Der humanistische Buchclub #6: Stephen Fry: „Geschichte machen“ (1996)

The Humanist Book Club #6: Stephen Fry, *Making History* (1996)
The sixth session of our book club will take place on September 20 at 6:00 p.m. We invite anyone interested to join us in discussing Stephen Fry’s novel “Making History”—originally published as “Making History.” The plot centers on history student Michael Young and physicist Leo Zuckermann. Together, they develop a method to alter the past—with the goal of preventing the birth of Adolf Hitler. But the consequences of their intervention unfold differently than expected. Fry uses the thought experiment of time travel not only to create suspense and humor, but also to engage in a profound exploration of the questions of cause and effect, responsibility, and historical coincidence.
Can history be determined by individual people, or do historical developments arise from social conditions? Would a better world emerge if a dictator from the past were removed—or would it simply be a different one? And how far should a person go if given the opportunity to alter the course of history?
The novel combines scientific speculation with philosophical and moral questions. From a humanistic perspective, the question of human responsibility is particularly interesting: What role do individual decisions play, and how much influence do individuals actually have on the course of history?

Stephen Fry (b. 1957) is a British writer, actor, comedian, and journalist. He first gained fame through his work in television and radio before making a name for himself as the author of novels, essays, and popular nonfiction books. His works are characterized by wit and the ability to make complex topics accessible to a broad audience.
More info about the author (click)
Meeting place: DA! – Ackerstr. 23 / Backyard | 40233 Düsseldorf

You can find out which book we’ll be discussing on November 15 one month before each event on the homepage of our website!

__________

Our work needs supporters
Our work is volunteer-based and funded by membership dues and donations. 100% of donations go toward organizing new events and formats and help anchor our topics in the broader social and political discourse.
If you appreciate our work and want to help ensure we can continue it, you can support us:
Donation account: Düsseldorfer Aufklärungsdienst e. V.
IBAN: DE39 3005 0110 1007 8585 15 / BIC: DUSSDEDDXXX
Or simply donate here via PayPal