With the author of the book, Tonia Tsakiri, Michalis Samolis and Kostas Bakoyannis, former mayor of Athens |
Invisible People: Zoe’s Lessons from Astego Michalis Samolis (published by Papadopoulos), written by journalist Tonia Tsakiri and launched this week at Syntagma’s Public, plunges us into the harsh reality of Athens in the last decade. At one point, Michalis Samolis, left on the street, talks about solidarity and the strength of his compatriot standing up.
At the presentation ceremony (10/6), among others, the former mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, the central figure of the chronicle, Michalis Samolis himself, and the author spoke about the book. The discussion was moderated by journalist, translator and poet Krystalli Glyniadaki.
Mr. Bakoyiannis referred to his acquaintance with Michalis Samolis during his tenure as the mayor of Athens, which resulted in a friendship. Today, Mr. Samolis lives in an upgraded homeless shelter (KYADA-owned Multi-Dynamic Homeless Center) of the Municipality of Athens.
Michalis Samolis is the man next door who, one morning during a crisis, packs his whole life into a suitcase, finds himself on the street, but finds the strength to stand on his feet. The purpose of his current life is to help his colleagues overcome the difficulties they face.
Journalist Tonia Tsakiri invites the reader to experience the personal, fascinating stories of Michalis Samolis and learn from the life lessons he tells her.
Today, while Mr. Samolis is a vendor of the street magazine Schedia and a driver for Invisible Routes, his motto in life is “happiness lies not in the many, but in the few who are great.”
As noted in the informational material accompanying the release, “Mihalis Samolis He gave interviews on television channels in America, China and the BBC, appeared in performances at the National Theater and the Opera House, and nothing stopped him”…