An evening of Provocations with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, James Bloodworth, Claire Fox and Ziauddin Sardar

Join Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, James Bloodworth, Claire Fox and Ziauddin Sardar for an evening of Provocations at Waterstones Piccadilly.

Provocations is a groundbreaking series of short polemics composed by some of the most intriguing voices in contemporary culture and edited by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Sharp, intelligent and controversial, Provocations provides insightful contributions to the most vital discussions in society today.

This event is free but please reserve your place either in store, by telephone: 020 7851 2400, or by email: piccadilly@waterstones.com

 

Refusing the Veil by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown will never accept that the veil is a legitimate choice for any woman: her mother’s generation threw them off - an act as serious and brave as the struggles of Western suffragettes. The Qur’an does not command full veiling. Refuse the veil, she argues, and reclaim women’s human rights and freedoms.

 

 

The Myth of Meritocracy by James Bloodworth

It is increasingly difficult for bright but poor children to transcend their circumstances in a society where the best jobs are overwhelmingly done by the offspring of the privileged. Despite the idea of ‘equality of opportunity’, inequality is at highest level since the 1930s. James Bloodworth argues that to improve social mobility we must reduce the gap between rich and poor. 

 

 

‘I Find that Offensive!’ by Claire Fox

When you’re told ‘I find that offensive’, you know you’re being told to shut up. We all walk on eggshells. It’s increasingly the hyper-sensitive young, or ‘Generation Snowflake’, who are viewing free speech as a dirty concept, taking personal offence at conflicting opinions. Claire Fox argues for society to become more robust and make a virtue of the right to be offensive.

 

 

Islam Beyond the Violent Jihadis by Ziauddin Sardar

Ziauddin Sardar tells the stories of different visions of Islam to argue for a rich, diverse religion with a long distinguished history apparently swept aside by a fundamentalist interpretation. Sardar argues for a pluralistic and reflective religion and urges us all to work together to preserve the sanity of our world.

   

                  

“An ambitious new series that tackles the controversy of the topics explored with a mixture of intelligence and forthright argument from some excellent writers.” – The Observer