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Mixed Signals

Stephen Smith muses on HS2 and his grandfather's job on the railways.

• 9 mins

The Piano: A Lifetime of Wrong Notes

Sarah Dunant reflects on why she's no longer shunning Bach for Bowie.

• 9 mins

No News Is Good News

Will Self on his personal news blackout.

• 9 mins

On Deer Stalking

Alex Massie on deer stalking and the bleak magnificence of the Scottish Highlands.

• 9 mins

Red Squirrel Good?

Sara Wheeler questions the moral high ground of the 'nature lover'.

• 9 mins

Looks Like Rain

John Connell reflects on our changing relationship with rain.

• 9 mins

Material World

Zoe Strimpel discusses her new-found fascination with infrastructure.

• 9 mins

The Strangeness of Dreams

Sarah Dunant explores the elusive, individual nature of dreams.

• 9 mins

10,000 Steps

Adam Gopnik tells us why he's obsessed with steps... a lot of steps.

• 9 mins

On the Curiosity of Children

Rebecca Stott reflects on the importance of nurturing the curiosity of children.

• 9 mins

The Usefulness of Pessimism

John Gray argues that pessimism can be a force for change.

• 9 mins

Dearly Beloved

Will Self ponders the contemporary power of the sermon.

• 9 mins

Taking Time

Michael Morpurgo takes us on a frosty walk near his home in Devon.

• 9 mins

A Lump of Coal and a Black Bun

Alex Massie on the changing face of a Scottish New Year.

• 9 mins

A Plate of Pfeffernusse

Zoe Strimpel on sugar's extraordinary power to bind generations.

• 9 mins

In the Grey Zone

Mark Damazer on how we judge our political masters.

• 9 mins

Identity and Theft

The theft of her backpack gets AL Kennedy thinking about questions of identity and loss.

• 9 mins

I See No Ships

Stephen Smith asks what's to become of Britain's naval tradition.

• 9 mins

On Ritual

Sara Wheeler ponders the value of ritual and its role in improving character and society.

• 9 mins

Why is my handwriting so bad?

Tom Shakespeare ponders the demise of his handwriting.

• 9 mins

Down the Rabbit Hole

Rebecca Stott reflects on what's to be gained by going 'down the rabbit hole'.

• 9 mins

The Carnival Is Over

Howard Jacobson on the liberation of laughter and a world turned upside down.

• 9 mins

The Death and Life of Modern Martyrs

Sarah Dunant on Alexei Navalny and the creation of a modern martyr.

• 9 mins

Peak Envy

Will Self reflects on an 'epidemic' of envy.

• 9 mins

Michael & Tony & Me

Adam Gopnik warns of our tendency to normalise evil behaviour.

• 9 mins

Trump's Second Coming

John Gray accuses US liberals of displaying a 'reckless hubris' in the election campaign.

• 9 mins

Work Work Work

AL Kennedy on taking on her workaholism.

• 9 mins

Motherland

Zoe Strimpel on crossing the rubicon into motherhood.

• 9 mins

It's all right for you

Sara Wheeler reflects on being a sibling to her brother who has a lifelong disability.

• 9 mins

On Anger

Caleb Azumah Nelson on why anger is no longer a stranger to him, but a friend.

• 9 mins