Janne Teller
Former UN economist, now novelist and essayist; author of Come, Nothing and Odin's Island
“Everything begins only to end. The moment you were born you began to die. That's how it is with everything.”
Janne Teller is a celebrated novelist and essayist, having previously worked as a macroeconomist for the United Nations and the European Union. Despite being initially banned, her novel Nothing has won numerous awards in various languages. Teller’s work is often aimed at young adults, and belongs to the existentialist tradition. As well as dealing with contemporary philosophical issues, her work covers political themes from the challenges of refugees to the dangers of mass surveillance.
Her other novels include Odin's Island, a modern Nordic saga of politics, history and religion, Europa, All that you Lack which explores history in war and love, and Come, an existential novel about ethics in art and modern life.
Teller has received many literary awards including the Drassow’s Prize for literary works towards peace and human understanding and her work has been translated into over 25 languages. Before she began writing full-time, Janne studied macro economics and worked as a conflict advisor for the EU and UN, mostly in Africa.
“A beautifully poetic writer.” - The Telegraph
“Everything begins only to end. The moment you were born you began to die. That's how it is with everything.”
Janne Teller is a celebrated novelist and essayist, having previously worked as a macroeconomist for the United Nations and the European Union. Despite being initially banned, her novel Nothing has won numerous awards in various languages. Teller’s work is often aimed at young adults, and belongs to the existentialist tradition. As well as dealing with contemporary philosophical issues, her work covers political themes from the challenges of refugees to the dangers of mass surveillance.
Her other novels include Odin's Island, a modern Nordic saga of politics, history and religion, Europa, All that you Lack which explores history in war and love, and Come, an existential novel about ethics in art and modern life.
Teller has received many literary awards including the Drassow’s Prize for literary works towards peace and human understanding and her work has been translated into over 25 languages. Before she began writing full-time, Janne studied macro economics and worked as a conflict advisor for the EU and UN, mostly in Africa.
“A beautifully poetic writer.” - The Telegraph
Janne Teller In..
In the Beginning Was the Word
Is the world dependent on language?
Land, ownership and hypocrisy
How to deal with native land
Truth, Lies and Self-Deception
Can we see ourselves clearly if we want to?
Belief, value and superstition
Are we entering a new age of belief?
The Known, The Strange and the New
Why does the world remain puzzling and strange?
More Videos
Authenticity, Reality and Being
What is it to be real?
The Darkest Dictator: Orwell vs Huxley
Should we fear complacency as much as oppression?
The Dark and the Digital
Cyberbullying, Trolling & Free Speech
Overcoming death
Does fearing death prevent us from fully living?
The End of Aid
What kind of aid works?
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Morality in a globalised world
When myth becomes reality
The power of misinformation
Is it moral to trade with the devil?
Trading with the enemy
Work and play
Are we searching for joy in the wrong places?
Dostoevsky vs Nietzsche
The fundamental threat to humanity
After happily ever after
Do our lives tell a story?
Money, fame and value
Are today's artists monuments to status?
Belief, value and superstition
Are we entering a new age of belief?
Being ourselves and being with others
Has independence undermined community?
Popularity and prejudice
How do we measure artistic greatness?
Land, ownership and hypocrisy
How to deal with native land
The obscure, the banal, and the magical
Has poetry lost its vision?
Infinity in the palm of your hand
Can art uncover the essence of the world?
Diplomacy, deception, and disaster
Can diplomacy end the Ukraine war?
The Wealth Paradox
How do we create a prosperous society?
Brains, beauty, and bad judgment
Is discrimination ever acceptable?
The one true story
Is philosophy the disinterested pursuit of truth?