Free Thinking Episodes Available now
Choice
Do poets choose their words or are they predetermined?
The British Academy Book Prize 2021
New ways of thinking about global problems - Rana Mitter reads this year's shortlist.
Breakfast
Literally "breaking the fast" - Matthew Sweet moves from the Full English to Tiffany's.
Order and Chaos
A history of indexes and ideas about tidiness, clutter and archiving in Ruth Ozeki's novel
Thomas Mann
Novelist Colm Toibin joins Anne McElvoy to discuss the German author's life and struggles.
The continuing appeal of Tudor history
Philippa Gregory, Nandini Das, Susan Doran and Adam Roberts with Matthew Sweet.
Punk
Punk often caused offence. Shahidha Bari asks if that idea of rebellion resonates today.
Dirk Bogarde
As The Servant is released on DVD, Matthew Sweet and guests explore Dirk Bogarde's career.
Hannah Arendt's exploration of totalitarianism
Why do Hannah Arendt's ideas continue to fire the imaginations of artists and thinkers?
Belonging
A teacher's view, a Frankenstein-inspired ballet, outsider status and circus paintings.
