At a Distance: 100 Visionaries at Home in a Pandemic

In March 2020, Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman launched The Slowdown, a media company advocating for a more thoughtful approach to the moment. When Covid-19 emerged, they created a podcast called "At a Distance" to record the thoughts of leading minds during the global slowdown. The podcast is now organized as a book of 100 interviews, offering a curated selection of wisdom shared by guests. The book provides a grounded sense of context and clarity, exploring the world from multiple angles such as public health, the climate crisis, racial inequality, and Big Tech. It offers a hopeful, rationally optimistic guide toward the future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 29 December 2021
Publisher: Apartamento Publishing S.L.v

In March 2020, Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman embarked on a transformative journey with the inception of The Slowdown, a New York-based media company dedicated to unraveling the pervasive addiction to speed and advocating for a more thoughtful and contemplative approach to the present moment. As the world grappled with the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid-19 and the onset of lockdowns, a global slowdown unfolded with an immediacy that defied their predictions. Faced with this unforeseen reality, Spencer and Andrew felt an urgent need to capture the thoughts and emotions of leading minds in real time.

The result was the birth of "At a Distance," a podcast series that delved into long-view, planetary-scale concerns, offering a curated selection of insightful conversations with a diverse range of guests. Presented in concise and engaging short-form narratives, the book encapsulates the wisdom shared by these podcast guests, contextualizing it within the broader political, cultural, and social landscape.

The guests featured in "At a Distance" are a testament to the breadth of expertise and perspectives they bring. Environmentalist and journalist Bill McKibben, psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, MoMA curator Paola Antonelli, food artist Laila Gohar, biologist Merlin Sheldrake, Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten, novelist Hari Kunzru, philosopher Kate Soper, and landscape architect Walter Hood are just a few of the distinguished individuals who contribute their insights to this remarkable project.

Through their diverse lenses, the guests offer a profound understanding of the world, exploring topics such as public health, the climate crisis, racial inequality, and Big Tech. "At a Distance" is a testament to the power of dialogue and the ability of thoughtful conversations to shed light on complex issues and inspire change.

What sets this book apart is its ability to strike a balance between informativeness, intelligence, and deep personal resonance. The authors have crafted a narrative that is both accessible and intellectually stimulating, inviting readers to engage with the world from multiple angles. The book provides a hopeful, rationally optimistic guide toward the future, offering a roadmap for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

In conclusion, "At a Distance" is a remarkable achievement that showcases the power of media and storytelling to shape our understanding of the world. Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman have created a platform that empowers individuals to engage with leading minds, explore critical issues, and envision a more thoughtful and compassionate future. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world and a roadmap for building a better tomorrow.

Weight: 790g
Dimension: 188 x 253 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788409325375