A week ago today, we saw Naomi Klein speak at the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts. I should clarify that I heard more than I saw because my seat was located directly behind Mr. Big Head.

With a zoom and deft action when Mr. B.H. tilted to the left, I took this one.

In attendance along with Naomi Klein were family members. Her mother, Bonnie Sherr Klein, introduced her to the full house. (Tickets for this event sold out in two hours.) Her father, Michael Klein and her husband, Avi Lewis, attended also.

The parents of Ms. Klein live a hop, skip and another skip from my sister Jane in Roberts Creek. It was in their home that Naomi worked on parts of No Logo. Naomi Klein finished writing Shock Doctrine in a writers’ cabin in Half Moon Bay which is just a smidgen north of the town of Sechelt. That was in the fall of 2007 when a series of seven massive storms hit the the Pacific coast. You will remember one of these because it gobsmacked Stanley Park so thoroughly that scores of gigantic trees were blown to hell in a few hours. During that period the electricity was down on the Sunshine Coast for weeks in some places. At the cabin, Naomi — may I call her that? — had a portable generator going. She reported that she had to choose between powering her refrigerator or her laptop. She remarked that she did what all writers working to a deadline would do.

Naomi began her talk with an anecdotal presentation of her connectedness with the Sunshine Coast. It was a delightful, engaging, often humorous introduction to her heavier material. Incidentally, Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis live part-time on the Sunshine Coast.

She did not read from her books. She shared ideas and told stories.

As she related her personal experiences in places like wartime Iraq, the content of her presentation became less academic and more personal. When she speaks of world events she does so as a humanistic reporter who has been to the places she writes about, who has spoken to and lived with people in those places. She’s brave.

Her talk covered the themes of both No Logo and Shock Doctrine with reference to current events. She’s clear in stating that the bailouts are theft of public wealth.

As far as Obama is concerned, she says that the jury is still out. I have a feeling that she pulled her punches in speaking somewhat critically of Obama. (Or was that my projection? I’m critical of him — unquestionably.) In the Q&A, someone challenged Naomi about judging Obama too soon in his presidency. Naomi clarified that she saw Obama as always trying to find the centre. With a loud and crazy right wing in the USA, Obama needs a loud and crazy left wing making a big noise, which he does not have. She said that the left wing is being too polite in waiting to see what he will do. That might be good advice for Canadians too. Steve needs to hear more from those who disagree with his ways.

She noted that after Obama and his people successfully created the Obama brand that they then co-branded with Oprah — a clever move, illustrative of points from her books.

Youtube has a huge library of Naomi Klein talks. This talk was similar in many ways to the Youtube ones that I have viewed. In person though, Naomi’s sense of humour is revealed. Secondly, some points ring out more clearly when hearing a speaker in person. Naomi lays out one horrific fact after another, makes sense of them and still has a way of showing reason for hope — a high wire performance if ever there was one.

She looked tired by the end of the evening after a talk, a Q&A and a book-signing gig. I was one of the last people to get a book signed. She looked so tired in fact that I found myself unable to begin talking with her about any of the ten thousand ideas provoked by her talk. I had wanted to thank her for doing all that she does. As it was, I said “How are you?” as I shoved a piece of paper with the names of my cousin and her husband in front of her. I’d purchased a copy of Shock Doctrine for them. Naomi wrote the following inscription: “To P---- and W----, Be brave” and signed her name.

I left knowing that we spent the evening with a committed, sincere, brilliant, self-effacing individual. I believe that she goes on speaking tours less to sell books and more to share ideas and information that she believes is necessary to have in wide circulation. I’ve frequently reflected on that talk over the last week. Each time I am more convinced of the validity of my impressions of Naomi Klein. Thanks, Naomi Klein. Thanks a whole bunch.

TED, are you looking for a speaker with ideas worth spreading?