‘Chris Anderson presents an inspiring body of evidence to support the tremendous and transformative power of generosity – that most beautiful of human impulses.’  – Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world’s most influential thinkers in action. TED’s annual conference in Vancouver sees thousands of delegates flock from across the world to hear presentations from pre-eminent scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, political leaders and CEOs on the biggest issues of the day. Speakers have included Elon Musk on artificial intelligence, Bill Gates on how to prevent future pandemics and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on how to create a better future for women and girls. 

The first TED talk posted online was in 2006, during a relatively optimistic period in recent history. But in recent years Anderson has seen the tone of the talks delivered at TED shift as experts warn of the unprecedented dangers and risks posed by artificial intelligence, climate change and other tectonic shifts in our world. 

On Tuesday February 20, Anderson comes to Intelligence Squared in conversation with author and filmmaker Jon Ronson to argue that we can turn fear back into optimism. Drawing from his new book Infectious Generosity he will argue that there is so much to be positive about in our world and that good things happen when we start to practice the most fundamental of human virtues: generosity. Anderson will combine cutting-edge research with human stories such as how a London barber began offering haircuts to homeless people and in the process catalysed a movement across the world to show us that whether we’re giving our money, time, skills, connections or considerateness we can all use generosity to change the world and feel good about the future, and ourselves.