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Sarah Dunant: Protest, Paris, Terror

Sarah Dunant reflects on the links between protest, terrorism, climate change and Paris.

• 10 mins

Howard Jacobson: Second-Hand Books

Howard Jacobson reflects on his lifelong passion for buying second-hand books.

• 10 mins

Howard Jacobson: Christmas

Howard Jacobson recalls a mongrel mix of traditions in his family's Christmas festivities.

• 10 mins

Howard Jacobson: Sermons

Howard Jacobson would sooner see Radio 4's Thought for the Day more, not less, religious.

• 10 mins

Howard Jacobson: Wisdom

Howard Jacobson does not feel complimented when someone describes him as 'wise'.

• 10 mins

Peerless

Tom Shakespeare suggests ways to shrink and completely reform the House of Lords.

• 10 mins

Sing a New Song

Tom Shakespeare argues that the country needs a new national anthem.

• 10 mins

Face to Face

Tom Shakespeare is concerned by what the rise of cosmetic surgery says about society.

• 10 mins

Expert by Experience

Tom Shakespeare reflects that personal experience is the most powerful form of expertise.

• 10 mins

Star Wars Obsession

Writer Helen Macdonald confesses to an obsession with the recent Star Wars movie.

• 10 mins

Anti-Political Punditry

Adam Gopnik says the New Hampshire primary results are less revolutionary than they look.

• 10 mins

Vanilla Happiness

Adam Gopnik says the secret of happiness lies in unexpected pleasures.

• 10 mins

Moral Futures

Adam Gopnik thinks future generations will judge us as harshly as we judge our ancestors.

• 10 mins

The Love of Honours

Adam Gopnik reflects on our age-old love of honours and prizes in every walk of life.

• 10 mins

Human Hybrids

Adam Gopnik deplores the fashion for attacking so-called 'cultural expropriation'.

• 10 mins

Resolutions

Adam Gopnik struggles with his new year's resolutions to meditate and listen to good music

• 10 mins

Allergic to Food

Finding himself on a restricted diet, Will Self reflects on the rise of food allergies.

• 10 mins

Virtual Violence

Will Self thinks people are as violent as ever, counting the virtual and online worlds.

• 10 mins

The Meaning of Time

Will Self reflects on our sense of the meaning of time.

• 10 mins

When Is Enough Enough?

Sarah Dunant takes an historical look at avarice, in the light of the Panama Papers.

• 10 mins

Reading Renaissance Art

Sarah Dunant argues that our current obsession with celebrity utterly undermines art.

• 10 mins

The Power of the Pen

Sarah Dunant reflects on the demise of handwriting.

• 10 mins

Florence Under Water

Sarah Dunant reflects on the legacy of one of the worst floods in Florence's history.

• 10 mins

Spell-checking the Futr

Self-confessed digi-drunkard Will Self on predictive texting, spellchecking and algorithms

• 10 mins

Psy Wars

A reflection on a topical issue. Will Self ponders the role of the 'psy-professions'.

• 10 mins

I Gave It All Away

Will Self argues we should give children their inheritance when they're most in need of it

• 10 mins

The Ring of the Nibelung

Following the death of Sir Roger Scruton, a chance to listen again to one of his talks.

• 1 min

How Should We Build?

Roger Scruton says we should prioritise beauty when building in the countryside.

• 10 mins

A Petition Against Petitions

Roger Scruton says government by petition is out of step with representative democracy.

• 10 mins

The power of language

AL Kennedy reflects on how being able to communicate clearly is the work of a lifetime.

• 10 mins