Exploring Global Literature

What prompted the speaker to start a global reading journey?

• A challenge from a book club

• A desire to learn new languages

• A recommendation from a friend

• A realization of a cultural blind spot in their reading

What was the speaker's initial perception of their reading habits?

• They included a wide range of translated works

• They were focused on non-fiction

• They were limited to British and North American authors

• They were diverse and inclusive

What was one of the main challenges the speaker faced in sourcing books from every country?

• Lack of interest from publishers

• High cost of international shipping

• Low percentage of translated works available in English

• Difficulty in understanding foreign languages

How did the speaker initially seek help for their project?

• By attending international book fairs

• By visiting libraries around the world

• By posting an appeal on their blog

• By contacting international publishers

What was the role of Rafidah in the speaker's project?

• She translated books into English

• She organized a book club

• She sent books from Malaysia and Singapore

• She provided financial support

How did the speaker obtain a book from Panama?

• Through a conversation with the Panama Canal on Twitter

• By visiting Panama

• By contacting a Panamanian publisher

• By purchasing it online

What was a unique method the speaker used to get a book from São Tomé and Príncipe?

• They had volunteers translate it from scratch

• They translated it themselves

• They contacted the author directly

• They found a translated version online

What did the speaker learn from their global reading experience?

• The challenges of learning new languages

• The superiority of British literature

• The diversity and complexity of global cultures

• The importance of reading only English literature

What does the speaker hope will happen if more people read globally?

• Books will become more expensive

• There will be more incentive to translate books

• Publishers will have less work

• There will be less need for translations

What does the speaker believe books have the power to do?

• Make people more isolated

• Connect people across various divides

• Increase political tensions

• Reduce the need for travel