Zoom!

Zoom is a remarkable little book. Although it is intended for children from the age of four, it appeals to me enormously as an adult. It opens a door to intercultural understanding. I discovered it recently at a conference on intercultural change management when a keynote speaker used it to illustrate his talk about change management in international organizations – I’m not quite sure what else he said, but I will never forget the pictures he showed from the book.

Zoom doesn’t contain any words and can be read from front to back or vice versa. It simply consists of a series of pictures that constantly challenge what the reader (or should I say viewer) perceives. It shakes you out the complacency that there is only one reality. I don’t want to go into details for fear of spoiling the experience for you. The author is Istvan Banyai and other books by him include Re-zoom which I would also highly recommend. Both are ideal gifts for children and adults alike.

The constant shifting of perspective is what fascinates me about trying to understand intercultural encounters. Have a look at it and judge for yourself.

Istvan Banyai, Zoom, Sauerländer, ISBN 978-3-7941-3900-2, €15.80.
Istvan Banyia, Re-Zoom, Picture Puffin Books, ISBN 978-0-14-055694-0, €5.99.