One of the great parts of my job is that you get to meet the people you’ve always wanted to. When I first became editor, I used this a lot – mainly abusing my expenses account. Then we acquired an events department and with it, the facility to invite others along too. So next month, we’ll be trialling a new format: inviting a guest with a small group of subscribers in The Spectator boardroom for discussion and, after, a drink in our garden.
The first guest will be the Swedish writer, Johan Norberg. You may not have heard of him; in which case, I like to think I’m doing you a service with this blog. He’s a liberal (not really a conservative) whose 2001 book, In Defence of Global Capitalism, is in my view the best single-volume exposition of the merits of liberal economics. It was full, even then, of eye-opening stats: books like Matt Ridley’s Rational Optimist and Steven Pinker’s Rationality came as part of the genre. These are all books that I book time off to read, understand, and look through the footnotes. They are incredibly original, widely-read and evidence-driven writers, who challenge all kinds of orthodoxies.
We’re now 20 years on from In Defence and Norberg has written a new version called the Capitalist Manifesto. On 21 June he’s coming to The Spectator to discuss it with Kate Andrews and me. The tickets are pricier than normal but this a new format: a small group, given free champagne, and the intention is that all of us will get a chance to chat during and after the event. The Spectator garden is, anyway, one of the nicest parts of London this time of year and we’re looking for excuses to invite subscribers around. So those interested, click here: I imagine it will sell out quite soon. We’ll let you know about more events as they arrive.
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