Caleb Azumah Nelson on why anger is no longer a stranger to him, but a friend.
Published on Friday, 19th April 2024.
Sara Wheeler reflects on being a sibling to her brother who has a lifelong disability.
Published on Friday, 12th April 2024.
Zoe Strimpel on crossing the rubicon into motherhood.
Published on Friday, 5th April 2024.
AL Kennedy on taking on her workaholism.
Published on Friday, 29th March 2024.
John Gray accuses US liberals of displaying a 'reckless hubris' in the election campaign.
Published on Friday, 22nd March 2024.
Adam Gopnik warns of our tendency to normalise evil behaviour.
Published on Friday, 15th March 2024.
Will Self reflects on an 'epidemic' of envy.
Published on Friday, 8th March 2024.
Sarah Dunant on Alexei Navalny and the creation of a modern martyr.
Published on Friday, 1st March 2024.
Howard Jacobson on the liberation of laughter and a world turned upside down.
Published on Friday, 23rd February 2024.
Rebecca Stott reflects on what's to be gained by going 'down the rabbit hole'.
Published on Friday, 16th February 2024.
Tom Shakespeare ponders the demise of his handwriting.
Published on Friday, 9th February 2024.
Sara Wheeler ponders the value of ritual and its role in improving character and society.
Published on Friday, 2nd February 2024.
Stephen Smith asks what's to become of Britain's naval tradition.
Published on Friday, 26th January 2024.
The theft of her backpack gets AL Kennedy thinking about questions of identity and loss.
Published on Friday, 19th January 2024.
Mark Damazer on how we judge our political masters.
Published on Friday, 12th January 2024.
Zoe Strimpel on sugar's extraordinary power to bind generations.
Published on Friday, 5th January 2024.
Alex Massie on the changing face of a Scottish New Year.
Published on Friday, 29th December 2023.
Michael Morpurgo takes us on a frosty walk near his home in Devon.
Published on Friday, 22nd December 2023.
Will Self ponders the contemporary power of the sermon.
Published on Friday, 15th December 2023.
John Gray argues that pessimism can be a force for change.
Published on Friday, 8th December 2023.
Rebecca Stott reflects on the importance of nurturing the curiosity of children.
Published on Friday, 1st December 2023.
Adam Gopnik tells us why he's obsessed with steps... a lot of steps.
Published on Friday, 24th November 2023.
Sarah Dunant explores the elusive, individual nature of dreams.
Published on Friday, 17th November 2023.
Zoe Strimpel discusses her new-found fascination with infrastructure.
Published on Friday, 10th November 2023.
John Connell reflects on our changing relationship with rain.
Published on Friday, 3rd November 2023.
Sara Wheeler questions the moral high ground of the 'nature lover'.
Published on Friday, 27th October 2023.
Alex Massie on deer stalking and the bleak magnificence of the Scottish Highlands.
Published on Friday, 20th October 2023.
Will Self on his personal news blackout.
Published on Friday, 13th October 2023.
Sarah Dunant reflects on why she's no longer shunning Bach for Bowie.
Published on Friday, 6th October 2023.
Stephen Smith muses on HS2 and his grandfather's job on the railways.
Published on Friday, 29th September 2023.
Howard Jacobson on the 'horrid fascination' of celebrity.
Published on Friday, 22nd September 2023.
AL Kennedy reflects on the intoxicating nature of hate.
Published on Friday, 15th September 2023.
Zoe Strimpel ponders the current resurgence of ghost stories.
Published on Friday, 8th September 2023.
Will Self on the 'pernicious practice' of bucket lists.
Published on Friday, 1st September 2023.
Megan Nolan explores the trend of the 'trad wife'.
Published on Friday, 25th August 2023.
John Gray argues the case for monarchy.
Published on Friday, 18th August 2023.
Sara Wheeler reflects on the concept of limbo.
Published on Friday, 11th August 2023.
Sarah Dunant ponders how historic cities deal with unprecedented numbers of tourists.
Published on Friday, 4th August 2023.
Stephen Smith on our fascination with the belongings of the rich and famous.
Published on Friday, 28th July 2023.
As a seasoned protester, Trevor Phillips explores what’s wrong with protest today.
Published on Friday, 21st July 2023.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the truths our dogs can teach us.
Published on Friday, 14th July 2023.
Michael Morpurgo reflects on age as he approaches his 80th birthday.
Published on Friday, 7th July 2023.
AL Kennedy ponders how we deal with a never-ending cycle of bad news.
Published on Friday, 30th June 2023.
Will Self reflects on mirrors, narcissism and human imperfection.
Published on Friday, 23rd June 2023.
As Midsummer Day approaches, Rebecca Stott examines our complex relationship with colour.
Published on Friday, 16th June 2023.
Zoe Strimpel on the perils of treating youth as a commodity.
Published on Friday, 9th June 2023.
John Connell reveals how his love for his lawn gave way to letting the grass run wild.
Published on Friday, 2nd June 2023.
Howard Jacobson says an attack on Eric Gill's sculpture is a failure to understand art.
Published on Friday, 26th May 2023.
Tom Shakespeare bemoans the fashion for being asked to rate everything we buy or do.
Published on Friday, 19th May 2023.
Sarah Dunant explores how the UK can tackle its demographic timebomb.
Published on Tuesday, 16th May 2023.
Rebecca Stott ponders the nature of dust, as spring sunshine sharpens the sight of it.
Published on Friday, 12th May 2023.
Sara Wheeler ponders what the new Carolean age will bring forth.
Published on Friday, 5th May 2023.
Will Self on the fad of creating ever more 'cultural quarters' in our towns and cities.
Published on Friday, 21st April 2023.
Adam Gopnik says foreign TV shows helped him appreciate the universal language of satire.
Published on Friday, 14th April 2023.
Sara Wheeler says writing a biography has proved a reminder not to judge people.
Published on Friday, 7th April 2023.
Megan Nolan says she was an insecure teenager, and millennial adulthood is just as uneasy.
Published on Friday, 31st March 2023.
John Gray makes the case for proportional representation as a means to revive our politics
Published on Friday, 24th March 2023.
Howard Jacobson on why a flower has suddenly trumped exotic chocolates in his affections.
Published on Friday, 17th March 2023.
Zoe Strimpel explores what lies behind her new-found impulse to collect art.
Published on Friday, 10th March 2023.
AL Kennedy finds echoes of the disaster movies of the 70s in our current state of affairs.
Published on Friday, 3rd March 2023.
Trevor Phillips discusses the dangers to Britain of a new, repressive 'group-think'.
Published on Friday, 24th February 2023.
Sarah Dunant says the Renaissance master Donatello shows us a way to learn from the past.
Published on Friday, 17th February 2023.
Will Self on the pleasure of walking without purpose and the freedom of getting lost.
Published on Friday, 10th February 2023.
Adam Gopnik challenges the idea that artificial intelligence can match human creativity.
Published on Friday, 3rd February 2023.
Rebecca Stott asks if communal living could solve society's most pressing problems.
Published on Friday, 27th January 2023.
Zoe Strimpel on modern masculinity and the dangers posed by the rhetoric of Andrew Tate.
Published on Friday, 20th January 2023.
Megan Nolan ponders a bizarre alignment between her life and that of Prince Harry.
Published on Friday, 13th January 2023.
Tom Shakespeare goes in search of some light relief from the January blues.
Published on Friday, 6th January 2023.
Howard Jacobson celebrates the way animals rescue us from self-importance.
Published on Friday, 30th December 2022.
John Connell looks forward to becoming a father for the first time.
Published on Friday, 23rd December 2022.
Sara Wheeler reflects on the myriad wintry metaphors in the English language.
Published on Friday, 16th December 2022.
Zoe Strimpel on a new conservative form of feminism.
Published on Friday, 9th December 2022.
Will Self ponders the drawbacks of having a lofty stature.
Published on Friday, 2nd December 2022.
Adam Gopnik sets out to recalibrate our view of 'trusting the science'.
Published on Friday, 25th November 2022.
David Goodhart reveals the dirty little secret of current British politics.
Published on Friday, 18th November 2022.
Tom Shakespeare takes himself to task over his mounting piles of unfinished books.
Published on Friday, 11th November 2022.
AL Kennedy reflects on being a Brit these days in upstate New York.
Published on Friday, 4th November 2022.
Rebecca Stott reflects on our relationship with darkness, past and present.
Published on Friday, 28th October 2022.
Will Self reflects on fifteen years of life lessons... from his dog.
Published on Friday, 21st October 2022.
Sara Wheeler on the perils of entrenched positions.
Published on Friday, 14th October 2022.
Howard Jacobson takes on the proponents of the horse-and-sparrow theory of economics.
Published on Friday, 7th October 2022.
Bernardine Evaristo reflects on black 'authenticity'.
Published on Friday, 30th September 2022.
Zoe Strimpel on chess, concentration and the growing conflict with Russia.
Published on Friday, 23rd September 2022.
Michael Morpurgo reflects on the remarkable life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Published on Sunday, 18th September 2022.
Megan Nolan discusses the intense pressures on women writers to be attractive.
Published on Friday, 2nd September 2022.
Will Self reflects on the merits of failure.
Published on Friday, 26th August 2022.
Linda Colley argues that the age of empire is far from over.
Published on Friday, 19th August 2022.
John Connell reflects on the plight of vanishing salmon and what it means for our planet
Published on Friday, 12th August 2022.
Sara Wheeler navigates the tricky issue of voice appropriation.
Published on Friday, 5th August 2022.
Howard Jacobson reflects on summer festivals, conformity and a dancing cockatoo.
Published on Friday, 29th July 2022.
Tom Shakespeare grapples with a tricky personal decision over his carbon footprint.
Published on Friday, 22nd July 2022.
David Goodhart ponders the idea of 'smart luck'.
Published on Friday, 15th July 2022.
John Gray ponders the true meaning of Conservatism.
Published on Friday, 8th July 2022.
Zoe Strimpel on why we need more billionaires - the richer the better.
Published on Friday, 1st July 2022.
Sarah Dunant reflects on a historic moment in US history - the overturning of Roe v Wade.
Published on Friday, 24th June 2022.
Will Self on why we are in thrall to nostalgia.
Published on Friday, 17th June 2022.
Howard Jacobson reflects on birthdays, ageing and Macbeth's incorrigible optimism.
Published on Friday, 10th June 2022.
Observations on the Jubilee weekend by a bemused foreign visitor to London.
Published on Friday, 3rd June 2022.
Rebecca Stott imagines a day when Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities can be rebuilt.
Published on Friday, 27th May 2022.
Michael Morpurgo calls for a rethink on how we deal with refugees.
Published on Friday, 20th May 2022.
Bernardine Evaristo on news that Girl, Woman, Other may be banned in some US schools.
Published on Friday, 13th May 2022.
Sarah Dunant takes the temperature of sexual equality in politics.
Published on Friday, 6th May 2022.
Will Self proposes a very British solution to the legalisation of marijuana.
Published on Sunday, 1st May 2022.
Howard Jacobson on why stories of truth in war cannot be ignored.
Published on Friday, 22nd April 2022.
Zoe Strimpel asks the simple-yet-complex question, 'what is a woman?'
Published on Friday, 15th April 2022.
The everyday repression of life in Russia, as seen by an anonymous dissident playwright.
Published on Friday, 8th April 2022.
A L Kennedy reflects on a 1950s experiment in inducing despair.
Published on Friday, 1st April 2022.
Adam Gopnik seeks enlightenment for our time in Tolstoy's War and Peace.
Published on Friday, 25th March 2022.
Sarah Dunant on the power of images in war.
Published on Friday, 18th March 2022.
Rebecca Stott on conversations with her Russian friend.
Published on Friday, 11th March 2022.
Will Self argues that the threat of a nuclear apocalypse has never really gone away.
Published on Friday, 4th March 2022.
Sara Wheeler says that the attack on Ukraine is not the war of Russians she has known.
Published on Friday, 25th February 2022.
John Connell on planting trees on his family farm as reparation for years of flying.
Published on Friday, 18th February 2022.
Sara Wheeler reflects on the harm done by seeing only from our own point of view.
Published on Friday, 11th February 2022.
Will Self deplores the British attitude to children, mixing sentimentality with cruelty
Published on Friday, 4th February 2022.
As she leaves academia, Rebecca Stott says an audit culture is stifling universities.
Published on Friday, 28th January 2022.
Sarah Dunant asks if we should judge the past by the standards of the present - or future.
Published on Friday, 21st January 2022.
David Goodhart rejects what he calls the 'Eton conspiracy myth'.
Published on Friday, 14th January 2022.
Zoe Strimpel reflects on the impact of rapid home delivery on the way we live our lives.
Published on Friday, 7th January 2022.
Adam Gopnik on the quest for lost souls.
Published on Friday, 31st December 2021.
Howard Jacobson stares out to sea....and ponders the 'mysterious nexus of sea and Santa'.
Published on Friday, 24th December 2021.
Will Self on our fetishisation of property.
Published on Friday, 17th December 2021.
Sarah Dunant discusses living on a cusp of history.
Published on Friday, 10th December 2021.
Sara Wheeler reflects on why place names matter.
Published on Friday, 3rd December 2021.
Tom Shakespeare on University Challenge and a starter for ten.
Published on Friday, 26th November 2021.
AL Kennedy on why everything these days is... annoying.
Published on Friday, 19th November 2021.
Zoe Strimpel on the binary choice of motherhood.
Published on Friday, 12th November 2021.
Sarah Dunant reflects on political will and its relationship to changing behaviour.
Published on Friday, 5th November 2021.
Will Self on motor-mania.
Published on Friday, 29th October 2021.
Adam Gopnik poses the question: Do you have a right to make my life into your art?
Published on Friday, 22nd October 2021.
Sara Wheeler on why it's vital that research into neurodiversity is better understood.
Published on Friday, 15th October 2021.
David Goodhart ponders why we're reluctant to talk about integration.
Published on Friday, 8th October 2021.
Zia Haider Rahman on why he's introducing his 5-year-old godson to mathematics.
Published on Friday, 1st October 2021.
Rebecca Stott asks if it's time to admit that some faith groups are not safe for children.
Published on Friday, 24th September 2021.
Michael Morpurgo tells the story of one child refugee, heading our way.
Published on Friday, 17th September 2021.
John Gray reflects on doubt, faith and love... through the life of Arthur Balfour.
Published on Friday, 10th September 2021.
Sara Wheeler explores the emotional power of food.
Published on Friday, 3rd September 2021.
Zoe Strimpel argues that it's time to wean ourselves off TV as a coping mechanism.
Published on Friday, 27th August 2021.
Rebecca Stott reflects on the difficulty of communicating climate change.
Published on Friday, 20th August 2021.
Adam Gopnik presents an extended anecdote about art, television and memory.
Published on Friday, 13th August 2021.
Howard Jacobson reflects on present wrapping
Published on Friday, 6th August 2021.
John Connell walks in the footsteps of the Irish monk, St Brendan.
Published on Friday, 30th July 2021.
Bernardine Evaristo argues that online trolls are poisoning human interaction.
Published on Friday, 23rd July 2021.
Sara Wheeler on why she has little time for the current fad of wild swimming.
Published on Friday, 16th July 2021.
Tom Shakespeare on our relationship with red tape, past and present.
Published on Friday, 9th July 2021.
Niall Ferguson argues that predictions of a 'Roaring Twenties' may be misplaced.
Published on Friday, 2nd July 2021.
Zoe Strimpel argues that the culture war is not a storm in a teacup.
Published on Friday, 25th June 2021.
Howard Jacobson on Zionism and the disappointment of a dream.
Published on Friday, 18th June 2021.
Bernardine Evaristo on why the country's arts must be cherished.
Published on Friday, 11th June 2021.
Sara Wheeler rereads fifty years of diaries and ponders lessons learned.
Published on Friday, 4th June 2021.
Will Self muses on the joys of eavesdropping.
Published on Friday, 28th May 2021.
Rebecca Stott on why we need to rethink our love affair with concrete.
Published on Friday, 21st May 2021.
Adam Gopnik ponders New Yorkers' response to the passing of the pandemic there.
Published on Friday, 14th May 2021.
Zoe Strimpel questions some of the dominant gender narratives around the Me Too movement.
Published on Friday, 7th May 2021.
David Goodhart reflects on group identities in the aftermath of the Sewell report.
Published on Sunday, 2nd May 2021.
Howard Jacobson reflects on the 'incorrigible unseriousness' of our age.
Published on Friday, 23rd April 2021.
Michael Morpurgo on how a personal meeting shaped his views.
Published on Friday, 16th April 2021.
Rebecca Stott on memories of Angel Delight, Smash powder and an invaluable device....
Published on Friday, 9th April 2021.
Adam Gopnik reflects on why Tik-Tok will never be his thing.
Published on Friday, 2nd April 2021.
Sara Wheeler argues that the Mrs-Miss distinction has no place in contemporary Britain.
Published on Friday, 26th March 2021.
Sarah Dunant ponders what effect this year will have on future conversation.
Published on Friday, 12th March 2021.
John Connell reflects on how the pandemic is breaking the spell of cities.
Published on Friday, 5th March 2021.
Tom Shakespeare on pubs in peril.
Published on Friday, 26th February 2021.
Susie Orbach on finding the right words to help get us through the pandemic.
Published on Friday, 19th February 2021.
Will Self on why he longs for the day he can travel again on the London underground.
Published on Friday, 12th February 2021.
Zoe Strimpel tries to understand her sense of panic at news of Britain closing its borders
Published on Friday, 5th February 2021.
Sarah Dunant imagines how the storming of the US Capitol building might go down in history
Published on Friday, 29th January 2021.
Rebecca Stott on why stories told over time seem so fitting for lockdown.
Published on Friday, 22nd January 2021.
John Gray argues that social media bans on Donald Trump pose many risks.
Published on Friday, 15th January 2021.
Adam Gopnik attempts to make sense of events in Washington this week.
Published on Friday, 8th January 2021.
Adam Gopnik on the bitter-sweet joys of cycling round Central Park.
Published on Friday, 1st January 2021.
Bernardine Evaristo reflects on spirituality and syncretism.
Published on Friday, 25th December 2020.
Sara Wheeler on navigating unmapped territory.
Published on Friday, 18th December 2020.
Howard Jacobson reflects on hugging, past and present.
Published on Friday, 11th December 2020.
Will Self on why he's decided to "eat" buildings
Published on Friday, 4th December 2020.
Bernardine Evaristo reflects on body image and the fashion industry.
Published on Friday, 27th November 2020.
David Goodhart defends objective facts over personal experience.
Published on Friday, 20th November 2020.
Sara Wheeler on lockdown for her brother, severely learning disabled, and others like him
Published on Friday, 13th November 2020.
Howard Jacobson with his personal reaction to a monumental week in US politics.
Published on Friday, 6th November 2020.
Zoe Strimpel examines why we've become so passionately obsessed with dogs.
Published on Friday, 30th October 2020.
Will Self advocates a novel practice for our times.
Published on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the appearance of Jupiter in the skies over Manhattan.
Published on Friday, 16th October 2020.
Rebecca Stott on memories of Angel Delight, Smash powder and an invaluable device.
Published on Friday, 9th October 2020.
Bernardine Evaristo on why wearing a mask these days is the least we can do.
Published on Friday, 2nd October 2020.
Tom Shakespeare discusses our changing attitudes to risk.
Published on Friday, 25th September 2020.
Sarah Dunant on QAnon... and conversations with her hairdresser.
Published on Friday, 18th September 2020.
Zoe Strimpel discusses growing divides between our social groupings.
Published on Friday, 11th September 2020.
Michael Morpurgo questions whether we are educating our children or programming them.
Published on Friday, 4th September 2020.
Adam Gopnik on why, during the pandemic, there's a fine line between clever... and stupid.
Published on Friday, 28th August 2020.
John Gray discusses why he believes liberals are turning their backs on tolerance.
Published on Friday, 21st August 2020.
Will Self reflects on how the pandemic could affect our perception of human progress.
Published on Friday, 14th August 2020.
Bernardine Evaristo reflects on changing attitudes to gender.
Published on Friday, 7th August 2020.
Linda Colley on why being a small nation can be an advantage.
Published on Friday, 31st July 2020.
Rebecca Stott tells the story of 536 AD - the year the sun 'disappeared'.
Published on Friday, 24th July 2020.
Will Self discusses how the pandemic has affected our views of inheritance.
Published on Friday, 17th July 2020.
Adam Gopnik discusses how the pandemic is bringing out our most conventional behaviours.
Published on Friday, 10th July 2020.
Bernardine Evaristo discusses how we historicise the past
Published on Friday, 3rd July 2020.
Zia Haider Rahman reflects on the comment "If you don't like it here you can always leave"
Published on Friday, 26th June 2020.
Mary Beard asks: Has the iconic university lecture had its day?
Published on Friday, 19th June 2020.
David Goodhart examines our changing attitudes to authority.
Published on Friday, 12th June 2020.
Howard Jacobson takes a wry view of life under lockdown.
Published on Friday, 5th June 2020.
Rebecca Stott reflects on how it feels being out of kilter with time.
Published on Friday, 29th May 2020.
Will Self on the Great British Wipe-Up.
Published on Friday, 22nd May 2020.
Howard Jacobson on his mother's life - and death.
Published on Friday, 15th May 2020.
AL Kennedy on how we perceive risk.
Published on Friday, 8th May 2020.
Will Self ponders what lessons Aboriginal culture might have for the days of pandemic.
Published on Friday, 1st May 2020.
Zia Haider Rahman discusses the moral questions facing us in lifting the lockdown
Published on Friday, 24th April 2020.
Rebecca Stott reflects on unfinished projects.
Published on Friday, 17th April 2020.
Tom Shakespeare on becoming a grandad for the first time.
Published on Friday, 10th April 2020.
Adam Gopnik on life in lockdown in New York.
Published on Friday, 3rd April 2020.
Sarah Dunant on how imagination will be a vital tool to deal with social distancing.
Published on Friday, 27th March 2020.
Michael Morpurgo on hunkering down in his cottage... waiting for coronavirus to pass.
Published on Friday, 20th March 2020.
Adam Gopnik on his children leaving home and becoming an "empty nester".
Published on Friday, 13th March 2020.
Tom Shakespeare asks how best to confront difficult situations.
Published on Friday, 6th March 2020.
To recline - or not to recline - your seat on an aeroplane? Adam Gopnik on "recline-gate"
Published on Friday, 28th February 2020.
Sarah Dunant on the romance of writing history.
Published on Friday, 21st February 2020.
Sarah Dunant discusses the relationship between disease and the culture of history.
Published on Friday, 14th February 2020.
Will Self bemoans the ever-increasing difficulty of finding a bit of peace and quiet.
Published on Friday, 7th February 2020.
Howard Jacobson on why he’s taken to folding plastic bags.
Published on Friday, 31st January 2020.
Howard Jacobson discusses why we all need to be concerned about anti-Semitism.
Published on Friday, 24th January 2020.
Following the death of Sir Roger Scruton, a chance to listen again to one of his talks.
Published on Friday, 17th January 2020.
Will Self explores what he sees as a growing sense of collective hypocrisy.
Published on Friday, 10th January 2020.
Rebecca Stott on the joys of becoming a seal warden.
Published on Sunday, 5th January 2020.
Rebecca Stott on her fascination with taxidermy.
Published on Friday, 27th December 2019.
John Gray ponders why the belief that an end to history is imminent, never goes away.
Published on Friday, 20th December 2019.
Will Self on why - for the first time in his life - he didn't vote.
Published on Friday, 13th December 2019.
John Gray reflects on the lessons today of an unusual U.S. newspaper column
Published on Friday, 6th December 2019.
Following the death of Clive James - one of his first talks for "A Point of View".
Published on Friday, 29th November 2019.
Adam Gopnik argues that there's no need to panic about the much-discussed US sex recession
Published on Friday, 22nd November 2019.
Adam Gopnik ponders why so much of our communication these days is bereft of human warmth.
Published on Friday, 15th November 2019.
Sarah Dunant on the rediscovery of undervalued women of art.
Published on Friday, 8th November 2019.
David Goodhart argues it's time to look again at our tradition of residential universities
Published on Friday, 1st November 2019.
Sarah Dunant describes an evening talking with a group of strangers about death.
Published on Friday, 25th October 2019.
David Goodhart on the rise of new 'tribes' in British political life.
Published on Friday, 18th October 2019.
Margaret Heffernan argues that, in the world of technology, nothing is inevitable.
Published on Friday, 11th October 2019.
Michael Morpurgo on the damage being caused to increasing numbers of children by stress.
Published on Friday, 4th October 2019.
Michael Morpurgo reflects on growing old.
Published on Friday, 27th September 2019.
Tom Shakespeare on what it feels like to be stared at.
Published on Friday, 20th September 2019.
Tom Shakespeare on why changing your mind shouldn't be seen as a weakness.
Published on Friday, 13th September 2019.
Sarah Dunant on why this year's September malaise has a different feel to it.
Published on Friday, 6th September 2019.
Rebecca Stott discusses her fascination with abandoned or ruined cities.
Published on Friday, 30th August 2019.
Rebecca Stott argues that we need to rethink our relationship with nature.
Published on Friday, 23rd August 2019.
Will Self on why he has a problem with theory.
Published on Friday, 16th August 2019.
Will Self ponders our infantilism regarding our toilet habits.
Published on Friday, 9th August 2019.
Will Self bemoans the growing commoditisation of culture in the public sector.
Published on Friday, 2nd August 2019.
Sarah Dunant on why she's abandoned her beloved city of Florence.
Published on Friday, 26th July 2019.
John Gray asks if a no-deal Brexit is the only way out of current events.
Published on Friday, 19th July 2019.
Howard Jacobson sets out to take back sovereignty... over words.
Published on Friday, 12th July 2019.
Taking his lead from Duke Ellington, Amit Chaudhuri asks, what do we mean by 'my people'?
Published on Friday, 5th July 2019.
David Goodhart argues that earlier eras have much to teach us about group solidarity.
Published on Friday, 28th June 2019.
Linda Colley discusses the cult of charismatic leaders and why they never properly deliver
Published on Friday, 21st June 2019.
Monica Ali on the UK's use of immigration detention centres and indefinite detention.
Published on Friday, 14th June 2019.
Monica Ali explores the challenges faced by writers of colour.
Published on Friday, 7th June 2019.
Val McDermid on why public libraries must be kept open.
Published on Friday, 31st May 2019.
David Goodhart on why he believes democracy - far from being in crisis - is thriving.
Published on Friday, 24th May 2019.
Val McDermid ponders how we can fix homelessness.
Published on Friday, 10th May 2019.
Rebecca Stott imagines a conversation with Darwin about our environmental concerns
Published on Friday, 3rd May 2019.
Sarah Dunant proposes a National Anger Day – a catharsis to help us all be less… angry!
Published on Friday, 26th April 2019.
Joanna Robertson reflects from Paris on the days after the Notre Dame fire.
Published on Friday, 19th April 2019.
AL Kennedy reflects on why automation needs to be governed by human needs and strengths.
Published on Friday, 12th April 2019.
Rebecca Stott on her pet hate – being talked AT!
Published on Friday, 5th April 2019.
John Gray reflects on where British politics goes from here.
Published on Friday, 29th March 2019.
Sarah Dunant on the thorny relationship between culture and the money that supports it.
Published on Friday, 22nd March 2019.
Zia Haider Rahman on why Brexit has made him feel closer to Britain.
Published on Friday, 15th March 2019.
AL Kennedy on why we can’t afford to despair.
Published on Friday, 8th March 2019.
Tom Shakespeare on why we are in urgent need of a bit of plain speaking.
Published on Friday, 1st March 2019.
AL Kennedy on TV's tendency to focus on disappearing parts of our national life.
Published on Friday, 22nd February 2019.
AL Kennedy on how the British sense of humour is standing up to our political woes.
Published on Friday, 15th February 2019.
Will Self asks why our relationship with our bodies has become such a distant one.
Published on Friday, 8th February 2019.
Stella Tillyard argues that the sea - long forgotten - is beginning to reassert itself.
Published on Friday, 1st February 2019.
Val McDermid argues that referendums have had a devastating effect on our political system
Published on Friday, 25th January 2019.
Linda Colley asks if - eventually - Brexit could be the modernizing force the UK needs.
Published on Friday, 18th January 2019.
Stella Tillyard ponders whether we are freeing ourselves from the grip of 'things'.
Published on Friday, 11th January 2019.
Tom Shakespeare on the near impossible task of remembering online passwords.
Published on Sunday, 6th January 2019.
Howard Jacobson on the joys of city parks.
Published on Friday, 28th December 2018.
Howard Jacobson on the Cult of Self.
Published on Friday, 21st December 2018.
Will Self on why personal finance is an utterly alien concept.
Published on Friday, 14th December 2018.
Will Self ponders what we should say to our children about global warming.
Published on Friday, 7th December 2018.
Roger Scruton argues that political correctness is the ultimate source of our conflicts.
Published on Friday, 30th November 2018.
Stella Tillyard on why history no longer seems an adequate guide to our present.
Published on Friday, 23rd November 2018.
Stella Tillyard reflects on how we bury and remember our dead.
Howard Jacobson's very tricky dilemma... which of his possessions can he throw away?
Published on Friday, 16th November 2018.
Michael Morpurgo ponders our future connection with the First World War.
Published on Friday, 9th November 2018.
Howard Jacobson on the politics of clothes.
Published on Friday, 2nd November 2018.
Howard Jacobson on the end of mooching as a way of life.
Published on Friday, 19th October 2018.
Howard Jacobson reflects on maleness in the aftermath of the Brett Kavanaugh story.
Published on Friday, 12th October 2018.
Val McDermid on why mass tourism is destroying the very thing we crave when we travel.
Published on Friday, 5th October 2018.
Val McDermid on Sadiq Khan's plans to tackle knife crime.
Published on Friday, 28th September 2018.
Val McDermid argues that crime fiction is not really about murder at all.
Published on Friday, 21st September 2018.
Adam Gopnik examines the issues raised by the row between Serena Williams and an umpire.
Published on Friday, 14th September 2018.
Adam Gopnik on why the prefixes we use speak volumes.
Published on Friday, 7th September 2018.
Will Self tells the story of what happened to a friend in a psychiatric hospital.
Published on Friday, 31st August 2018.
Tom Shakespeare is downsizing. But what to do with his books?
Published on Friday, 24th August 2018.
Tom Shakespeare on why he rejects the idea of a bucket list.
Published on Friday, 17th August 2018.
Michael Morpurgo discusses the importance of never taking peace for granted.
Published on Friday, 10th August 2018.
Michael Morpurgo argues it's time to think again over Brexit.
Published on Friday, 3rd August 2018.
Michael Morpurgo on a new initiative to help refugee children.
Published on Friday, 27th July 2018.
John Gray argues that staying in the European Union will not protect liberal values.
Published on Friday, 20th July 2018.
Sarah Dunant on her uneasy conundrum over inheritance tax.
Published on Friday, 13th July 2018.
Adam Gopnik sets out to determine the difference between cliche and universal truth.
Published on Friday, 6th July 2018.
Will Self on why we should stop 'looking down on the inferior inhabitants of the past'.
Published on Friday, 29th June 2018.
Will Self on consciousness, humanity and artificial intelligence.
Published on Friday, 22nd June 2018.
Will Self on a new wave of anti-Semitism in Britain.
Published on Friday, 15th June 2018.
Sarah Dunant asks if robots can solve the crisis in care for the elderly.
Published on Friday, 8th June 2018.
Alistair Cooke's incredible first-hand account of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy.
Published on Friday, 1st June 2018.
Amit Chaudhuri reflects on why he believes modern movies lack "enchantment".
Published on Friday, 25th May 2018.
Sarah Dunant reflects on Ireland's upcoming abortion referendum.
Published on Friday, 18th May 2018.
Amit Chaudhuri on why restoration should not involve a fetishization of the new.
Published on Friday, 11th May 2018.
Stella Tillyard describes her struggle with dyslexia for the first time.
Published on Friday, 4th May 2018.
Tom Shakespeare asks why disabled sexuality is still so often taboo.
Published on Friday, 27th April 2018.
Stella Tillyard tells the story of a small Italian museum - the Museum of Deportation.
Published on Friday, 20th April 2018.
Tom Shakespeare on why we misuse the language of mental illness.
Published on Friday, 13th April 2018.
John Gray argues that the future of the west depends on the continuing success of China.
Published on Friday, 6th April 2018.
John Gray argues that the idea that empire has had its day is a delusion of our age.
Published on Friday, 30th March 2018.
Kamila Shamsie on the limitations of the publishing trend 'Up Lit'.
Published on Friday, 23rd March 2018.
Kamila Shamsie explores the meaning of the word 'civilisation'.
Published on Friday, 16th March 2018.
Tom Shakespeare tells us why he detests the phrase 'going forward'.
Published on Friday, 9th March 2018.
John Gray on why the work of Russian writer Teffi has become so relevant today.
Published on Friday, 2nd March 2018.
John Gray argues that throughout history intellectuals have often made the worst decisions
Published on Friday, 23rd February 2018.
AL Kennedy on how a thought experiment of the 1960s today risks being turned on its head.
Published on Friday, 16th February 2018.
AL Kennedy argues why it's empowering to reflect on our mortality.
Published on Friday, 9th February 2018.
AL Kennedy argues that our 'winner-takes-all' mentality is suffocating democracy.
Published on Friday, 2nd February 2018.
AL Kennedy on why Hollywood has never been a nice place.
Published on Friday, 26th January 2018.
Howard Jacobson on self-censoring and the language of appreciation.
Published on Friday, 19th January 2018.
Howard Jacobson ponders why misanthropy is out of fashion.
Published on Friday, 12th January 2018.
Howard Jacobson on why we need to preserve Bohemia.
Published on Sunday, 7th January 2018.
Howard Jacobson muses on the 'frozen wastes of Emojiland'.
Published on Friday, 29th December 2017.
Howard Jacobson on the art of the feuilleton and the joy of the ordinary.
Published on Friday, 22nd December 2017.
Zia Haider Rahman reflects on the demise of the literary novel.
Published on Friday, 15th December 2017.
Zia Haider Rahman argues that reason itself is under assault in this 'post-truth' world.
Published on Friday, 8th December 2017.
Zia Haider Rahman on the abysmal race record of some of Britain's foremost institutions.
Published on Friday, 1st December 2017.
Will Self reflects on the epidemic of sleeplessness.
Published on Friday, 24th November 2017.
Will Self on the drawbacks of perfect vision.
Published on Friday, 17th November 2017.
Will Self on his conversion to vegetarianism.
Published on Friday, 10th November 2017.
Will Self says we need creative solutions to end institutional misogyny and abuse.
Published on Friday, 3rd November 2017.
Will Self on why he loves space.
Published on Friday, 27th October 2017.
Mary Beard ponders why email is governed by so few rules and conventions.
Published on Friday, 20th October 2017.
Andrew Sullivan on the cultural Marxism he says is sweeping through US universities.
Published on Friday, 13th October 2017.
Andrew Sullivan says Donald Trump is teaching a generation to bully, slander and cheat.
Published on Friday, 6th October 2017.
Andrew Sullivan on how America has become 'a truly tribal society'.
Published on Friday, 29th September 2017.
Monica Ali on why she thinks the history of the British Empire must be taught in schools.
Published on Friday, 22nd September 2017.
Monica Ali reflects on the 'cult of authenticity'.
Published on Friday, 15th September 2017.
Monica Ali reflects on the recent surge in moped crime after her son was attacked.
Published on Friday, 8th September 2017.
Sir Roger Scruton argues that Europe needs to rediscover its Christian roots.
Published on Friday, 1st September 2017.
Roger Scruton asks: "What does the Tory Party really stand for?".
Published on Wednesday, 30th August 2017.
Roger Scruton looks at the impact of Harry Potter on our world view.
Published on Friday, 25th August 2017.
Adam Gopnik on why bringing up children is an art - not a science.
Published on Friday, 11th August 2017.
Adam Gopnik reflects on why musical theatre makes its makers miserable.
Published on Monday, 7th August 2017.
Adam Gopnik on how Donald Trump's presidency will affect our sense of what 'normal' is.
Published on Friday, 28th July 2017.
Adam Gopnik on why he turned to marijuana during his recent bout of shingles.
Published on Friday, 21st July 2017.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the first six months of Donald Trump's presidency.
Published on Friday, 14th July 2017.
Adam Gopnik goes in search of a white staircase in Capri.
Published on Friday, 7th July 2017.
Will Self reflects on what a truly gender-fluid society might look like.
Published on Friday, 30th June 2017.
Will Self's personal view of high-rise buildings following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Published on Friday, 23rd June 2017.
Howard Jacobson on the political ironies that are emerging following the election.
Published on Friday, 16th June 2017.
John Gray reflects on how the election has changed politics.
Published on Friday, 9th June 2017.
Howard Jacobson on why he must renounce George Eliot's greatest novel, Middlemarch.
Published on Friday, 2nd June 2017.
Howard Jacobson reflects on his home city's response to the Manchester attack.
Published on Friday, 26th May 2017.
Howard Jacobson on literary festivals and the violent nature of creativity.
Published on Friday, 19th May 2017.
Howard Jacobson speaks up in defence of the much-maligned metropolitan liberal elite.
Published on Friday, 12th May 2017.
Howard Jacobson argues that talk of the dangers of artificial intelligence is premature.
Published on Friday, 5th May 2017.
A L Kennedy commends paying attention to voices as a way to discern truth telling.
Published on Friday, 28th April 2017.
A.L. Kennedy reflects on the way our past shapes our present and our future.
Published on Friday, 21st April 2017.
AL Kennedy extols the virtues of reading and its power to encourage respect for others.
Published on Friday, 14th April 2017.
AL Kennedy says we should reject the media outlets that peddle only bad news.
Published on Friday, 7th April 2017.
Tom Shakespeare argues that dementia should be viewed as a disability.
Published on Friday, 31st March 2017.
Tom Shakespeare reflects on why the political populists are all master story tellers.
Published on Friday, 24th March 2017.
Tom Shakespeare on why we shouldn't wallow in the past.
Published on Friday, 17th March 2017.
Stella Tillyard looks at the phenomenon of the "idling brain".
Published on Friday, 10th March 2017.
John Gray asks how we come to terms with a world that is frighteningly unpredictable.
Published on Friday, 3rd March 2017.
John Gray discusses what has fuelled 'populism' today.
Published on Friday, 24th February 2017.
John Gray on how we can prepare ourselves for an 'unknowable future'.
Published on Friday, 17th February 2017.
Will Self on how the worlds of work and education have become seamlessly merged.
Published on Thursday, 16th February 2017.
John Gray examines what lies behind our desire to protect our "way of life".
Published on Friday, 10th February 2017.
Will Self on why we really should spend time worrying about why we are here.
Published on Friday, 3rd February 2017.
Will Self says it's time to end "teaching to the test".
Published on Friday, 27th January 2017.
Will Self on the role of public art projects like the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.
Published on Friday, 20th January 2017.
Will Self argues for the re-introduction of National Service.
Published on Friday, 13th January 2017.
Adam Gopnik explores the differences between patriotism and nationalism.
Published on Friday, 30th December 2016.
Howard Jacobson searches for his Word of the Year.
Published on Friday, 23rd December 2016.
Adam Gopnik on the controversy surrounding the Christmas song Baby It's Cold Outside.
Published on Friday, 16th December 2016.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the greater significance of designer holes in jeans!
Published on Friday, 9th December 2016.
Adam Gopnik reflects on Bob Dylan's predictable lack of gratitude towards his Nobel Prize.
Published on Friday, 2nd December 2016.
Adam Gopnik muses on liberals and liberalism.
Published on Friday, 25th November 2016.
Adam Gopnik asks how America can preserve a liberal, open society.
Roger Scruton assesses some of the reasons behind Donald Trump's victory.
Published on Friday, 18th November 2016.
Adam Gopnik reflects on why he believes a Trump victory would be a disaster for America.
Published on Friday, 4th November 2016.
Howard Jacobson argues that dissatisfaction with life is essential.
Published on Friday, 28th October 2016.
Howard Jacobson applauds the granting of an appeal by Shylock in a mock trial in Venice.
Published on Friday, 21st October 2016.
Howard Jacobson applauds Tom Stoppard's attack on the ignorance of the average audience.
Published on Friday, 14th October 2016.
Howard Jacobson deplores the fashion for 'whooping' as a mark of approval.
Published on Friday, 7th October 2016.
John Gray reflects on the controversial 'space spaces' policy in universities.
Published on Friday, 30th September 2016.
John Gray assesses what lies behind the Trump phenomenon.
Published on Friday, 23rd September 2016.
Wheelchair user, Tom Shakespeare, on what it feels like to be dependent on others.
Published on Friday, 16th September 2016.
John Gray muses on what his idea of heaven is - and why it shouldn't be a perfect world.
Published on Friday, 9th September 2016.
Tom Shakespeare reflects on how dogs can teach us a capacity for contentment.
Published on Friday, 26th August 2016.
Will Self reflects on the joys of genealogy.
Published on Friday, 19th August 2016.
Will Self explores what is wrong with contemporary art.
Published on Friday, 12th August 2016.
Will Self explains why he finds it hard to always act his age.
Published on Friday, 5th August 2016.
Tom Shakespeare gives a very personal view of prenatal screening.
Published on Friday, 29th July 2016.
The writer AL Kennedy reflects on Englishness.
Published on Friday, 22nd July 2016.
AL Kennedy ponders the importance of facts, in a world dominated by opinion.
Published on Friday, 15th July 2016.
The historian Mary Beard reflects on whether Brexit will change our cultural identity.
Peter Hennessy sees the UK's vote to leave the EU as a profound strategic shift.
Published on Thursday, 14th July 2016.
The philosopher Roger Scruton reflects on democracy after Brexit.
Published on Wednesday, 13th July 2016.
The philosopher John Gray argues that Britain should look to Brexit as a new beginning.
Published on Tuesday, 12th July 2016.
Onora O'Neill criticises the standard of public debate on both sides of the EU decision.
Published on Monday, 11th July 2016.
AL Kennedy reflects on how we can sustain each other through uncertainty.
Published on Friday, 8th July 2016.
John Gray argues that Brexit will have a greater impact on the EU than it will on the UK.
Published on Friday, 1st July 2016.
AL Kennedy reflects on how being able to communicate clearly is the work of a lifetime.
Published on Friday, 24th June 2016.
Roger Scruton says government by petition is out of step with representative democracy.
Published on Sunday, 19th June 2016.
Roger Scruton says we should prioritise beauty when building in the countryside.
Published on Friday, 10th June 2016.
Will Self argues we should give children their inheritance when they're most in need of it
Published on Friday, 27th May 2016.
A reflection on a topical issue. Will Self ponders the role of the 'psy-professions'.
Published on Friday, 20th May 2016.
Self-confessed digi-drunkard Will Self on predictive texting, spellchecking and algorithms
Published on Saturday, 14th May 2016.
Sarah Dunant reflects on the legacy of one of the worst floods in Florence's history.
Published on Friday, 6th May 2016.
Sarah Dunant reflects on the demise of handwriting.
Published on Friday, 29th April 2016.
Sarah Dunant argues that our current obsession with celebrity utterly undermines art.
Published on Friday, 22nd April 2016.
Sarah Dunant takes an historical look at avarice, in the light of the Panama Papers.
Published on Friday, 15th April 2016.
Will Self reflects on our sense of the meaning of time.
Published on Friday, 8th April 2016.
Will Self thinks people are as violent as ever, counting the virtual and online worlds.
Published on Friday, 1st April 2016.
Finding himself on a restricted diet, Will Self reflects on the rise of food allergies.
Published on Friday, 25th March 2016.
Adam Gopnik struggles with his new year's resolutions to meditate and listen to good music
Published on Friday, 18th March 2016.
Adam Gopnik deplores the fashion for attacking so-called 'cultural expropriation'.
Published on Friday, 11th March 2016.
Adam Gopnik thinks future generations will judge us as harshly as we judge our ancestors.
Published on Friday, 26th February 2016.
Adam Gopnik says the secret of happiness lies in unexpected pleasures.
Published on Friday, 19th February 2016.
Writer Helen Macdonald confesses to an obsession with the recent Star Wars movie.
Published on Friday, 5th February 2016.
Tom Shakespeare reflects that personal experience is the most powerful form of expertise.
Published on Friday, 29th January 2016.
Tom Shakespeare is concerned by what the rise of cosmetic surgery says about society.
Published on Friday, 22nd January 2016.
Tom Shakespeare argues that the country needs a new national anthem.
Published on Friday, 15th January 2016.
Tom Shakespeare suggests ways to shrink and completely reform the House of Lords.
Published on Friday, 8th January 2016.
Howard Jacobson does not feel complimented when someone describes him as 'wise'.
Published on Friday, 1st January 2016.
Howard Jacobson would sooner see Radio 4's Thought for the Day more, not less, religious.
Published on Sunday, 27th December 2015.
Howard Jacobson recalls a mongrel mix of traditions in his family's Christmas festivities.
Published on Friday, 18th December 2015.
Sarah Dunant reflects on the links between protest, terrorism, climate change and Paris.
Published on Friday, 4th December 2015.
Sarah Dunant welcomes Canada's plans to fully legalise marijuana.
Published on Friday, 27th November 2015.
Sarah Dunant sees a new crisis in the Catholic Church as a result of unchanged policy.
Published on Friday, 20th November 2015.
Roger Scruton deplores the tyranny of banal and ubiquitous pop music.
Published on Friday, 13th November 2015.
Roger Scruton argues for the freedom to make jokes that others may find offensive.
Published on Friday, 6th November 2015.
Roger Scruton argues that the law on freedom of speech ought to protect heretical views.
Published on Friday, 23rd October 2015.
Will Self reflects on our relationship with gardens and gardening.
Published on Friday, 16th October 2015.
Will Self says people cannot pretend that looks do not matter.
Published on Friday, 9th October 2015.
Will Self reflects on the significance of names, including his own.
Published on Monday, 5th October 2015.
Will Self sees a love of habit as a shield against the unexpected in life.
Published on Friday, 25th September 2015.
Will Self reflects on the various reasons for his inability to sleep soundly any more.
Published on Friday, 18th September 2015.
PJ O'Rourke sizes up the candidates aspiring to be President of the United States.
Published on Friday, 11th September 2015.
John Gray warns about the dangers of science that promises to enhance human abilities.
Published on Friday, 4th September 2015.
John Gray discusses why it's time to rethink today's narrow view of atheism.
Published on Friday, 28th August 2015.
John Gray frecalls the work of Eric Ambler and finds unsettling contemporary echoes.
Published on Friday, 21st August 2015.
John Gray sees the euro as a misconceived project with Greece's economy as a casualty.
Published on Friday, 14th August 2015.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the reason for our obsession with long-form television series.
Published on Friday, 7th August 2015.
A weekly reflection on a topical issue.
Published on Friday, 31st July 2015.
Peter Aspden reflects on the emotional power of the cultural influence of Greece.
Published on Friday, 24th July 2015.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the need to protect private communications in the internet age.
Published on Friday, 17th July 2015.
Adam Gopnik wonders why religious people are feeling 'persecuted' by same-sex marriage.
Published on Friday, 10th July 2015.
Adam Gopnik's ten-year family reunion brings into focus the passage of time.
Published on Friday, 3rd July 2015.
Adam Gopnik's casts light on the mysterious relationship between words and music.
Published on Friday, 26th June 2015.
Adam Gopnik concludes there are no indispensable people in any family or organisation.
Published on Friday, 19th June 2015.
AL Kennedy on the drive to make money out of education.
Published on Friday, 12th June 2015.
AL Kennedy reflects on how age changes our view of the past and the future.
Published on Friday, 5th June 2015.
AL Kennedy explores the merits of courtesy, but she points out that it can be complicated.
Published on Friday, 29th May 2015.
AL Kennedy says the election results in Scotland reflect a surge in political engagement.
Published on Friday, 22nd May 2015.
David Cannadine says Barack Obama is not the first American president to act like a king.
Published on Friday, 15th May 2015.
A American writer PJ O'Rourke gives his view of the UK election.
Published on Friday, 8th May 2015.
David Cannadine reflects on the merits of youth and age in political leaders.
Published on Friday, 1st May 2015.
David Cannadine compares the style of national commemorations in the US and in Britain.
Published on Friday, 24th April 2015.
Howard Jacobson explains why he prefers art to ideology, especially at election time.
Published on Friday, 17th April 2015.
Howard Jacobson explains why he dislikes the narcissism of the selfie.
Published on Friday, 10th April 2015.
Howard Jacobson thinks skimpy suits show men are suffering from a self-image crisis.
Published on Friday, 3rd April 2015.
Tom Shakespeare says that disabled people's right to independent living is under threat.
Published on Friday, 27th March 2015.
Tom Shakespeare thinks that reformed select committees have revitalised Parliament.
Published on Friday, 20th March 2015.
Tom Shakespeare says wisdom in middle age is some compensation for cognitive decline.
Published on Friday, 13th March 2015.
Will Self reflects on the unsettling nature of time.
Published on Friday, 6th March 2015.
Published on Friday, 27th February 2015.
Will Self reflects on the power of our relationship with fictional characters.
Published on Friday, 20th February 2015.
Will Self finds himself driven to reconsider the nature and purpose of satire.
Published on Friday, 13th February 2015.
Will Self reflects on the growing divide between people with and without children.
Published on Friday, 6th February 2015.
Will Self laments diminishing personal contact as a result of the rise of technology.
Published on Friday, 30th January 2015.
AL Kennedy reflects on the power of art to sustain the human spirit.
Published on Friday, 23rd January 2015.
AL Kennedy reflects on the importance of learning languages and listening to one another.
Published on Friday, 16th January 2015.
Adam Gopnick reflects on the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
Published on Friday, 9th January 2015.
AL Kennedy reflects on what it means to pursue happiness.
Published on Friday, 2nd January 2015.
David Cannadine reflects on the history of the Queen's Christmas message.
Published on Friday, 26th December 2014.
What constitutes real art, as opposed to kitsch or that based on fake emotions and cliche?
Published on Friday, 19th December 2014.
Why the fear of producing kitsch art has led to a new kind of pre-emptive kitsch.
Published on Friday, 12th December 2014.
Roger Scruton muses on the difference between genuine art and that based on fake emotion.
Published on Friday, 5th December 2014.
John Gray argues that 'thinking the unthinkable' means exaggerating fashionable beliefs.
Published on Friday, 28th November 2014.
John Gray points to lessons from the novels of Dostoevsky about the danger of ideas.
Published on Friday, 21st November 2014.
John Gray explores why human beings crave busy lives.
Published on Friday, 14th November 2014.
John Gray reflects on why the advance of capitalism is not inevitable.
Published on Friday, 7th November 2014.
Adam Gopnik identifies four different types of anxiety that afflict modern people.
Published on Friday, 31st October 2014.
Adam Gopnik draws a lesson on the nature of love from the eyesore of love locks in Paris.
Published on Friday, 24th October 2014.
Adam Gopnik explains why the English are better at watching football than at playing it.
Published on Friday, 17th October 2014.
Adam Gopnick thinks we fail all too often to let people die with dignity.
Published on Friday, 10th October 2014.
Adam Gopnik thinks there is a simple reason why short men enjoy stable marriages.
Published on Friday, 3rd October 2014.
Lisa Jardine reflects on the history of timepieces and the power of clocks and watches.
Published on Friday, 26th September 2014.
Red may be now fashionable, but in the past it was powerful, reflects Lisa Jardine.
Published on Friday, 19th September 2014.
Lisa Jardine says commemorating a war should not mean losing sight of its horror.
Published on Friday, 12th September 2014.
Lisa Jardine on how fiction can be more useful than fact in helping us understand the past
Published on Friday, 5th September 2014.
Will Self takes on one of the nation's best-loved figures, George Orwell.
Published on Friday, 29th August 2014.
Will Self reflects on comedy, asking what really makes us laugh.
Published on Friday, 22nd August 2014.
Will Self reflects on the power of modern-day consumption and the effect it has on us.
Published on Friday, 15th August 2014.
Will Self offers a weekly reflection on a topical issue.
Published on Friday, 8th August 2014.
Will Self reflects on what the changing nature of utopias says about us.
Published on Friday, 1st August 2014.
Will Self reflects on what really lies behind our sense of patriotism.
Published on Friday, 25th July 2014.
John Gray argues that the belief in human reason is more 'childish' than religious faith.
Published on Friday, 18th July 2014.
John Gray argues that the Sunni extremist group Isis is revolutionary, not reactionary.
Published on Friday, 11th July 2014.
AL Kennedy explores the downsides of personal and national introspection.
Published on Friday, 4th July 2014.
AL Kennedy asks if it is time for us to rethink our devotion to computers.
Published on Friday, 27th June 2014.
AL Kennedy argues for a world with less gossip.
Published on Friday, 20th June 2014.
As libraries close, AL Kennedy argues that we must reassess the importance of books.
Published on Friday, 13th June 2014.
Tom Shakespeare asks if England should consider returning to an earlier order.
Published on Friday, 6th June 2014.
Tom Shakespeare argues that we have nothing to fear from disability.
Published on Friday, 30th May 2014.
Tom Shakespeare argues that we should be religious but not spiritual.
Published on Friday, 23rd May 2014.
Mary Beard reflects on exam season - past and present.
Published on Friday, 16th May 2014.
Mary Beard argues that our view of dementia is a sanitized one which needs to be rethought
Published on Friday, 9th May 2014.
Mary Beard reflects on the new face of archaeology, of the virtual kind.
Published on Friday, 2nd May 2014.
Mary Beard looks forward to the 60th anniversary of the first 'four-minute mile'.
Published on Friday, 25th April 2014.
William Dalrymple celebrates the writing of Peter Matthiessen, who died this month.
Published on Friday, 18th April 2014.
William Dalrymple reflects on the current pivotal elections in India and Afghanistan.
Published on Friday, 11th April 2014.
For Lent, William Dalrymple compares Eastern and Western views of self-discipline.
Published on Friday, 4th April 2014.
Sarah Dunant reflects on fame and the cult of celebrity, following 20 Feet From Stardom.
Published on Friday, 28th March 2014.
Sarah Dunant compares our reaction today to climate change with historic responses.
Published on Friday, 21st March 2014.
Sarah Dunant reflects on our changed perceptions of the sexual attitudes of the 1970s.
Published on Friday, 14th March 2014.
Roger Scruton believes the way to improve schools is through middle-class volunteers.
Published on Friday, 7th March 2014.
Professor Roger Scruton warns against favouring pets at the expense of wild animals.
Published on Friday, 28th February 2014.
Roger Scruton argues for a vote for the English in the debate over Scottish independence.
Published on Friday, 21st February 2014.
Adam Gopnik explains why he thinks the pictures on our banknotes matter.
Published on Friday, 14th February 2014.
Adam Gopnik explains his indifference to Twitter and social media.
Published on Friday, 7th February 2014.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the nature of sportsmanship ahead of the American Super Bowl.
Published on Friday, 31st January 2014.
Adam Gopnik hails the development of the self-drive car as the way to rescue his manhood.
Published on Friday, 24th January 2014.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the attitude of the French to the sex lives of their statesmen.
Published on Friday, 17th January 2014.
John Gray reflects on the things we know but prefer not to think about.
Published on Friday, 10th January 2014.
John Gray reflects on the damage that can be caused by evangelical belief.
Published on Friday, 3rd January 2014.
John Gray gives only two cheers for human rights.
Published on Friday, 27th December 2013.
William Dalrymple reflects on the co-habitation of Islam and Christianity.
Published on Friday, 20th December 2013.
John Gray gives his own theory for the cultural longevity of Charles Dickens.
Published on Friday, 13th December 2013.
Will Self reflects that our modern secular society has silenced the voices of the dead.
Published on Friday, 6th December 2013.
Will Self warns against politicians' policies which turn out to be Trojan horses.
Published on Friday, 29th November 2013.
Will Self gives a personal view of the new One World Trade Center in New York.
Published on Friday, 22nd November 2013.
Will Self argues for greater British cultural self-confidence in the debate over the veil.
Published on Friday, 15th November 2013.
Will Self reflects on America's view of the assassination of JF Kennedy, 50 years on.
Published on Friday, 8th November 2013.
Will Self reflects on the malign influence of the older generation on the young.
Published on Friday, 1st November 2013.
Lisa Jardine reflects on IVF as she stands down from the body which regulates it.
Published on Friday, 25th October 2013.
Lisa Jardine compares the computer science legacies of Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace.
Published on Friday, 18th October 2013.
Lisa Jardine reflects on the internationalism that underpins the progress of science.
Published on Friday, 11th October 2013.
Lisa Jardine draws lessons from the career of Leo Szilard, who worked on the atom bomb.
Published on Friday, 4th October 2013.
Stephen King says, 'Love creates horror.' AL Kennedy agrees.
Published on Friday, 27th September 2013.
AL Kennedy reflects on our tendency to behave badly when we think no-one is looking.
Published on Friday, 20th September 2013.
AL Kennedy reflects on the stuggle to establish truth in an age of lies.
Published on Friday, 13th September 2013.
AL Kennedy doesn't like change. But she thinks she should change her atittude.
Published on Friday, 6th September 2013.
Roger Scruton concludes his series of talks on the nature and limits of democracy.
Published on Friday, 30th August 2013.
Roger Scruton continues his series of talks on the nature and limits of democracy.
Published on Friday, 23rd August 2013.
Published on Friday, 16th August 2013.
Roger Scruton argues that democracy alone is not enough for political freedom.
Published on Friday, 9th August 2013.
Sarah Dunant on why Machiavelli wrote his seminal work 'The Prince' one summer in Tuscany.
Published on Friday, 2nd August 2013.
Sarah Dunant suggests what Pope Francis should tell his Twitter followers.
Published on Friday, 26th July 2013.
Sarah Dunant reflects on the power of a cartoon showing Bert and Ernie as a gay couple.
Published on Friday, 19th July 2013.
A week after Wimbledon, amid the Ashes, Sarah Dunant reflects on sport's cathartic power.
Published on Friday, 12th July 2013.
Sarah Dunant reflects on feminism and the ousting of Australia's prime minister.
Published on Friday, 5th July 2013.
Tom Shakespeare presents the last of his four essays. Isn't it time to democratize art?
Published on Friday, 28th June 2013.
Shouldn't we in Britain have better festivals? Shouldn't we celebrate Midsummer?
Published on Friday, 21st June 2013.
Tom Shakespeare on 'model animals' and the success of the reductionism scientific strategy
Published on Friday, 14th June 2013.
Tom Shakespeare asks if compassion can be taught, in the first of his four essays.
Published on Friday, 7th June 2013.
John Gray finds new resonance for our own age in the story of 'The Great Gatsby'.
Published on Friday, 31st May 2013.
John Gray argues for another way of seeing the world, inspired by writer Arthur Machen.
Published on Friday, 24th May 2013.
John Gray turns to the writer Patricia Highsmith for a perspective on the meaning of evil.
Published on Friday, 17th May 2013.
John Gray draws on the novels of Mervyn Peake to expose the myth of modernity.
Published on Friday, 10th May 2013.
John Gray draws on Walter de la Mare to argue against the creed of scientific materialism.
Published on Friday, 3rd May 2013.
John Gray wonders what the rise of the cyber currency Bitcoin tells us about ourselves.
Published on Friday, 26th April 2013.
Adam Gopnik reflects on the terrible day when children leave home.
Published on Friday, 19th April 2013.
Adam Gopnik on the difference between magic and science.
Published on Friday, 12th April 2013.
Topical issues. Every nation has a core irrationality, or so says Adam Gopnik.
Published on Friday, 5th April 2013.
Adam Gopnik presents his formula for a happy marriage - lust, laughter and loyalty.
Published on Friday, 29th March 2013.
Adam Gopnik reflects on why we overrate masters and underrate mastery.
Published on Friday, 22nd March 2013.
Lisa Jardine reflects on comets and the lessons to be learned from early astronomers.
Published on Friday, 15th March 2013.
Lisa Jardine celebrates the achievements of wartime mathematician Dame Mary Cartwright.
Published on Friday, 8th March 2013.
Lisa Jardine celebrates the influence of art connoisseur Sir Denis Mahon.
Published on Friday, 1st March 2013.
Lisa Jardine celebrates Elizabeth of Bohemia, who deserves a larger place in history.
Published on Friday, 22nd February 2013.
David Cannadine defends Birmingham against a slur in Jane Austen's Emma.
Published on Friday, 15th February 2013.
David Cannadine celebrates the saving of New York's century-old Grand Central station.
Published on Friday, 8th February 2013.
David Cannadine reflects on the enduring appeal of the teddy bear in contemporary culture.
Published on Friday, 1st February 2013.
David Cannadine reflects on the history of American presidential inaugurations.
Published on Friday, 25th January 2013.
Will Self laments what he sees as an absence of rational urban planning in our big cities.
Published on Friday, 18th January 2013.
Will Self wants to 'nudge society in the direction of considering suicide acceptable'.
Published on Friday, 11th January 2013.
Will Self reflects on the confused love-hate relationship between Britain and the US.
Published on Sunday, 6th January 2013.
With the excesses of Christmas behind us, Will Self appeals for a major lifestyle change.
Published on Friday, 28th December 2012.
Will Self warns against the false prophets of the new priesthood of economics.
Published on Friday, 21st December 2012.
Will Self reflects on the effect of digital technology on his perception of time.
Published on Friday, 14th December 2012.
Onora O'Neill reflects anew on the theme of trust, the subject of her Reith lectures.
Published on Friday, 7th December 2012.
Mary Beard reflects on why 'customer satisfaction' surveys have no place in universities.
Published on Friday, 30th November 2012.
Mary Beard ponders the rights and wrongs of archaeological restoration.
Published on Friday, 23rd November 2012.
Mary Beard reflects on the arbitrary nature of some laws, including the age of consent.
Published on Friday, 16th November 2012.
Mary Beard on the long history of the rich looking down their noses at the poor.
Published on Friday, 9th November 2012.
How can the undemocratic Chinese state enjoy authority in the eyes of its population?
Published on Friday, 2nd November 2012.
In his third talk on understanding China, Martin Jacques explores the nature of race.
Published on Friday, 26th October 2012.
In his second talk on understanding China, Martin Jacques examines the tributary system.
Published on Friday, 19th October 2012.
Martin Jacques presents a personal view on how best to understand contemporary China.
Published on Friday, 12th October 2012.
Sarah Dunant reflects on the role of history in society, and how it changes over time.
Published on Friday, 5th October 2012.
Sarah Dunant takes a look at teeth through the ages, and dentistry in times of austerity.
Published on Friday, 28th September 2012.
Sarah Dunant reflects on the growing importance of charity shops in times of austerity.
Published on Friday, 21st September 2012.
Sarah Dunant explores the merit of literary prizes as the Man Booker shortlist is revealed
Published on Friday, 14th September 2012.
Sarah Dunant looks at attitudes to sexual behaviour from a historical perspective.
Published on Friday, 7th September 2012.
John Gray explores the role of memory in giving meaning to our lives.
Published on Friday, 31st August 2012.
John Gray looks at the relationship between freedom and democracy.
Published on Friday, 24th August 2012.
John Gray reflects on the enduring appeal of Sherlock Holmes' powers of deduction.
Published on Friday, 17th August 2012.
John Gray reflects on the climate needed for culture to thrive.
Published on Friday, 10th August 2012.
Philosopher John Gray wonders what bulk buying of stamps tells us about economic gloom.
Published on Friday, 3rd August 2012.
John Gray reflects on the paradox of immortality as captured by the writer Theodore Powys.
Published on Friday, 27th July 2012.
John Gray takes a fresh look at the thinking of John Maynard Keynes.
Published on Friday, 20th July 2012.
John Gray reflects on the nature of violence as an inevitable part of the human condition.
Published on Friday, 13th July 2012.
Adam Gopnik muses on life when - like him - you've been lumbered with a funny name.
Published on Friday, 6th July 2012.
Adam Gopnik reflects on our continuing obsession with the Nazis.
Published on Friday, 29th June 2012.
Adam Gopnik ruminates on how to handle a bad review.
Published on Friday, 22nd June 2012.
Adam Gopnik celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles.
Published on Friday, 15th June 2012.
Adam Gopnik reflects on embarrassing, ridiculous and annoying parents - like himself!
Adam Gopnik muses on why Shakespeare didn't seem to know that the top bee is a girl bee.
Published on Friday, 1st June 2012.
A week before the jubilee, Will Self reflects on the tradition of the Loyal Toast.
Published on Friday, 25th May 2012.
Will Self ponders the future of Europe, as he stands by Berlin's Brandenburg gate.
Published on Friday, 18th May 2012.
Will Self asks what can drive political leaders into the arms of the military.
Published on Friday, 11th May 2012.
Will Self explores Lords reform and the narrowing of the range of British political choice
Published on Friday, 4th May 2012.
Will Self asks whether 'human rights' really exist, when they can so easily be taken away.
Published on Friday, 27th April 2012.
Will Self says we should embrace the intellectual challenge of difficult books and art.
Published on Friday, 20th April 2012.
David Cannadine reflects on the history of royal jubilee celebrations.
Published on Friday, 13th April 2012.
David Cannadine reflects at Easter time on the architectural glories of cathedrals.
Published on Friday, 6th April 2012.
David Cannadine reflects on the changing images of the typical policeman's size and shape.
Published on Friday, 30th March 2012.
David Cannadine recalls the heyday of cinema and television Westerns.
Published on Friday, 23rd March 2012.
Historian David Cannadine reflects on the power of the press, past and present.
Published on Friday, 16th March 2012.
Prof David Cannadine reflects on the enduring resonance of Churchill's speeches in America
Published on Friday, 9th March 2012.
David Cannadine compares the traditions of tie-wearing on both sides of the Atlantic.
Published on Friday, 2nd March 2012.
David Cannadine on the history of monetary unions and what causes success or failure.
Published on Friday, 24th February 2012.
Historian David Cannadine reflects on attitudes towards bankers in America.
Published on Friday, 17th February 2012.
David Cannadine surveys the current crop of anniversaries.
Published on Friday, 10th February 2012.
Lisa Jardine reflects on the perils of over-hasty emails.
Published on Friday, 3rd February 2012.
The historian Lisa Jardine reflects on the week's events.
Published on Friday, 27th January 2012.
Lisa Jardine reflects on her aversion to today's new sources of noise.
Published on Thursday, 19th January 2012.
Lisa Jardine reflects on gardening's purity, and its darker, political aspect.
Published on Friday, 13th January 2012.
Historian Lisa Jardine reflects that information overload is not a new problem.
Published on Friday, 6th January 2012.
Lisa Jardine reflects on the historic power of royal glamour in times of austerity.
Published on Friday, 30th December 2011.
Simon Schama reflects on how the world - ten years on - remembered the events of 9/11.
Published on Thursday, 29th December 2011.
Will Self reflects on the new landscape for the press.
Published on Wednesday, 28th December 2011.
Sarah Dunant looks at different aspects of debt.
Published on Tuesday, 27th December 2011.
The author and philosopher John Gray on the merits of living for the present.
Published on Monday, 26th December 2011.
Lisa Jardine reflects on the power of music to move, especially at Christmas.
Published on Friday, 23rd December 2011.
Lisa Jardine thinks selective hearing skews the debate over climate change.
Published on Friday, 16th December 2011.
Lisa Jardine recalls CP Snow's lessons on the dangers of government by experts.
Published on Friday, 9th December 2011.
The historian Lisa Jardine finds herself converted to family history.
Published on Friday, 2nd December 2011.
Mary Beard reflects on the purpose of the much-maligned 'Oxbridge interview'.
Published on Friday, 25th November 2011.
Mary Beard reflects on the very first monetary union, two and a half thousand years ago.
Published on Friday, 18th November 2011.
Mary Beard takes a peek at Miss World 2011 and ponders the upsides of middle age.
Published on Friday, 11th November 2011.
Mary Beard on the uncanny similarities between Colonel Gaddafi and tyrants in ancient Rome
Published on Friday, 4th November 2011.
Will Self deplores the arms trade, Britain's role in it and the euphemisms around it.
Published on Friday, 28th October 2011.
Will Self reflects that racism is rarely a sole cause of social injustice.
Published on Friday, 21st October 2011.
Will Self praises the beauty of wind turbines.
Published on Friday, 14th October 2011.
Will Self sees an urgent need to reform the prison system.
Published on Friday, 7th October 2011.
Will Self attacks political party members as 'donkeys led by donkeys'.
Published on Friday, 30th September 2011.
John Gray reflects on the chance encounters that made Churchill wartime Prime Minister.
Published on Friday, 23rd September 2011.
John Gray argues that the scientific and rationalist attack on religion is misguided.
Published on Friday, 16th September 2011.
John Gray considers why the human animal needs contact with something other than itself.
Published on Friday, 9th September 2011.
John Gray on why an increasing number of people believe that Karl Marx was right.
Published on Friday, 2nd September 2011.
John Gray on why Kim Philby, and so many others, have failed to predict the future.
Published on Friday, 26th August 2011.
The celebrated thinker John Gray gives his reflection on the meaning of folly.
Published on Friday, 19th August 2011.
Alain de Botton on why pessimism is the key to happiness.
Published on Friday, 12th August 2011.
Alain de Botton takes a witty look at modern parenting.
Published on Friday, 5th August 2011.
Alain de Botton argues that social climbing is often much more than idle pleasure-seeking.
Published on Friday, 29th July 2011.
Alain de Botton on our extraordinarily high expectations for modern marriage.
Published on Friday, 22nd July 2011.
Alain de Botton with some food for thought for a summer picnic.
Published on Friday, 15th July 2011.
Alain de Botton explores the relationship between humankind and animals.
Published on Friday, 8th July 2011.
Alain de Botton muses on why a bookish life is a poor preparation for marriage!
Published on Friday, 11th February 2011.
Alain de Botton reflects on why freedom has become our ultimate political ideal.
Published on Friday, 4th February 2011.
Alain de Botton asks if museums are our new churches.
Published on Friday, 28th January 2011.
Alain de Botton gives a philosopher's take on our ecological dilemmas.
Published on Friday, 21st January 2011.
Alain de Botton on our inability to concentrate.
Published on Friday, 14th January 2011.
Alain de Botton with a controversial view of the teaching of humanities in universities.
Published on Friday, 7th January 2011.
Joan Bakewell celebrates the art of diary writing.
Published on Friday, 31st December 2010.
Joan Bakewell wonders how we recover true empathy in a culture of self-regard.
Published on Friday, 17th December 2010.
Clive James reflects on the human condition and the need for liberal democracy to spread.
Published on Friday, 25th December 2009.
Clive James vents his frustration at automated customer systems.
Published on Friday, 18th December 2009.
Clive James reflects on the media coverage of man-made global warming.
Published on Friday, 11th December 2009.
Clive James warns of the dangers of a new plan for calculating funding for universities.
Published on Friday, 4th December 2009.
Clive James reflects on the spirit in which sport is played.
Published on Friday, 27th November 2009.
Clive James reflects on the revelation of the identity of Belle de Jour.
Published on Friday, 20th November 2009.
Clive James celebrates the honouring of Sir Keith Park with a statue in Trafalgar Square.
Published on Friday, 13th November 2009.
Clive James reflects on the seductive allure of illegal narcotics.
Published on Friday, 6th November 2009.
Clive James reflects on the postal workers' dispute.
Published on Friday, 30th October 2009.
Clive James reflects on the importance of scepticism in every walk of life.
Published on Friday, 23rd October 2009.
Clive James reflects on democracy, MPs' expenses and the Oxford Poetry Professorship.
Published on Friday, 29th May 2009.
Clive James reflects on the global responsibility of feminists in the west.
Published on Friday, 22nd May 2009.
Published on Friday, 15th May 2009.
Clive James wonders what the Poet Laureateship says about the British attitude to poetry.
Published on Friday, 8th May 2009.
A weekly reflection on a topical issue from Clive James.
Published on Friday, 1st May 2009.
Clive James wonders about the progress of feminism.
Published on Friday, 24th April 2009.
Clive James reflects on the resignation of the Prime Minister's senior aide Damian McBride
Published on Friday, 17th April 2009.
Clive James makes a case for the Cane Toad.
Published on Friday, 10th April 2009.
Clive James gives his take on the adult film industry.
Published on Friday, 3rd April 2009.
Clive James' take on the downfall of Australian judge Marcus Einfeld.
Published on Friday, 27th March 2009.
Clive James reflects on the end of the get-rich-quick era.
Published on Friday, 2nd January 2009.
Clive James reflects on life after the grave and Shakespeare's beliefs.
Published on Friday, 26th December 2008.
Clive James reflects on the burden of wrapping presents.
Published on Friday, 19th December 2008.
Clive James explores the question of national identity.
Published on Friday, 12th December 2008.
Clive James is relieved that his office is not featured in the Writers' Rooms exhibition.
Published on Friday, 5th December 2008.
Clive James argues that the film version of history is in danger of replacing reality.
Published on Friday, 28th November 2008.
Clive James turns his attention to swearing.
Published on Friday, 21st November 2008.
Clive James argues that the days of mindless Hollywood action are over.
Published on Friday, 14th November 2008.
Clive James reflects on the significance of the word 'election'.
Published on Friday, 7th November 2008.
Clive James gives his take on yachts, the US election and James Bond.
Published on Friday, 31st October 2008.
Clive James explores the world of the political gaffe – past and present.
Published on Friday, 9th May 2008.
Clive James reflects on why gifted artists become hell-bent on destroying their talent.
Published on Friday, 2nd May 2008.
Clive James turns his attention to political intervention and Robert Mugabe.
Published on Friday, 25th April 2008.
Clive James on what governs the decisions about who we keep out and who we keep in the UK.
Published on Friday, 18th April 2008.
Clive James turns his attention to the Royal Mail’s decision to redesign the coinage.
Published on Friday, 11th April 2008.
Clive James on mobile phones on planes and the disastrous opening of Heathrow Terminal 5.
Published on Monday, 7th April 2008.
Clive James sets a David Cameron cycling faux-pas in an unexpected historical context.
Published on Friday, 28th March 2008.
Clive James discusses the virtues of a court decision about a man and a grape.
Published on Friday, 21st March 2008.
Clive James on the collapse of private life and the publishing of emails and phone calls.
Published on Friday, 14th March 2008.
Clive James delves into history to reflect on Prince Harry's time in Afghanistan.
Published on Friday, 7th March 2008.
Clive James on what makes us happy, a watermelon memory and Lawrence of Arabia.
Published on Friday, 24th August 2007.
Clive James considers the role of icons ancient and modern, focusing on film icons.
Published on Friday, 17th August 2007.
Clive James condsiders how to deal with plastic bags, hip hop music and shopping trolleys.
Published on Friday, 10th August 2007.
Clive James on how he, reluctantly, became a non-smoker. Today he only dreams of smoking.
Published on Friday, 3rd August 2007.
Clive James considers the physchological condition ‘JK Rowling Envy’.
Published on Friday, 27th July 2007.
Clive James reflects on the conundrum of living in a technologically advanced world.
Published on Friday, 20th July 2007.
Clive James enjoys the wisdom in the commentary of former Wimbledon tennis champions.
Published on Friday, 13th July 2007.
Clive James on the secret of hapiness and children's shoes with wheels in the heels.
Published on Friday, 6th July 2007.
Clive James gives his personal reaction to Damien Hirst’s diamond-encrusted skull.
Published on Friday, 29th June 2007.
Clive James reminds himself of the need to celebrate the good things in life.
Published on Friday, 22nd June 2007.
Hoaxes work – and that’s a good reason for not liking them, says Clive James.
Published on Friday, 6th April 2007.
Clive James considers torture and whether TV dramas encourage its use against terrorism.
Published on Friday, 30th March 2007.
Clive James on the extra burden we risk placing on highly successful young, black Britons.
Published on Friday, 23rd March 2007.
Clive James criticises the high spending planned for the London 2012 Olympics.
Published on Friday, 16th March 2007.
Clive James takes a wry look at the world of the paparazzi.
Published on Friday, 9th March 2007.
Clive James comments on the way we speak English today and on a new noisy voice.
Published on Friday, 2nd March 2007.
Clive James reflects on the martial arts movie and meaningless violence.
Published on Friday, 23rd February 2007.
Clive James rails against changes to the names of things we rely on.
Published on Friday, 16th February 2007.
Clive James on what drives people who don’t obviously need to to alter their appearance.
Published on Friday, 9th February 2007.
Clive James reflects on man-made climate change from the standpoint of a sceptic.
Published on Friday, 2nd February 2007.
