The Other

About the Book

The Other (Ten Inny) is a collection of lectures by Ryszard Kapuściński, published in 2006, in which the reporter takes up one of the most important themes of his life: the encounter with the Other — a person of a different culture, race, religion or creed. It is a philosophical and moral summing-up of the experience of an author who spent most of his life among the peoples of the South and the East.

Kapuściński examines the history of Europe’s relations with the rest of the world — from the age of the great discoveries and colonialism, through the birth of anthropology, to the present day. He distinguishes three possible attitudes towards the Other: war, isolation behind a wall, or dialogue and understanding. He argues with full force for that third path — for an encounter based on curiosity, respect and empathy.

The book is at once a warning and an appeal. In a world marked by conflicts, prejudices and fear of the stranger, the author reminds us that the Other is a human being just like us, and that only dialogue can avert violence. The Other is the intellectual testament of Kapuściński the humanist and one of his most important statements on the condition of the contemporary, multicultural world.

Themes

• Otherness and understanding
• Stereotypes and prejudice
• Empathy as a foundation
• A shared humanity

Message

A call for understanding and tolerance in a divided world.