Former World Bank VP and adviser to Nelson Mandela, Ian Goldin explores why the city is where the battles of inequality, social division, pandemics and climate change must be faced.

From centres of antiquity like Athens or Rome to modern metropolises like New York or Shanghai, cities throughout history have been the epicentres of our greatest achievements.

Now, for the first time, more than half of humanity lives in cities, which are growing at a rate never seen before. The visionary Oxford professor Ian Goldin follows Rescue: From Global Crisis to a Better World with Age of the City: Why our Future will be Won or Lost Together.

Buy a copy of Age of the City by Ian Goldin.

This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval. 

Digital events will take place over Zoom, with an event link sent to bookers 24 hours in advance of the event and a reminder email 30 minutes before the event starts. Ticket holders for digital events will also be sent a link to a recording of the event, available to watch until the end of March.

Book Week 24 Digi-Pass gives access to all 16 online streaming events for £39.50. 

About the speakers:

Ian Goldin is the Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development and the founding Director of the Oxford Martin School, a world-leading group of over 300 experts from across Oxford University tackling the most pressing challenges facing humanity. Previously Ian was economic advisor to President Mandela and then Vice President and Policy Head for the World Bank. He has been a keynote speaker at successive Davos and TED events, presented the BBC Series After the Crash and The Pandemic that Changed the World, and is the author of 22 books.