial book’ by George Monbiot, Anthea will be in conversation with Martha Awojobi.

Doors: 6.30pm, Starts: 6.45pm

Tickets are £4 or admission is free when purchasing a Book & Ticket option, or picking up a copy in store ahead of the event.

About the book:

Do you want to change the world but wonder if there’s any point trying?

Are you unsure what you can offer, or don’t feel that you fit the activist mould?

Do you think activists can be self-righteous, even oblivious to the very people they’re trying to help?

How Not To Save the World is a book about doing good, for anyone who has looked at politics or public discourse and thought, ‘we need better than this.’ The fervour that drives us to change the world can create blind spots, where we don’t see our own behaviour, or disregard it because the cause is urgent.

Realistic, candid and hopeful, How Not To Save the World is a sympathetic exploration of alternatives to righteousness, purity traps and other unhelpful habits. It shows that there are ways to work together for what matters, without alienating the people we need to convince.

About the author:

Anthea Lawson has been an activist for over three decades, including fighting for controls on the arms trade and putting an end to financial secrecy offered by tax havens. She helped launch a campaign for transparency over company ownership which resulted in changes to the law in dozens of countries. After training as a journalist at The Times, she worked for campaign groups including Global Witness and Amnesty International. She is the author of The Entangled Activist (2021) and How Not To Save The World.