Join us in welcoming Vasilis kostakis, author of Beyond The Final Whistle on Friday 30th May at 3pm for a special book talk and performance. Vasilis is only in Leeds for a couple of days so we’re delighted he’s found time to stop off at Left Bank whilst he’s here and tell us more about his book. Not only will you be able to hear about the book and learn more from the author but you may also be in for a mid afternoon musical treat.

This event is PAYF with a suggested donation of £3 but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. There’ll also be a PAYF meal available in the Café on the day.

About The Book

Beyond the Final Whistle explores a new philosophy of football, showing how sport could lead to social change instead of propping up a hyper-consumerist and collapsing society.

With a light touch, Vasilis Kostakis tackles the meaning of the beautiful game, exploring how it is produced and played, from the dribbles of a young Zapatista, to the many goals of Messi. Speaking to activists, philosophers, comedians and footballers themselves, he imagines what football would look like in a new, post-capitalist world.

How does football affect global inequality and the climate crisis? How does it teach our children empathy? What makes the game so captivating to billions of people, and how can this passion be used for liberation? With humour and insight, Beyond the Final Whistle is a love letter to football and revolution.

About The Author

Vasilis Kostakis is a Professor of Technology Governance and Sustainability at TalTech's Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance in Estonia. He is also a Faculty Associate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. Vasilis is the founder of the P2P Lab and a founding member of both the Tzoumakers rural makerspace and the Commonen energy cooperative.

About The Reading Rooms

We get together every month to discuss a book from our Radical Reading Room – a library we’ve set up in collaboration with Pluto Press and The Left Book Club. It’s an informal group and everyone is welcome, so pop down and chat about some timely political topics. Our next meet up is Wednesday 28th May at 6.30pm.