In an era characterised by insecurity, fragility and downward mobility when everything feels transient, what exactly does education guarantee?

But now a strong wind is blowing in, turning the pages too fast.

It is a problem, the endless barrage of misinformation - let alone, misinformation. We cannot process this much, and the truth is, we don't. In reality, we only skim through the news, roll up-and-down our screens, without contemplating, and more importantly, without feeling. After a while, numbers don't mean much any more, whether it is 5000 refugees who have died or 10000, the difference doesn't and won't register unless we know the personal stories behind the statistics. Information flows amid our fingers like dry sand. It also gives us the illusion that we know the subject.

We live in an age in which there is too much information, less knowledge and even less wisdom. That ratio needs to be reversed. We definitely need less information, more knowledge, and much more wisdom.

Nor should you be afraid of emotions. Whether it is angst or anger or hurt or sadness or loneliness...As human beings - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, geography - we are emotional creatures, even those of us who like to pretend not to be, especially them. Analyse, understand and reflect upon negative emotions come from, embrace them candidly, but also notice if and when they become repetitive, restrictive, ritualistic and destructive.

This barbarity can happen fast on a large scale not when more people turn immortal or evil, not necessarily, but when enough people become numb. When we are indifferent, disconnected, atomised. Too busy with our own lives to care about others. Interested in and unmoved by someone else's pain. That is the most dangerous emotion- the lack of emotion.

"The moment we stop listening to diverse opinions is also when we stop learning. Because the truth is we don't learn much from the sameness and monotony we usually learn from differences"

It feels like the world is falling apart. So how do we keep hold of our optimism? How do we nurture the parts of ourselves that hope, trust and believe in something better? And how can we stay sane in this world of division?In this beautifully written and illuminating polemic, Booker Prize nominee Elif Shafak reflects on our age of pessimism, when emotions guide and misguide our politics, and misinformation and fear are the norm. A tender, uplifting plea for optimism, Shafak draws on her own memories and delves into the power of stories to reveal how writing can nurture democracy, tolerance and progress. And in the process, she answers one of the most urgent questions of our time.

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Books

The must-read, pocket-sized Big Think book of 2020. It feels like the world is falling apart. So how do we keep hold of our optimism? How do we nurture the parts of ourselves that hope, trust and believe in something better? And how can we stay sane in this world of division? In this beautifully written and illuminating polemic, Booker Prize nominee Elif Shafak reflects on our age of pessimism, when emotions guide and misguide our politics, and misinformation and fear are the norm. A tender, uplifting plea for optimism, Shafak draws on her own memories and delves into the power of stories to reveal how writing can nurture democracy, tolerance and progress. And in the process, she answers one of the most urgent questions of our time.

Elif Shafak is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Elif Shafak has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Elif Shafak's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

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