Check Out People Like They’re Books

A couple countries are trying out a new “living library” concept. At these events, various types of people — nurse, male nanny, vegan, police officer — are “books” available to check out for half-hour time periods. This might sound a little like some sort of dating event, but it’s actually more of an opportunity to learn about different types of people in an environment where stereotypes and other topics that might be off-limits in the real world can be openly discussed. “We work on the principle that extreme violence and aggression happens between people who don’t know each other,” said the Living Library’s founder, Ronni Abergel, “so the Living Library can bring together people who are otherwise unlikely to meet.” [The Times, U.K.]