Rutger Bregman takes over

The scourge of Davos, big thinker and star economist and author Rutger Bregman is the guest editor of this week’s special edition Big Issue magazine.

He’s brought together some of his most admired and inspirational writers and creatives who are showing that hope, courage and kindness can change the world in an issue packed with big ideas.

Rutger’s in conversation with one of his favourite filmmakers, Richard Curtis, the man behind Notting Hill, Love Actually and other dewy-eyed favourites. The pair discuss how it’s actually a radical act to assume the best in other people.

Celebrated political journalist Helen Lewis, who Rutger describes as “one of the most prominent feminists of our time”, writes about how progress often starts with people who are dismissed as difficult or even nasty.

Also inside:

• Pointless star Richard Osman is this week’s Letter To My Younger Self, looking back on his tumultuous family history, reaching his peak happiness once again and potting the most famous ball in snooker history in front of Steve Davis
• The brilliant Nesrine Malik shines her light on the historic Black Lives Matter protests. She helps us to make sense of this moment, when things seem worse than ever, but when we’re actually making progress
• Charlie Mackesy, author and illustrator of The Boy, The Fox, The Mole and The Horse, provided a bespoke illustration for the cover of the magazine. Like the horse says: “Sometimes all you hear about is the hate, but there is more kindness in this world than you can possibly imagine.”
• Claire Williams, from Vancouver, discusses her pioneering study to show that trusting rough sleepers and giving them free money actually works.
• We zoom in on the extraordinary work of Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit
• And in this week’s My Pitch, Newport’s Steven Cornthwaite is hopeful too, looking forward to a future where he continue to rebuild and reconnect the relationship with his mother after being kept apart by Covid-19

Plus much more!

The latest Big Issue magazine is available now, from vendors all over the UK. If you’re unable to reach your local vendor, you can still subscribe to receive the magazine directly to your door or purchase through the Big Issue app.