Reading to challenge our biases and blind spots from the TPT library

29 June 2020

The Conversation

Bookplates

Like the theatre, the written word has been a powerful catalyst for change since Johannes Gutenberg set up his first printing press in the 15th century. This technology gave authors the means to bring arguments to the masses, and facilitated the transfer of ideas across space and time. Indeed, books are a form of conversation – between writer and reader, and among readers.

We launched The Performance Theatre’s pop-up library at TPT 2018, inviting members of our community to share book recommendations related to our programme theme. Captured on bookplates tucked into recommended volumes, these recommendations have sparked conversations both in the moment and months afterwards.

If you are using this period of lockdown to make a dent in your reading list, we have chosen a few titles from The Performance Theatre pop-up library that might inspire you. Originally suggested by community members in response to our 2018 and 2019 themes (“Unfinished Revolutions” and “Higher Resolutions”), this month’s selections offer perspectives on invisible realities – those experiences that our unconscious biases and blind spots may filter out.

“The unfinished revolution of institutionalised prisoners in the US and beyond. My commitment to put in continuous effort to be aware of my own biases and approach all people with love, care and justice.” – Hanneke Willenborg, CMO, Seventh Generation

“The book has really thought-provoking perspectives on the social upheavals of the moment, and how they're affecting the way we approach our own agency and fragility.” – Monica Guzman, Author and Co-founder, The Evergrey

“How, indeed, can we expect the elite who have benefited so much from the current system, to lead the radical change that is truly needed to avert a climate catastrophe and the social upheaval that will result?” – Paul Needham, Co-founder, Simpa Networks

“May this book inspire you and make you angry. These experiences that women and girls struggle with should no longer exist in this world.” – Joanna Bichsel, Founder & CEO, Kasha

“The stigma attached to mental illness, although improved, remains prevalent in society. Very much an unfinished revolution! This book helped me feel less ashamed and less alone.” – Jered Sorkin, TPT overture composer

Recommended by Elmer Dixon, President, Executive Diversity Services

We will continue to share recommendations from the library, choosing a handful at a time that relate to a common theme. We also welcome new recommendations from our community. Write to us on hello@theperformancetheatre.com and we’ll add your recommendation to our virtual library.

Since The Performance Theatre (TPT) 2018 in Berlin, we have been honouring the power of books to transform; collaborating with the team at Little Free Library on a pop-up TPT book exchange. Little Free Library is a non-profit organisation that inspires a love of reading, builds community connections, and sparks creativity by fostering neighbourhood book exchanges around the world. Over the years it has created a hyper-local economy around a very personal kind of value: ideas, comfort and inspiration.