1 in 8 Billion · 1in8b.life

An evening of lives, together

Three to six people, a family or those close to you, sit down together in the evening, each live one person's life, take turns reading out the record it leaves at its end, and talk it over with three questions, in 60 to 90 minutes. Keep the same evening each week or month and the same order, and it becomes your household's own evening. Friends and book clubs can hold one too.

What you need

• A phone or computer for each person (two can share one)
• One person to open the evening, keep time and read the questions (it can go round)
• A table or living room where everyone can sit together
• This page (printed or on a screen)

How it goes (60–90 minutes)

1. Opening (5 min) Everyone sits down together at the table or in the living room. The person opening reads 'What we keep to' below, out loud.
2. One life each (30 min) On 1in8b.life, set 'Length of one life' to about 30 minutes, be born, and live to the end. Make your choices on your own, and don't look at each other's screens.
3. Reading the records (3–5 min each) Taking turns, read out from the record at the end where this life was born, the people in it, and its last year. Listeners don't cut in until it's done.
4. Three questions (20–40 min) Go around, one question at a time. Anyone who'd rather not speak just says 'pass'.
5. Closing (5 min) Each person says one sentence that stays with them from tonight, and a word of thanks to the person beside them.

Three questions

1. What was this life given that it didn't choose?
2. Which moment of this person's life will stay with you longest?
3. After hearing these lives, does anything in your own life look different?

What we keep to

• We don't lead anyone to a conclusion. There's no right answer and no better life.
• Nothing is sold. No one buys or recommends anything here.
• It's a life simulation made for ages 15 and up. If someone younger joins, open it in classroom mode.
• Heavy things like poverty, illness, war and early death can come at their real odds. Anyone can take a break or step out at any time. If you're struggling, a crisis line where you live can help; findahelpline.com lists them by country.
• What people share stays in the room.
• Whoever opens the gathering is responsible for it. 1 in 8 Billion doesn't run or collect gatherings, and takes no names or records from them.

Printed, this page fits on one sheet.