Sunday, November 15, 2009

CFI Book Club: "Inventing Human Rights" by Lynn Hunt

So, I have written about an organization in Toronto called the Centre for Inquiry in several posts and am happy to tell you that I am now the Director of their Ontario branch. I am very excited and will continue to write about and analyze the many lectures that we put on year round.

One cool part of this new job is helping organize a book club. I was asked to pick the books for November and December. Everyone is welcome to read the books and then come to the Centre for a discussion. You can find out more info at our website: cfiontario.org


The book for November is: "Inventing Human Rights" by Lynn Hunt.

12 copies at Toronto libraries

This comprehensive work traces the development of human rights from its conceptual roots in the Enlightenment to its full expression in the United Nation's 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Hunt begins with a wonderfully detailed lexicographical survey of 18th century uses of rights language ("rights of man," "natural rights," "rights of humanity") to show the many currents that led to the first modern declaration of human rights, the Bill of Rights.

We will be meeting on Thursday, Nov. 26th at 7 pm at CFI, 216 Beverley Street, Toronto, ON.


The book for December is: "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell

228 copies at Toronto libraries

In this best-seller, a staff writer for The New Yorker weighs the factors that determine good decision-making. Drawing on recent cognitive research, Gladwell concludes that those who quickly filter out extraneous information generally make better decisions than those who discount their first impressions. The author of The Tipping Point (2000) cites the implications for such areas as emergency situations and marketing, plus some notable exceptions.

We will be meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10th at 7 pm at CFI, 216 Beverley Street, Toronto, ON.

I hope to see you at there!

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