Main content

Why Do We Need Diaries?

They keep our secrets safe and preserve our memories, but many have been hidden or destroyed. Why do we write diaries?

We trust them with our deepest secrets, and use them to preserve our memories. They’ve been hidden, destroyed, and read without permission. Mike Williams talks to people who write diaries, and the historians on a mission to "rescue" the diaries of normal people.

Produced by Hannah Moore

(Photo: A handwritten page from a diary. Credit: Mike Williams)

Available now

12 minutes

Last on

Tue 10 Nov 2015 12:04GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 14 Aug 2015 18:32GMT
  • Fri 14 Aug 2015 19:32GMT
  • Fri 14 Aug 2015 23:32GMT
  • Sun 16 Aug 2015 21:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2015 02:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2015 04:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2015 05:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2015 06:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2015 12:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2015 13:32GMT
  • Tue 10 Nov 2015 12:04GMT

Get the podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes for free

Why do we look the way we do?

Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?

Podcast