Are You Paying Attention?

Prayer and Snake Oil

Writer Madeleine Bunting explores some key moments in the history of attention.

• 14 mins

Are You Paying Attention?

Beyond the Crisis of Attention

In her final essay, writer Madeleine Bunting asks whether we are in a crisis of attention.

• 14 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Welling Up: Women and Water in the Middle Ages

Hetta Howes looks at male fears + why Margery Kempe was criticised for crying and bleeding

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Art for Health's Sake

Daisy Fancourt's research shows the arts can improve health so should we prescribe them?

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Does Trusting People Need a Leap of Faith?

Tom Simpson on a study of suspicion in a 1950s Italian village and community relations now

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Educating Ida

Eleanor Lybeck on the women campaigners satirised in an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Doing Nothing

Alistair Fraser on teenagers, gangs and filling time.

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

A War of Words

Christopher Bannister on the way a fashion show in Buenos Aires helped win World War II.

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Speaking Truth to Power in the Past and Present

Joanne Paul on satire, flattery and document leaks in the C16 and C17 centuries and now.

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

Kids With Guns

Emma Butcher looks at the view of war in the childhood writings of the Bronte family.

• 15 mins

The Free Thinking Essay

What Do You Do If You Are a Manically Depressed Robot?

Simon Beard, from the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, on AI and Douglas Adams.

• 15 mins

Is Music a Civilising Force?

Sir Roger Scruton

Sir Roger Scruton explores the civilising force of music.

• 15 mins

Is Music a Civilising Force?

Professor Alice Roberts

Anatomist and osteoarchaeologist Alice Roberts looks at music's humananising force.

• 15 mins

Is Music a Civilising Force?

Professor Kofi Agawu

Professor Kofi Agawu examines the civilising force of music from an African perspective.

• 15 mins

Is Music a Civilising Force?

Jameela Siddiqi

Jameela Siddiqi explores the civilising force of music from an Indian perspective.

• 15 mins

Is Music a Civilising Force?

Paul Morley

Paul Morley concludes the series of essays debating music as a civilising force.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Afua Hirsch on 'Wide Sargasso Sea'

How journalist and writer Hirsch changed her view of Jean Rhys's novel.

• 13 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Henry Marsh on 'War and Peace'

Neurosurgeon and writer Henry Marsh on the influence of Tolstoy's epic novel.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Zarah Hussain on The Arabian Nights

The artist describes the inspiration of these legendary tales.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Alastair Campbell on 'Madame Bovary'

Tony Blair's former spokesman on how Flaubert inspired his love of French culture.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Inua Ellams on Terry Pratchett

The poet and playwright on the fantasy comedy 'Pyramids'.

• 15 mins

One Bar Electric Memoir

Episode 1

Artist and writer Harland Miller reveals how an eventful past has fed into his work.

• 14 mins

One Bar Electric Memoir

Episode 2

Artist and writer Harland Miller reveals how an eventful past has fed into his work.

• 14 mins

One Bar Electric Memoir

Episode 3

Artist and writer Harland Miller reveals how an eventful past has fed into his work..

• 15 mins

One Bar Electric Memoir

Episode 4

Artist and writer Harland Miller reveals how an eventful past has fed into his work.

• 14 mins

One Bar Electric Memoir

One Bar Electric Memoir - 5

Artist and writer Harland Miller reveals how an eventful past has fed into his work.

• 14 mins

Secret Admirers: Penny Gore on Leoš Janáček

Celebrating a composer whose music is shot through with the uncertainties of life.

• 14 mins

Secret Admirers: Tom McKinney on Olivier Messiaen

Celebrating the birdsong-inspired music of the 20th-century French composer, Messiaen.

• 13 mins

Secret Admirers: Kathryn Tickell on Percy Grainger

Folk musician Kathryn Tickell celebrates the Australian-American folksong fanatic.

• 14 mins

Secret Admirers: Andrew McGregor on Thomas Tallis

Reflections on the powerful Lamentations of English composer Thomas Tallis.

• 13 mins