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Permanently Restless

Sara Wheeler ponders whether holidays ever really deliver the escape that we yearn for.

• 9 mins

Orwell on the Campaign Trail

Mark Damazer on elections and the tricky business of political language.

• 9 mins

It's Me or the Lamborghini

Howard Jacobson ponders why men suddenly want to read about love.

• 9 mins

On Fandom

Zoe Strimpel reflects on the rise and rise of the superfan.

• 9 mins

Beyond Bricks and Mortar

Megan Nolan on why she's well suited to the insecurity of her generation's housing crisis.

• 9 mins

The Stuff of Museums

Mary Beard on the function of museums and the thorny issue of what should be in them.

• 9 mins

Nothing but Nightingale

Rebecca Stott on why Iris Murdoch's theory of 'unselfing' is so apt for our present moment

• 9 mins

No Country for Old Men

Sarah Dunant on the profound challenge to America's sense of its own youthfulness.

• 10 mins

Empire of Sweat

Adam Gopnik with the ultimate cure for sleeplessness.

• 9 mins

Olympics Now and Then

Michael Morpurgo on heroism, triumph and disappointment as the Olympics gets underway.

• 9 mins

Change

Will Self reflects on change... and getting ready for a stem cell transplant.

• 9 mins

On Imposter Syndrome

Sara Wheeler reflects on the societal forces that have created the imposter syndrome.

• 9 mins

Making the Grade

David Goodhart argues that the days of an ever-expanding university sector are over.

• 9 mins

The Power of Weird

AL Kennedy on how a passing remark has given 'weird' back its mojo.

• 9 mins

I know what it is to crawl

Tom Shakespeare on the humiliation of crawling.

• 9 mins

Debating the American Future

Sarah Dunant looks forward to next week's US presidential debate.

• 9 mins

Babies Making Babies

Megan Nolan reflects on mothers... and not mothers.

• 9 mins

In Praise of the Nanny State

Howard Jacobson argues that liberation from red tape is no way to run a country.

• 9 mins

Kamala

Zoe Strimpel's dilemma over voting for Kamala.

• 9 mins

Paranoids and Publicists

Adam Gopnik goes in search of Donald Trump's secret power, with two famous essays in hand.

• 9 mins

Naughtie on America

1. Call Me Ishmael

James Naughtie with the first of four programmes on America's restless search for meaning.

• 9 mins

Naughtie on America

2. Words, Words, Words

The second of James Naughtie's four programmes on America's restless search for meaning.

• 9 mins

Naughtie on America

The Old Identity

James Naughtie continues his series exploring America's restless search for meaning.

• 9 mins

Naughtie on America

The Brink

James Naughtie recalls a meeting with an ex-CIA chief worried about the future of America

• 9 mins

Time Travel

Sara Wheeler reflects on the valuable perspective offered by out-of-date guidebooks.

• 9 mins

Existentialism and an Escaped Monkey

Megan Nolan on the almost mystical appeal of animal escapes.

• 9 mins

The New Centre Ground

John Gray argues that we urgently need a new centre ground in British politics.

• 9 mins

House Clearing

Rebecca Stott reflects on the sadness and wonder of clearing her mother's house.

• 9 mins

A baby's-eye view of the world

Zoe Strimpel on the joys of seeing the world through the eyes of a nine-month-old.

• 9 mins

Monster Soup

Stephen Smith goes on a subterranean excursion to ponder the state of water companies.

• 9 mins