Wordlife Presents: Radical Abundance

Join us for an exciting in conversation event between Keir Milburn and Debs Grayson about Keir’s new book Radical Abundance, co-written with Kai Heron and Bertie Russell. This will be followed by small discussion groups hosted by Now Then, where you’ll get the chance to explore how we can “create a world of true abundance” right here in Sheffield.

The event is brought to you by Wordlife, and the team behind Festival of Debate and Now Then magazine. It’s part of our new Reading Room series, exploring the best in radical non-fiction that points us towards new possibilities and emerging futures.

7–8:00pm – In Conversation with Keir Milburn and Debs Grayson

“Rigorously argued and radically hopeful” – Grace Blakeley, author of Vulture Capitalism

“Indispensable ... resets the terms of left debate” – Jodi Dean, author of Capital’s Grave

“If you’re looking for practical steps to a post-capitalist future, don’t miss this book” – Jason Hickel, author of Less is More

Capitalism has created a world of bullshit abundance, where we have too much of what we don’t need and too little of what we do. Through this system’s relentless pursuit of profits, we have been put on a collision course with social and ecological limits that can no longer be ignored.

We need an alternative. We need radical abundance. A world of human and non-human flourishing made possible by democratically planned production. But radical abundance can’t just be voted into existence through parliamentary means – it must be made by taking control of our collective reproduction in the here and now.

Co-written by Keir Milburn, Kai Heron and Bertie Russell, Radical Abundance: How to Win a Green Democratic Future examines what a transition to a world of radical abundance looks like and lays out a concrete strategy for achieving it.

Keir Milburn is the co-director of the Abundance think tank. He is also the author of Generation Left (2019) and Radical Abundance and co-hosts Novara Media’s #ACFM podcast.

Debs Grayson is a facilitator, researcher and organiser who currently works for Opus Independents on projects including the People’s Newsroom Initiative. This tried to reimagine journalism as ‘storytelling commoning’ - collective and democratic ways of sharing stories to support the transition to a regenerative economy.

8:15pm–9:15pm – Discussion Group hosted by Now Then

After the conversation between Keir and Debs, join us for a hopeful and generative discussion session. We’ll split into small groups and talk about how the ideas in the book could help build the more equitable and sustainable Sheffield we all want to see. Hosted by Now Then.

ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility information about the Showroom Workstation can be found here. If you have any questions or requests regarding accessibility for this event, please feel free to contact us at access@weareopus.org.

Seating: Unreserved seating is available at this event, but if you’d like us to reserve a seat for you or you have specific requirements, please get in touch.

Masks: FFP2 masks will be available for free.

Audio: Microphones will be used during the talk but not the discussion groups.

Quiet space: There is not a dedicated quiet space available at this event however there is a public lobby area with seating separate from the event space.