How To Be Human: The Manual - Ruby Wax with a neuroscientist and a monk

About

Portsmouth Cathedral's annual theme for 2019 is Living Well and during the year we will be exploring wellbeing through a range of events and activities.

To kick off the year with a flourish, we are delighted to welcome actress, comedian and author Ruby Wax (and a neuroscientist and a monk), to speak about her latest book 'How To Be Human: The Manual'. Tickets to this event include a complimentary copy of the book!

Ruby explains in her own words:

"This book is about how to be human. Why we haven't figured this out by now, I do not know.

We need to find out before the future arrives - before it's too late - because very soon computers are going to put us into snow globes and give them to each other for Christmas. Before we replace any of our own parts to make us faster, sexier, longer lasting it would be good to know where's the part that defines us as being human.

I wrote this book with a little help from a monk, who explains how the mind works and a neuroscientist, who explains what makes us 'us' in the brain."

Joined on stage by Gelong Thubten (the monk) who tells us how the mind works and Ash Ranpura (the neuroscientist) who tells us what makes us 'us' in the brain, together they will answer every question you've ever had from evolution to addictions, negative thought-patterns, relationship troubles, sex, children and the future of our species. Sharing hilarious anecdotes from her own life, this promises to be an exceptional evening of insight, pathos and deeply-felt laughter.



Ruby Wax began her career at the Royal Shakespeare Company and is a successful comedian, TV writer and performer of over 25 years. Ruby additionally holds a Master's degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University, and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for her services to mental health. She is the author of books Sane New World and A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, and has toured all over the world with the accompanying one-woman shows. Both books have reached the number one spot on the Sunday Times bestsellers list. She is Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey, an Ambassador for the charities Mind, Time to Change and Sane and sits on the board of the Anna Freud Centre. In November 2017, she was announced as the president of the UK's leading relationship support charity Relate.