A Conversation with Anand Giridharadas

Join Anand Giridharadas author of Winners Take All, in conversation with Belfer Center Executive Director Aditi Kumar on the perils of philanthropy and policy in the hands of the global elite.

[asadfami]

Anand is an international treasure. What an amazing intellectual. Speaks so much wisdom with such meticulous clarity.

[katesterling]

Lordy, he is like a breath of fresh air! As an activist of the 60's (civil rights, Vietnam war, student rights, etc.) I too wonder each day why our streets are not filled with people protecting our democracy, our institutions, our rule of law, our right to unimpeded voting. In Hong Kong, folks are putting life and limb on line, day after day, week after week, month after month to just get a democracy. All over the world, folks are doing the same. In Ukraine, folks are fighting/dying to keep their fledgling democracy. Lordy!!! I keep hearing, "Oh, people are just too tired of all this mess." Too tired!! Really! Our founders, our ancestors weep. Our democracy, with all its flaws, is our and our descendants' only chance to create and live a life of liberty, justice, equality. The goodness at the heart of it is why we should be driven to constantly improve its meaning, not to neglect or abandon it because it's too inconvenient and we are all just so weary of being a citizen. I will be gone in a few years. I worry and weep about what will be left behind. Why are we not in the streets!?! UGH

[mayfly]

Excellent takedown of Harvard and DT.. Anand is a gifted communicator..

[Crystal-ztsh]

Phenomenal! He dissects the issues so succinctly.

[thomasswords]

Giridharadas is my current favorite public intellectual. I love how these elite institutions, from Davos to Harvard, keep inviting him to speak, despite the fact that they are the source of the problems he's identifying.

[MultiKalwin]

That was on a new level. Thought provoking to say the least.

[same]

Damn, his thought process is clear and concise. So wonderful to listen to.

[chrisdecato]

I’m amazed he didn’t get a huge round of applause at 30 minutes!!! I’m literally jumping for joy at that point!!! Ffs people!!! Wake up!!!

[dbsk]

Too accurate. In my lifetime, i have witnessed basically every point he makes.

[chamberpaint]

Anand is one of the most brilliant thinkers around today. And a great writer. I watched 4 hours of him being interviewed night before last, and could’ve kept going had it not been 3am. Can hardly wait to read the new book. Great interview.

[jimbimedia]

"Harvard has become the world's premier drive through reputation laundromat."

[flapwheat]

Great discussion and I LOVE Anand's moxie, describing Harvard's corrupt donors AT Harvard! Much respect!

[SailingAquarius]

Aditi Kumar looks like a "dear in headlights" during the entire interview! This was an amazing discussion.

[xelakram]

This man speaks so much sense. A very interesting conversation. He's inspirational.I love what he says about Trump, entrepreneurship, and capitalism. Great talk!

[gking]

Loved it. He is so sharp, such a great communicator... " We have outsourced the job of changing the world to the people with the most to lose from real change."

[marceldrottboom]

If I listen to him, I must think of a saying attributed to the Swiss teacher and educational reformer Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827): "Charity is the drowning of justice in the dunghole of mercy".

[antennawilde]

I had a friend who went to Harvard, smart guy. We partied there, drank like fish, and were generally repulsive just like any other guys in any other college across the country. There were smart people, dumb people, and everyone between. The common thread, however, was that the vast majority of them were conceited snobs who had no interest or appreciation for the struggles of "ordinary" people, ie, the 99%. There's good people at Harvard, and those few who get in on their actual merits, but mostly it's a breeding ground for rich people's kids to meet other rich people's kids so they can take over the bullshit 'jobs' of the retiring rich parents. Same with Yale, look at George W.

[dancindoc]

I love Anand's clarity of thought and eloquence of presentation. A true national treasure!

[JasonGafar]

This man is just so esteemed in intellect. Yes, his thoughts are revolutionary, but on a personal level, I just find his brilliance to be so inspiring.

[riccardo]

What a spokesman of thought!!! Even if I don't understand everything he's talking about, he's very intelligent, yet down to earth at the same time. Keep talking Anand!!!!