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A Point of View

A weekly reflection on a topical issue.

Radio 4,839 episodes

Episodes

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Our Revels Now Are Ended
Howard Jacobson presents the final edition of A Point of View.
28 Mar 2025,9 mins
How History Begins Again
John Gray argues that truly democratic nations are, in the future, likely to be rare.
21 Mar 2025,9 mins
Elbows Up: Canada v Trump
Adam Gopnik on Canada's newfound patriotic toughness in light of Donald Trump's tariffs.
14 Mar 2025,9 mins
Leaning In to Social Media
Zoe Strimpel explains why she's leaning in to social media.
07 Mar 2025,9 mins
Tractors in Whitehall
Michael Morpurgo on why the family farm remains vital to our lives in Britain today.
28 Feb 2025,9 mins
Print the Legend
Tom Shakespeare explores the pitfalls of dramatised history and its influence on real life
21 Feb 2025,9 mins
The Joy of Archives
Sara Wheeler argues that budget cuts risk savaging the archival heritage of the nation.
14 Feb 2025,9 mins
Geese, Aristotle and Migration
Rebecca Stott ponders the theme of migration, with help from Aristotle.
07 Feb 2025,9 mins
The Overwhelm
AL Kennedy reflects on chaos, noise and 'the overwhelm'.
31 Jan 2025,9 mins
On Hyperbole
Howard Jacobson talks linguistics and reflects on why language has turned extreme.
24 Jan 2025,9 mins
Trump, Washington and America First
Mark Damazer argues that America's leadership in the world is about to be redefined.
17 Jan 2025,9 mins
On a Gloomy Moment
Adam Gopnik reflects on light and dark in deepest January.
10 Jan 2025,9 mins
The Best I Can Do
Sara Wheeler on her enduring relationship with a pair of portraits from the 15th Century.
03 Jan 2025,9 mins
On Resolutions
Megan Nolan reflects on New Year's Resolutions, after rediscovering a childhood diary.
27 Dec 2024,9 mins
A Jolly Good Pud
Mary Beard reflects on why so many families have their own unique Christmas traditions.
20 Dec 2024,9 mins
Monster Soup
Stephen Smith goes on a subterranean excursion to ponder the state of water companies.
13 Dec 2024,9 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.
06 Dec 2024,9 mins
House Clearing
Rebecca Stott reflects on the sadness and wonder of clearing her mother's house.
29 Nov 2024,9 mins
The New Centre Ground
John Gray argues that we urgently need a new centre ground in British politics.
22 Nov 2024,9 mins
Existentialism and an Escaped Monkey
Megan Nolan on the almost mystical appeal of animal escapes.
15 Nov 2024,9 mins
Time Travel
Sara Wheeler reflects on the valuable perspective offered by out-of-date guidebooks.
08 Nov 2024,9 mins
Naughtie on America
Call Me Ishmael
James Naughtie with the first of four programmes on America's restless search for meaning.
11 Oct 2024,9 mins
Naughtie on America
Words, Words, Words
The second of James Naughtie's four programmes on America's restless search for meaning.
18 Oct 2024,9 mins
Naughtie on America
The Old Identity
James Naughtie continues his series exploring America's restless search for meaning.
25 Oct 2024,9 mins
Naughtie on America
The Brink
James Naughtie recalls a meeting with an ex-CIA chief worried about the future of America
01 Nov 2024,9 mins
Paranoids and Publicists
Adam Gopnik goes in search of Donald Trump's secret power, with two famous essays in hand.
04 Oct 2024,9 mins
Kamala
Zoe Strimpel's dilemma over voting for Kamala.
27 Sep 2024,9 mins
In Praise of the Nanny State
Howard Jacobson argues that liberation from red tape is no way to run a country.
20 Sep 2024,9 mins
Babies Making Babies
Megan Nolan reflects on mothers... and not mothers.
13 Sep 2024,9 mins
Debating the American Future
Sarah Dunant looks forward to next week's US presidential debate.
06 Sep 2024,9 mins