Congratulations to 2021-22 American Library in Paris Visiting Fellow Ian Williams! His lectures are titled What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in Our Time. The book was published by House of Anansi Press Inc on October 8th.
In contemporary society, much of our communication exists in a new dimension, the online space, and it’s changing how we regard each other and how we converse. In the digital realm, we can be anonymous, we can make false and hurtful comments yet evade consequences in a hurried scroll of clicks and swipes. But a good conversation takes time and patience, courage, even. We need to realize that one-half of our conversations is, in fact, listening. And aren’t the best conversationalists—like the best musicians—good listeners?
With What I Mean to Say, Williams seeks to ignite a conversation about conversation, to confront the deterioration of civic and civil discourse, and to reconsider the act of conversing as the sincere, open exchange of thoughts and feelings.
Learn more and purchase your copy HERE.
Learn more on Ian’s website: www.ianwilliams.ca and on CBC to get live recordings of his lectures.