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Stories are much more than entertainment— they shape our world. They’ve inspired the rise and fall of empires and nations, sparked our understandings of basic political and philosophical concepts, and have given rise to religious beliefs. From Mesopotamia to the moon landing, storytelling and words have shaped the history of the world.
Recorded JANUARY 18, 2018
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Martin Puchner’s latest book,“The Written World: The Power of Stories to Shape People, History, Civilization” examines the tangible importance of works from Gilgamesh to Harry Potter, exploring the impact of the Thousand and One Nights to The Communist Manifesto.
Martin Puchner chairs Harvard’s new program in Theater, Dance, and Media, and is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard. His prizewinning books have ranged from philosophy to theater, to literature and the arts.
