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BBC Radio 4


Leading thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives – looking back at the news and making links between past and present. Broadcast as Free Thinking, Fridays at 9pm on BBC Radio 4. Presented by Matthew Sweet, Shahidha Bari and Anne McElvoy.


Arts & Ideas

Shahidha Bari and guests discuss luck, fortune and superstition. How much truth is there in the idea of making your own luck and why does supersition still play such an important part in many peoples' lives. To discuss this and more are: Dr Christian Busch author of the Serendipity Mindset, Bobby Seagull the maths wizard who shot to fame on University Challenge, Timandra Harkness the author and journalist who writes about the intersection of tech and society, Dr Kate Tomas a philosopher and spritiual mentor and the Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies who shares her thoughts on the role luck plays in sport.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson

Luck, predictability and superstition

What makes the life, character and imagery of the British pub? Anne McElvoy talks to Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin, author Natalie Whittle whose book "Crunch: An Ode to Crisps" was published in October, Professor Philip Howell who has written about the history of the pub, Dr Marianne Hem Eriksen from the
School of Archaeology & Ancient History at the University of Leicester who specialises in Viking history and BBC journalist Ben Wright who has written about the history of drinking in British politics.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson

Beer, Crisps and the British pub

What tactics are justified in political campaigning from suffragettes to climate action? When is an art work finished? Do the moderation of Aristotle and Epicurus offer us a way of navigating life? Christmas - a time for panto, over-eating and gaudy decorations - was your festive season overwhelming or excessive? 
The writer and broadcaster Andrew Doyle, the classicist Edith Hall, comedian Rob Newman, environmentalist Rupert Read, and performer and suffrage historian Naomi Paxton join Shahidha Bari to discuss when enough is enough, knowing when to stop and how far should free speech go.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson

Knowing When To Stop

Award-winning film-maker John Bridcut introduces a selection of fascinating and unexpected readings about Edward Elgar, including letters, diaries and reviews. Susan Hitch presents.

Proms Plus Literary - Edward Elgar

Musicologist John Deathridge, introduces an anthology of unexpected readings about Mendelssohn. Rana Mitter presents.

Proms Plus Literary - Mendelssohn

Which literary works make the most entries into celebrity choices on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs? Mariella Frostrup is joined by Sir Tim Rice and writer and broadcaster Kevin Jackson to explore the regular favourites and unexpected misses, the literary classics that 70 years of the great and the good can’t live without - and reveal some surprise choices. Actress and Desert Island Castaway Harriet Walter reads some of the desert island book choices.

Proms Plus Literary - Desert Island

Ian McMillan is joined by poet Wendy Cope and actor Juliet Stevenson as he announces the winners of this year’s Proms Poetry Competition.

Proms Plus Literary - Proms Poetry Competition

What is the good life? Philip is joined in the studio by the commentators Robert Skidelsky, Owen Jones and Jamie Whyte, the classicist, Edith Hall, the philosopher, Mark Vernon and the Benedictine Monk, Father Bede Hill to discuss the question.
In this discussion Philip Dodd and his guests consider how an idea that began with Aristotle as an ethical quest can have evolved in the 21st century into unbridled consumerism.

Night Waves - What is 'Enough

Anne McElvoy examines whether we place too much weight on happiness as a measure of our quality of life.
Contributors consider the new economics of well-being and the role of happiness in writing and include: Richard Layard, Edward Skidelsky, Gus O'Donnell, Juliet Michaelson, Paul Ormerod and Alexandra Harris.

Night Waves: The Pursuit Of Happiness

Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot' (1869) raises 'the good life' as an existential question that everybody must answer for themselves. The novel has been read as both an over-the-top melodrama, and as a profound exploration of the ambiguity of goodness. Matthew Sweet is joined by the theologian Giles Fraser, Russian specialist Sarah Young and the novelist Zinovy Zinik to discuss.

Night Waves - Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot'

The friendship that developed between Wagner and Nietzsche is documented in a vast collection of letters and writings, reflecting one of the most resonant cultural and philosophical scenes of 19th century Europe. In a special edition Anne McElvoy with Nick Seddon, John Deathridge and Michael Tanner map this intellectual development which informed Wagner's work. With readings by Andrew Fallaize.

Night Waves - Wagner & Nietzsche

Night Waves - Wagner & Nietzsche

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