Lessons in Life
A selection of programmes looking at self-improvement.
Happier—Heal Thyself: A History of Self-Help
From Marcus Aurelius to Men Are From Mars, let's get richer, happier and more productive.
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Self-Improvement—The Bottom Line
Evan Davis and guests discuss the business of making your life better.
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The Quantified Self: Can Life Be Measured?—Analysis
Life-logging and other obsessions of the nascent 'quantified self' movement explored.
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Arts—The Value of Failure
Author Anne Enright reflects on the nature of failure in her life.
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Walking for Spiritual Renewal—Ramblings, Series 23
Clare Balding attempts to walk in a silent, meditative state. It doesn't come naturally.
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Can we control our behaviour?—The Human Zoo, Series 3
Michael Blastland explores human foibles. Can we really control our own behaviour?
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Real Change—A Point of View
AL Kennedy doesn't like change. But she thinks she should change her atittude.
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In Pursuit of Happiness
Claudia Hammond looks at the government's plan to measure the nation's happiness.
The secret of a happy marriage—A Point of View
Adam Gopnik presents his formula for a happy marriage - lust, laughter and loyalty.
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The Stress Special—All in the Mind
The launch of an online experiment to test the nation's mental health.
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Happiness and Optimism—All in the Mind
Claudia Hammond asks Martin Seligman if we can all be taught to be happy.
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Ethical capital - The Burden of Happiness—Thinking Allowed
Is happiness the answer? Pascal Bruckner says it is not. Also, the legacies of the poor.
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The Pursuit of Happiness—Moral Maze
Combative debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories.
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Bernard Cornwell, Self Improvement Books, and Nevil Shute's On the Beach—Open Book
Mariella Frostrup talks to Bernard Cornwell about his new book Azincourt.
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Virtue—In Our Time
Melvyn Bragg explores the meaning and purpose of the philosophical concept of virtue.
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Military—The Value of Failure
Former Air vice-marshal Sean Bell on how the forces teach recruits to tackle failure.
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Episode 4—Am I Normal?, Series 8
What level of tiredness is normal and when should we seek help? Vivienne Parry finds out.
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James Pennebaker and Expressive Writing—Mind Changers
James Pennebaker proved that simply writing about how you feel can improve your health.
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Business—The Value of Failure
Entrepreneur Keith Cotterill on understanding the value of failed start-ups.
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Happiness—In Our Time
Melvyn Bragg considers whether 'happiness' means living a life of pleasure or of virtue.
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Education—The Value of Failure
Head teacher Heather Hanbury on why her school teaches children to fail, and fail well.
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Episode 1—Cappuccino Careers
Series following the eight workers picked from 1,700 who applied to work at a new Costa.
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Sport—The Value of Failure
Cricketer Ed Smith on his failure to play more than three times for England.
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