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Book Choice

Book-lover Lisa Jardine muses on her latest conversion to the e-book.

• 10 mins

The Sistine tapestries

Lisa Jardine reflects on the extraordinary tapestries in London for the Pope's visit.

• 10 mins

Cakes and coupons

Lisa Jardine on the conflict between her twin passions - saving money and lavish baking.

• 10 mins

Huizinga and the human cost of cuts

Lisa Jardine puts an historical perspective on the upcoming government spending cuts.

• 10 mins

Student Psyche

Sarah Dunant reflects on the character of the new generation of students.

• 10 mins

Baby Boomers

Sarah Dunant owns up to being part of the greediest generation - the baby boomers.

• 10 mins

Conspicuous Consumption

Sarah Dunant reflects on public attitudes in the past to conspicuous consumption.

• 10 mins

Sarah Dunant: Tribute to Teachers

Sarah Dunant pays tribute to outstanding women teachers who inspired her own generation.

• 10 mins

Traces of the Past

Sarah Dunant sees the balance between past and present epitomised at Kensington Palace.

• 10 mins

History through Religion

Sarah Dunant finds religion a powerful lens for a fresh look at history.

• 10 mins

Reading for Free

Joan Bakewell reflects on the irreplaceable value of reading.

• 10 mins

Sex and Religion

Joan Bakewell reflects on organised religion and secular society's attitudes to sex.

• 10 mins

Living Forever

Joan Bakewell reflects on the process of ageing and the efforts of science to reverse it.

• 10 mins

Extreme Food

Joan Bakewell reflects on our current obsession with ever more elaborate food and cookery.

• 10 mins

A Time for Empathy

Joan Bakewell wonders how we recover true empathy in a culture of self-regard.

• 10 mins

Dear Diary

Joan Bakewell celebrates the art of diary writing.

• 10 mins

What humanities should teach

Alain de Botton with a controversial view of the teaching of humanities in universities.

• 10 mins

'News' and concentration

Alain de Botton on our inability to concentrate.

• 10 mins

The ecological sublime

Alain de Botton gives a philosopher's take on our ecological dilemmas.

• 10 mins

Are museums our new churches?

Alain de Botton asks if museums are our new churches.

• 10 mins

In Praise of the Nanny State

Alain de Botton reflects on why freedom has become our ultimate political ideal.

• 10 mins

On marriage

Alain de Botton muses on why a bookish life is a poor preparation for marriage!

• 10 mins

In Praise of the Zoo

Alain de Botton explores the relationship between humankind and animals.

• 10 mins

The Art of Conversation

Alain de Botton with some food for thought for a summer picnic.

• 10 mins

What's in a marriage

Alain de Botton on our extraordinarily high expectations for modern marriage.

• 10 mins

On Social Climbing

Alain de Botton argues that social climbing is often much more than idle pleasure-seeking.

• 10 mins

Modern Parenting

Alain de Botton takes a witty look at modern parenting.

• 10 mins

The Advantages of Pessimism

Alain de Botton on why pessimism is the key to happiness.

• 10 mins

Greece and the Meaning of Folly

The celebrated thinker John Gray gives his reflection on the meaning of folly.

• 10 mins

Kim Philby

John Gray on why Kim Philby, and so many others, have failed to predict the future.

• 10 mins