What are Bookshop Barnies?
Bookshop Barnies are nothing less than a reinvention of the book launch format. These salon type discussions challenge the author to justify their work in front of an invited audience of specialists and critics. Unlike most book lauches where the most challenging task for the author is to sign so many autographs, Bookshop Barnies force them to take a stand for their ideas. Bookshop Barnies are also invite only.
Read the Bookshop Barnies testimonials here
Forthcoming Barnies
22 July 2008
'An
Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming' by Nigel
Lawson
The Observer's Robin McKie calls this book 'breathtaking arrogance', which seems to reinforce Lord Lawson's claim that simply by putting forward an alternative perspective on global warming is nowadays seen to be a sign of emotional dysfunction. The Literary Review, on the other hand, applauds him for having the courage of his convictions, an increasingly rare virtue in today's excessively consensual age'. See also Enemies of Progress
Come and judge for yourself. Please note that this event is in much demand and you must email to confirm a place.
Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk
Previous Barnies
13 May 2008
'The Dragon and the Elephant: China, India and the New World Order' by David Smith, Economics' editor, Sunday Times (just out in paperback)
Sir Digby Jones says that `This book... stimulates and nourishes the mind whilst adding to the wake-up call that the Dragon and the Elephant present to the developed world.'
Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk
8 April 2008
Julian Baggini, philosopher and broadcaster, explains the background to his latest book, 'Welcome to Everytown: A Journey into the English Mind.' (it'll just be out in paperback):
Baggini parachuted into Rotherham for this anthropological study. Partly an exploration of his own fears and prejudices, this is an entertaining exploration of what real people really think.
Insightful? Patronising? Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough.
Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk
12 February 2008
Paul Mason, BBC Newsnight's business and industrial editor, will discuss the intracacies of his latest book, 'Live Working or Die Fighting' (just out in paperback):
On the 40th anniversary of '68, Mason will be discussing his thoughts on the new globalised working class. Greg Palast says: 'If you haven't read Mason's book, you know nothing'. Barnie attendees will not usually have read the book... come and test your intelligence.
Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk
Thursday 6 December 2007
Bookshop Barnie Xmas Bash - Balloon Debate
WINNER:
George Brock (Saturday editor, The Times) on Dickens'
"Our Mutual Friend"
Fellow combatants included:
James Delingpole (author, journalist) on Tolstoy's
"War and Peace";
Peter Whittle (director, New Culture Forum) on J N
Neale's "Elizabeth I";
Michael Owens (head of Regeneration, London Borough
of Merton) on Jane Jacob's "The Death and Life of the
Great American City";
George Brock (Saturday editor, The Times) on Dickens'
"Our Mutual Friend";
Lesley Katon (film producer, Channel 4) on W G Sebald's
"The Rings of Saturn"; and
Tom Dunmore (editor-in-chief, Stuff magazine) on
Hunter S Thompson's "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas",
We would like to thank all of the contestants for their strenuous and entertaining efforts and would like to wish them - as well as our Barnie-goers who have attended over the year - a very Merry Christmas and we hope to see you in the New Year!
What they say of the Bookshop Barnies:
"Engagingly spikey!"
Geoff Mulgan, director, Young Foundation
"A fantastic event. Intellectually stimulating, enjoyable
and I met a lot of very interesting people."
Claire Fox, director, Institute of Ideas
"What fun... I felt like I learned a lot."
Alain de Botton, philosopher
"I really did enjoy the Barnie… very combative."
John Ralston Saul, philosopher, author "The Collapse
Of Globalism"
"A fascinating evening."
Timothy Hornsby, Chairman Designate, Horniman Museum
"It was great fun"
Martin Wolf, associate editor and chief economics commentator,
Financial Times
"I've been thinking about some of the comments and questions
from the audience ever since"
Francis Wheen, author, journalist and broadcaster
Read testimonials for
Bookshop Barnies
Previous Barnies
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Nicolette Jones on The Plimsoll Sensation: The great campaign to save lives at sea
Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk
The Barnie explored whether Samual Plimsoll had other motives; whether he was the progenitor of intrusive modern health and safety measures; and also explored the rise of creative non-fiction (a style that Jones rejects!)
Please email Austin Williams for further details.
June 2007
Thomas
Homer-Dixon talked about his book:
The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, creativity and the renewal
of civilisation
Listen to a webcast of the event
Thomas's introduction
Questions to Thomas Homer-Dixon
Questions and points from the audience
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May 2007
Carne Ross defended his book An Independent Diplomat
After being disillusioned with the government's policies in Iraq, Ross resigned his FO position and is currently advising the government of Kosovo and has been chosen by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust as one of its seven "visionaries for a just and peaceful world".
April 2007
Michael Gove MP introduced his new book Celsius 7/7
March 2007
James Delingpole introduced his new book How To Be Right
Listen to a webcast of the event
James Delingpole's introduction
Audience questions and discussion
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Tuesday 21 November 2006
Guardian columnist and author Francis Wheen talked about his book 'Marx's Das Kapital'
As one of Atlantic's 'Books that Shook the World' series, author Francis Wheen says of Das Kapital: 'The book can be read as a vast Gothic novel whose heroes are enslaved and consumed by the monster they created... or as a Victorian melodrama; or as a black farce...There has been nothing remotely like it before or since - which is probably why it has been so consistently neglected or misconstrued. Marx was indeed one of the great tormented giants.'
Listen to a webcast of the event
Francis Wheen's introduction
Questions to Francis Wheen
Questions and points from the audience
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October 2006
A conversation with Canadian essayist and philosopher John Ralston Saul and his new book 'The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World'.
"The Collapse of Globalism follows globalization from its promising beginnings in the 1970s through to the increasing deregulation in industry, and into the 1990s, when regional economic collapses and concern for the environment and for the rights of workers led to widespread protest and disillusionment. In the wake of globalism's collapse, nationalism of the best and worst sort, Saul demonstrates, shows signs of making a remarkable, unexpected recovery."
