Renowned writers question contemporary society through debates, interviews and readings. And, at Mind the Book, the floor is always open for discussion.

Best-selling Dutch author and journalist Arnon Grunberg kicks off the festival on Thursday with a presentation of his new collection of film essays Buster Keaton lacht nooit (Buster Keaton Never Laughs) and engaging in a philosophical debate with Flemish author Stefan Hertmans.

Grunberg’s book tackles themes like love, capitalism, war and fame through the medium of movies, including The Consequences of Love (2004), The Conversation (1974) and Full Metal Jacket (1987), all of which will also be screened at the city’s Cinema Zuid during the festival. Grunberg has chosen a few other gems as the curator of the film programme.

Reading revolution

World-famous Russia expert Orlando Figes, meanwhile, will talk to VRT correspondent Jan Balliauw on Saturday about the country’s current state of affairs. Figes is British, so, like a good half of the activities during Mind the Book, this dialogue will be in English. That’s also the case for a talk with professor Jane Davis, founder of England’s The Reader Organisation. Davis has set a “reading revolution” in motion, proving that community can be built through reading and responding to text.

A secondary school drop-out herself, Davis and her organisation have brought together a wide variety of people from single mums to the homeless, who have not only successfully tackled world literature, they’ve connected with each other through her interactive approach, often breaking long-time barriers of social isolation. Davis will discuss this revolutionary concept with Flemish psychiatrist Dirk De Wachter, author of last year’s highly acclaimed book Borderline Times.

Dutch scientist Louise O Fresco of the University of Amsterdam, meanwhile, will discuss her latest book Hamburgers in het paradijs (Hamburgers in Paradise), which deals with the influence of growth and globalisation on the food industry.

Economies of good & evil

Czech professor Tomáš Sedláˇcek, at the festival on Sunday, burst onto the international scene in 2009 with his book that simplifies the global economy to layperson’s terms using one of the world’s oldest philosophies: good and evil. Arguing that the modern economy is the product of contemporary civilization, his bestselling Economics of Good and Evil takes a philosophical and poetic approach to the current crisis instead of looking at the raw mathematical models of human negotiation. Sedláˇcek will discuss his ideas with Dutch Guardian correspondent Joris Luyendijk, who is himself making his own anthropological assessment of the financial climate in the City of London.

Flemish psychoanalyst Paul Verhaeghe, author of the best-selling Identiteit (Identity) believes that the pressure to succeed only leads to disorientation and doubt, leaving everyone who isn’t at the top of his or her game discontented and depressed. London-based author Michael Foley will have a one-on-one with Verhaeghe, as he tries to find solutions to the same problem in his book The Age of Absurdity (which is now translated into Dutch) and his latest, Embracing the Ordinary.

A history of Belgium for everyone

Flemish journalist and former news anchor Geert van Istendael will talk about his latest book, written together with essayist Benno Barnard. Een geschiedenis van België: voor nieuwsgierige kinderen (en hun ouders), or A History of Belgium: For Curious Kids (and Their Parents), goes all the way back to prehistoric times and leads all the way up to the present, portraying the country’s history like you’ve never seen it before. The result is a book filled with adventure, brave heroes, despicable scoundrels and beautiful illustrations. Published just a few months ago, it’s already on its way to becoming a classic.

As for fiction, readers will not want to miss Sunday when Italian wonder boy Paolo Giordano, author of the critically acclaimed The Solitude of Prime Numbers, will be talking about his long-awaited new novel The Human Body. Set in a Taliban-occupied part of Afghanistan, the book portrays the inner turmoil of several soldiers.

One of Israel’s greatest literary talents, Nir Baram (Good People), is also in deSingel on Sunday to engage in a discussion with Moroccan journalist Hassnae Bouazza about literature, equality and Gaza.

Mind the Book also includes the boekendokter (book doctor), who offers literary antidotes for whatever ails you. Not to mention the spectacular Spectra ensemble on Friday night, who, together with Zap Mama singer Angélique Willkie and composer Walter Hus, will accompany the artistry of American graphic novelist Chris Ware. His short story “Jordan Wellington Lint”, about a man whose life is riddled with wrong choices and lost opportunities, will be projected live.

28 February to 3 March

Mind the Book

deSingel, Desguinlei 25, Antwerp

www.mindthebook.be