The Human Library’s unique concept allows you to ‘lend’ people instead of books

Consisting of ‘books’ that are human, this movement is a step towards enabling people to meet those they would not usually meet, sans any prejudice

The best stories are usually the ones that aren’t really told, but what when people are published as open books? In the Dalai Lama’s words, “Love is the absence of judgment”. And what if you are presented with an opportunity to do just that–to listen, hold space, withhold judgment, emotionally connect and communicate that healing message of “you are not alone”? What if you have a safe space for dialogue, to be able to ask questions, or an opportunity to challenge the stereotypes?

A safe space

Building on this idea is the concept of a ‘Human Library’. Here, people loan human beings instead of books and these “breathing books” share their “experiences”–social exclusion or stigma–to better understand each other, or simply communicate to declutter their minds. The “book” of the day could be one that revolves around homosexuality, genocide, the loss of a child, polyamory, drug addiction, or any other situation that needs to be “faced” or dealt with. 

Each “breathing book” is available for one-on-one conversations with a “reader” who might want to learn more about their experiences. The “book” sets the boundaries for the conversation and can choose to not answer any questions they may not be comfortable with. This liberating concept of “Menneskebiblioteket”–or the human library as it is called in Danish–was created in Copenhagen by Ronni Abergel.

“The Human Library began as a standalone pop-up event at Roskilde Festival, the largest music festival in Denmark and among the Nordic countries, in 2000. It was created by my brother Dany, along with two of my former colleagues Asma, Christoffer Erichsen, and myself,” says Abergel.  

Starting as a four-day event, it was an experiment built on the not-for-profit model. “The event was a massive success as we had over one thousand readers. Its impact made me recognise the format’s potential and, subsequently, establish the Human Library Organisation to further promote and develop the concept,” shares Abergel. 

Currently, the Human Library Organisation is operational on six continents and across more than 80 countries, having worked with well-established brands including eBay, IMF, the World Bank, Eli Lilly, Delta Faucet, Masco and Google, helping them with their diversity and inclusion efforts.

The India chapter

The inclusion effort was launched in India and now has nine chapters across the country including Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore and Chennai. It was Andaleeb Qureshi–TedX speaker and co-founder of Human Library, Mumbai–who brought the Mumbai chapter alive. Having worked in the pharmaceutical sector for eight years, there was always a part of her that was trying to connect to her purpose or soul. 

What jolted Qureshi then was that someone could face verbal or physical abuse simply for belonging to a specific community, or publicly revealing their sexual orientation. Such discrimination can devastate a person’s mental and physical well-being, creating feelings of isolation and fear.

She then journeyed extensively–around the USA and Canada where she met people who had crossed over with just five dollars in their pockets and became millionaires. Intrigued by the power of playful human banter with strangers and the life lessons that came with it, she visited the Human Library in London. 

Upon returning to Mumbai, she recognised the importance of breaking the cycle of misinformation in order to promote a more accurate understanding of the issues at hand. She then got in touch with the founder of the Human Library Organisation in Denmark.

A challenging journey

However, there were a lot of translations that had to be made between Denmark and India. “There were challenges here in India vis-à-vis Denmark. The Danes usually feel empowered to change things in their lives, they rarely get caught in a trap. The people are far more content, informed and progressive,” says Qureshi. 

She felt that without these challenges, there would be no opportunity to evolve. “While people in Denmark are more accepting and open, I strongly felt there was much scope here in India.” And rightly so, as the Mumbai chapter went on to receive much acclaim.

“Breathing books”

Most people who participated in the Mumbai chapter had profound experiences. In the words of one of the “books” at the club. Retired Lieutenant Commander Pravin Tulpule, “One can feel the emotional changes, as the ‘reader’ shows empathy and not sympathy”. 

On being asked which has been Qureshi’s favorite “breathing” and “non-breathing books”, she gets nostalgic. “My favorite‘breathing books’ from Mumbai would be a divorcee who went on to establish a helpline for overall upliftment and regaining confidence which helped create a chain reaction, like a domino effect; a trans person who was hiding her gender identity from her in-laws; and a father who lost his son to suicide.” Meanwhile, her favorite “non-breathing book” would have to be all of Oscar Wilde’s notable works, especially the ones that dwell on human nature.

Qureshi’s work has greatly helped build connections and break barriers between people. More importantly, it has enabled people to develop empathy for each other, making them find echoes of another person in themselves. 

Experiences with travel

Another such initiative is the Human Library for Travel Stories by Manish Asnani which holds immense promise for travel enthusiasts. This Ahmedabad chapter brings together a diverse group of “human books”, providing a unique platform for people to learn about different cultures, customs and traditions from first-hand experiences. From backpackers to luxury travellers, and adventure seekers to those interested in culture, the “human books” at the library offer a range of perspectives on travel.                  

"I met a traveller who introduced me to the concept of the Human Library. I was so inspired by this idea that we decided to host our own version in Ahmedabad. We received 400 submissions for possible themes and shortlisted 100 people after considering them all,” says Asnani.

The Human Library for Travel Stories is a great way to broaden one's horizons, gain new insights and discover new destinations. With its focus on human connection and storytelling, this initiative has the potential to inspire and educate travellers of all ages and backgrounds. Asked to name his favorite travelogue, Asnani jokes, "I still get goosebumps: It's a 48-year-old’s story of supernatural terror while traveling through the Scottish Highlands.” But on a more serious note, he shares, "Reducing cultural biases could be why these books are so popular. The books could provide valuable insights on offbeat destinations, hidden gems and budget-friendly travel options."

Travel can be intimidating, especially for those who haven’t travelled before or are anxious about stepping out of their comfort zones. This platform can help people feel inspired and motivated to embark on their own travel journeys.

Asked about his future plans for the Human Library for Travel Stories, Ansani is prompt: "After such an amazing response to our first event, this summer we intend to have a bigger, better version."

Starting them young

The Living Library has found its place in school programmes around the world as well. It has largely become part of the Council of Europe's programme. In 2011, the European Youth Centre Budapest launched a pilot project, bringing the Living Library into schools across Hungary. Since its inception, the Living Library school project has continued and grown, and has now visited over 40 schools, reaching over 1,000 students.

In India, the Youth Centrality in Urban Spaces for U-20 and the Y-20 Youth Conclave was held from 12-14 March at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The session featured a young girl from a low-income household, a young refugee, a young person with a disability and a transmasculine youth, all coming together to share their unique perspectives.

A human library, then, is a powerful tool for promoting empathy, understanding, lifelong learning, community building, dialogue and celebrating our differences. By encouraging and spreading the idea of a human library, we can create a compassionate world where people are encouraged to step outside their bubbles and into the bubbles of others, and in the bargain get introduced to someone special–one’s own self.

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