Cosy Up On This 100-Year-Old Dutch Barge And Learn Something New

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Cosy Up On This 100-Year-Old Dutch Barge And Learn Something New

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Funzing.

Forget airy lecture halls and clinical meeting spaces — everyone knows that the best place to learn something new is cosied up next to a wood-burning stove. And if there's one place in London that'll make for an extra intimate evening, it's London's very own floating book boat, Word on the Water.

Funzing have teamed up with the people behind this 100-year-old Dutch barge to bring their hit evening lecture series to the waters, and curious-minded Londoners like you are invited to climb aboard. There's thought-provoking talks from high-profile speakers to suit every taste, and it's a great alternative to after work drinks at the pub. You'll have to move quick if you want in on these exclusive fireside talks though — to keep things nice and intimate, only 20 tickets are available per session. Here are some of the best:

Life of UN War Crime Investigator, Thursday 30 Nov, 6.30pm-8.30pm: As a former army officer in armed conflicts and detective for British police, Jonathan Tait-Harris knows a thing or two about what it takes to survive threats in some of the world's most dangerous places. Join him as he recalls stories from his dramatic career, including when he came face to face with Saddam Hussein and Chemical Ali.

Tech and Future of Health, Monday 4 Dec, 6.30pm-8.30pm: From robot surgeons and digital doctors to curing cancer and ending ageing, the future of health has never looked brighter — though it might raise more questions than it solves. Hear from Guardian journalist Gemma Milne as she dives into the world of health, both the 'incredible' and the 'to be decided'.

Girl with a Gun, Friday 8 Dec, 6.30pm-8.39pm: Girl with a Gun is the gripping new memoir from Karen Attwood, recounting activist Diana Nammi's fight to change the world around her. Join Karen as she details the collaborative process of writing someone else's memoir with them, women's rights and many other fascinating topics.

Let's Talk about Vaginas, Friday 15 Dec, 6.30pm-8.30pm: There’s a penis museum in Iceland, but no vagina equivalent… why is that? Florence, science communicator is opening the world's first physical vagina museum. Join her as she recounts the highs and lows of her journey — but most importantly, why we need a vagina museum in the first place.

On the run from MI5, Thursday 11 Jan, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Annie Machon worked as an intelligence officer for MI5 for six years in the 1990s, before resigning to help her former partner and colleague David Shayler blow the whistle about a whole series of spy crimes. They fled the UK and went on the run across Europe. The next few years involved living in hiding in a remote French farmhouse, living in exile in Paris for two years, arrest, two court cases, and constant surveillance. Here, Machon tells her story.

Becoming an Anarchist, Friday 19 Jan, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Carne Ross' experiences at the Foreign Office culminated in his resignation, and realisation that the orthodox system of government was not solving the world's problems. Is he right when he says that anarchism is a better way for humans to organise their affairs? Join him in exploring his personal political crisis, and make your own mind up...

If you're looking to take a bit of knowledge home with you, each ticket comes with a £5 book voucher that you can spend on something from the book barge's collection. Don't be fooled by its size: this floating bookshop packs quite a punch. There's classics, cult, contemporary fiction, children's books, art and photography and even some quirky stuff you'd never think to look for.

Oh go on, treat yourself. This is an evening for learning something new, after all.

Last Updated 23 November 2017