A Different Type of Award

Nobel, Pulitzer, National Book. But TED? What the hell is the TED? At least, that's what I was asking myself when I received an e-mail about it this morning. One website later, I'm addicted to the very ideas behind Technology, Entertainment, Design; a conference that brings people from these three arenas together to discuss thier thoughts.

The TED prize is also particularly unique. Three people are chosen each year. Each winner receives $100,000 and (to quote the website) "the granting of 'One Wish to Change the World.'" This is staggering to my mind. If I could get a ticket to anything this year, it would be to the ceremony in which this year's winners unveil their wishes.

Two of this years winners were people I had never heard of: Karen Armstrong and Neil Turok. The third winner is an author I greatly respect for both his literary work and his unique contributions to education. It's none other than Dave Eggers.

An interesting thing to note about all three winners is that each have published at least one book. In my love of literature as entertainment and enlightenment, I forget sometimes the very simple idea that literature is a way to share ideas.

In that spirit of sharing ideas, TED goes ways beyond the conferences. It has a blog and of course the prize, but it also has the wish-granting process. Take a look at the winners from the past to see what their wishes are. You can read about the plan for implementing the wish and even help grant it. If there's something I find more beautiful than literature, it's the sharing of ideas followed by real action.