A Point of View

A weekly reflection on a topical issue.

Radio 4,839 episodes

Episodes

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The Paradox of Growing Old
Mary Beard argues that our view of dementia is a sanitized one which needs to be rethought
09 May 2014,10 mins
Digging Digitally
Mary Beard reflects on the new face of archaeology, of the virtual kind.
02 May 2014,10 mins
Mile Milestone
Mary Beard looks forward to the 60th anniversary of the first 'four-minute mile'.
25 Apr 2014,10 mins
Travel Writing Giants
William Dalrymple celebrates the writing of Peter Matthiessen, who died this month.
18 Apr 2014,10 mins
A Tale of Two Elections
William Dalrymple reflects on the current pivotal elections in India and Afghanistan.
11 Apr 2014,10 mins
A Lenten Reflection
For Lent, William Dalrymple compares Eastern and Western views of self-discipline.
04 Apr 2014,10 mins
A Disease Called Fame
Sarah Dunant reflects on fame and the cult of celebrity, following 20 Feet From Stardom.
28 Mar 2014,10 mins
Heavy Weather
Sarah Dunant compares our reaction today to climate change with historic responses.
21 Mar 2014,10 mins
The Time Warp
Sarah Dunant reflects on our changed perceptions of the sexual attitudes of the 1970s.
14 Mar 2014,10 mins
Free the Schools
Roger Scruton believes the way to improve schools is through middle-class volunteers.
07 Mar 2014,10 mins
Our Love for Animals
Professor Roger Scruton warns against favouring pets at the expense of wild animals.
28 Feb 2014,10 mins
United We Fall
Roger Scruton argues for a vote for the English in the debate over Scottish independence.
21 Feb 2014,10 mins
Money Matters
Adam Gopnik explains why he thinks the pictures on our banknotes matter.
14 Feb 2014,10 mins
Twitter-Free
Adam Gopnik explains his indifference to Twitter and social media.
07 Feb 2014,10 mins
Why Sportsmanship Matters
Adam Gopnik reflects on the nature of sportsmanship ahead of the American Super Bowl.
31 Jan 2014,10 mins
Self-Drive Manhood
Adam Gopnik hails the development of the self-drive car as the way to rescue his manhood.
24 Jan 2014,10 mins
Sex and the French
Adam Gopnik reflects on the attitude of the French to the sex lives of their statesmen.
17 Jan 2014,10 mins
Unknown Knowns
John Gray reflects on the things we know but prefer not to think about.
10 Jan 2014,10 mins
The Perils of Belief
John Gray reflects on the damage that can be caused by evangelical belief.
03 Jan 2014,10 mins
Two Cheers for Human Rights
John Gray gives only two cheers for human rights.
29 Dec 2013,10 mins
Islamo-Christian Heritage
William Dalrymple reflects on the co-habitation of Islam and Christianity.
20 Dec 2013,10 mins
Why Dickens Endures
John Gray gives his own theory for the cultural longevity of Charles Dickens.
13 Dec 2013,10 mins
It's Always the Others Who Die
Will Self reflects that our modern secular society has silenced the voices of the dead.
06 Dec 2013,10 mins
Political Trojan Horses
Will Self warns against politicians' policies which turn out to be Trojan horses.
29 Nov 2013,10 mins
Rebuilding After 9/11
Will Self gives a personal view of the new One World Trade Center in New York.
22 Nov 2013,10 mins
Self Confident Culture
Will Self argues for greater British cultural self-confidence in the debate over the veil.
15 Nov 2013,10 mins
Kennedy 50 Years On
Will Self reflects on America's view of the assassination of JF Kennedy, 50 years on.
08 Nov 2013,10 mins
Will Self: Pity the Young
Will Self reflects on the malign influence of the older generation on the young.
01 Nov 2013,10 mins
Lisa Jardine: Reflections on IVF
Lisa Jardine reflects on IVF as she stands down from the body which regulates it.
25 Oct 2013,10 mins
Machine Intelligence
Lisa Jardine compares the computer science legacies of Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace.
18 Oct 2013,10 mins