A Point of View Podcast
A weekly reflection on a topical issue.
Episodes to download
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Presidential Inaugurations
Fri 25 Jan 2013
David Cannadine reflects on the history of American presidential inaugurations.
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Urban Designs
Fri 18 Jan 2013
Will Self laments what he sees as an absence of rational urban planning in our big cities.
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Terminal Thoughts
Fri 11 Jan 2013
Will Self wants to 'nudge society in the direction of considering suicide acceptable'.
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American Ambivalence
Sun 6 Jan 2013
Will Self reflects on the confused love-hate relationship between Britain and the US.
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Will Self: The British Vomitorium
Fri 28 Dec 2012
With the excesses of Christmas behind us, Will Self appeals for a major lifestyle change.
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Economics Priesthood
Fri 21 Dec 2012
Will Self warns against the false prophets of the new priesthood of economics.
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Digital Past
Fri 14 Dec 2012
Will Self reflects on the effect of digital technology on his perception of time.
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Trustworthiness Before Trust
Fri 7 Dec 2012
Onora O'Neill reflects anew on the theme of trust, the subject of her Reith lectures.
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Are students getting their money's worth?
Fri 30 Nov 2012
Mary Beard reflects on why 'customer satisfaction' surveys have no place in universities.
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Mary Beard: Age of Consent
Fri 16 Nov 2012
Mary Beard reflects on the arbitrary nature of some laws, including the age of consent.
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Rich man, poor man
Fri 9 Nov 2012
Mary Beard on the long history of the rich looking down their noses at the poor.
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Understanding Contemporary China 4/4
Fri 2 Nov 2012
How can the undemocratic Chinese state enjoy authority in the eyes of its population?
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Who are the Chinese? 3/4
Fri 26 Oct 2012
In his third talk on understanding China, Martin Jacques explores the nature of race.
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What Will China Be Like as a Superpower? 2/4
Fri 19 Oct 2012
In his second talk on understanding China, Martin Jacques examines the tributary system.
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Understanding Contemporary China 1/4
Fri 12 Oct 2012
Martin Jacques presents a personal view on how best to understand contemporary China.
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Presenting the Past
Fri 5 Oct 2012
Sarah Dunant reflects on the role of history in society, and how it changes over time.
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Mouthing Off
Fri 28 Sep 2012
Sarah Dunant takes a look at teeth through the ages, and dentistry in times of austerity.
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Sweet charity
Fri 21 Sep 2012
Sarah Dunant reflects on the growing importance of charity shops in times of austerity.
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In Search of Prizes
Fri 14 Sep 2012
Sarah Dunant explores the merit of literary prizes as the Man Booker shortlist is revealed
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Policing Sex
Fri 7 Sep 2012
Sarah Dunant looks at attitudes to sexual behaviour from a historical perspective.
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The alchemy of memory
Fri 31 Aug 2012
John Gray explores the role of memory in giving meaning to our lives.
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The trouble with 'freedom'
Fri 24 Aug 2012
John Gray looks at the relationship between freedom and democracy.
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Sherlock Holmes and the Romance of Reason
Fri 17 Aug 2012
John Gray reflects on the enduring appeal of Sherlock Holmes' powers of deduction.
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Price of a Postage Stamp
Fri 3 Aug 2012
Philosopher John Gray wonders what bulk buying of stamps tells us about economic gloom.
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The Paradox of Immortality
Fri 27 Jul 2012
John Gray reflects on the paradox of immortality as captured by the writer Theodore Powys.
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Keynes' Insights
Fri 20 Jul 2012
John Gray takes a fresh look at the thinking of John Maynard Keynes.
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Why humans are violent
Fri 13 Jul 2012
John Gray reflects on the nature of violence as an inevitable part of the human condition.
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The curse of a ridiculous name
Fri 6 Jul 2012
Adam Gopnik muses on life when - like him - you've been lumbered with a funny name.
