Notes on Lindsay Johns' Lecture on World Book Day

Introduction

• Speaker: Lindsay Johns, Head of Arts and Culture at Policy Exchange
• Theme: Importance of reading

Why Read?

• Main Point: Read in order to live.
• Quoting: John Kerry, Professor of English at Oxford - "Read to be free."
• Self-Improvement:
  • Read to know oneself better.
  • Read to become a better person.
• Historical Context: Humanities have failed to humanize.
• Call to Action: Read to change the world.

Value of Books

• Content of Books:
  • Canon of human wisdom and knowledge.
  • Life-affirming stories for intellectual stimulation and enjoyment.
• Role in Civilization:
  • Fundamental act of civilization.
  • Educates and entertains (Horace: instructs and delights).

Benefits of Reading

• Vocabulary Expansion:
  • Language is power; more words lead to better expression of thoughts.
• Understanding Life:
  • Reading helps to probe and articulate universal truths about the human condition.
  • Addresses themes: love, hate, fear, beauty, pain, etc.
• Existential Exploration:
  • Helps answer the question of human existence and purpose.

The Role of Great Books

• Transcendence:
  • What it means to be human transcends time, space, race, class, and gender.
• Healing Power:
  • Great books are intellectual and spiritual physicians, providing comfort for the mind and soul.

Mantras About Reading

• First Mantra:
  • "Readers are leaders and leaders are readers."
  • Historical examples: Julius Caesar, Toussaint Louverture, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama.
• Second Mantra:
  • "You're never lonely with a book."
  • Books provide constant companionship and escape.

Conclusion

• Final Thought: Read to live.