The pairing of George Monbiot, investigative journalist, philosopher and environmentalist with former head of the CBI Adair Turner was an interesting choice for a literary debate.

In a meeting of formidable intellects, the two recent authors discussed the power of private corporations over governments. The success of the debate lay in the avoidance of the usual "God versus the Devil" adversarial approach which renders many a potentially-interesting exchange redundant.

Their common ground was concern for the impact of big business on the environment. But of the two men, it was Monbiot who spoke like a visionary - a man whose compassion for this planet and its people shone through. While Turner spoke of capitalism as the "least worst system", Monbiot's ideas on how we live strove for higher ideals. Turner's perspective was that of an environmentally-conscious economist but Monbiot is, at heart, a revolutionary, albeit one in reformist's clothes.

As Monbiot says, "nothing can stop an idea whose time has come".

Pavilion Theatre, New Road, Brighton, Monday
In association with Waterstone's