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

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 the Founder 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.