#24: Alberto Manguel – Why We Read | The Memory of Books | Stories that Shape Civilizations

Episode #24 of Impact in the 21st Century features the legendary author, editor, and bibliophile Alberto Manguel.

Alberto Manguel is the acclaimed author of A History of Reading, The Library at Night, and dozens of other works exploring literature, memory, and the profound human need for stories. A lifetime reader and former Director of the National Library of Argentina, Manguel has lived a life shaped by books—reading to Jorge Luis Borges as a teenager, curating libraries across continents, and writing deeply about the roles books play in our personal and collective lives.

In this episode, Manguel offers a masterclass on the power of reading in shaping empathy, identity, and civilization itself. We explore:

• What it means to read deeply in a distracted age
  
  
• How libraries function as the “memory of humanity”
  
  
• Why stories hold the key to understanding ourselves and our societies
  
  
• His reflections on the current state—and future—of reading
  
  

This is a timeless conversation for lovers of language, ideas, and the written word.

 

🎙️ What is Impact in the 21st Century?

Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast that celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it.

👤 Who hosts the podcast?
Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, and Executive Director of Simbi Foundation.

🦻Who Makes It Sound Good? 

Tom Foster is an Award-Winning Recording Engineer and Cinematographer, Up-and-Coming Composer, Film Scoring Student at Berklee College of Music, and Head of Audio & Music for the Sea Change Project.

This podcast is brought to you by Simbi Foundation & The Goood Life.