After a successful first edition, the second edition of Book 2.0 further explores the evolution of books amidst a revolution in digital developments, the ever-relevant debate around sustainability of the publishing industry, and its critical role in fostering a well-informed society. This edition, held at the Museu do Oriente in Lisbon, spans three chapters each addressing these topics to explore innovative solutions for today’s challenges, inspire policies that are in line with up-to-date evidence, and ultimately ensure we effectively bridge the gap between the present and the future of books.

Technology’s etymology reveals that technology, at its core, is about crafting wisdom, a role that only books have played for centuries, embodying the timeless essence of knowledge and culture. Our story is now – in part – being written through a digital pen. A new landscape of publishing. New forms of interaction with books. Endless technological developments facilitating numerous formats in which we find words and more words. In an era where we are not only shaping technology, but being shaped by technology, we must ask: what does it mean to be human in a digital age? What should we preserve and where are we allowed to innovate? How is human creativity intertwined with artificial intelligence? How does a dynamic interplay between human intellect and technological advancements affect our cognitive abilities? How is social media serving as a platform that connects us as human beings? How are we altering the reading experience?

It is no secret that the planet is burning, and so are we. While words were once limited to scarce materials, we can now find them everywhere, but at what natural cost? The publishing industry is challenged to rethink its ecological footprint and embrace sustainability as the new way forward. How can we address this urgency and reduce the environmental impact of the publishing industry? Ever relevant to the question of resources is our moral obligation to strive towards equity, inclusiveness, and to facilitate the diversity of thought and being. Books have the unique ability to amplify diverse narratives, challenge prejudice, and promote inclusivity. How can we reimagine the role of books to enhance not only social inclusivity, but also that of our planet and its ecology? How can we, through the collective pen we hold, write a story about humanity, uniting billions of voices worldwide in the pursuit of societal progress? Is this the story we want to write about our democratic achievements as political beings?