The Prospect Podcast

Philosopher Clare Carlisle joins the Prospect Interview to talk about the 19th century novelist George Eliot. Celebrated as the author of Middlemarch and Silas Marner, Eliot was also an enthusiastic philosopher who notably translated the first English translation of Baruch Spinoza’s Ethics. Clare talks to arts and books editor Sameer Rahim about George Eliot’s philosophy, the novelist’s fondness for Spinoza, and the often fluid line between literature and philosophy. You can read Clare’s essay on George Eliot here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/george-eliot-philosophy-spinoza-clare-carlisle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s special edition of the Prospect Interview, we share exclusive audio from our first ever webinar for subscribers, held last Friday. In it, our most recent contributors—Oxford historian Margaret MacMillan; professor of global economic governance Ngaire Woods, and Harvard economist Dani Rodrik share their thoughts on what a post-Covid world will look like. These distinguished academics wrote essays in the latest issue of Prospect, all addressing, from different angles, the big question: what sort of universe will emerge out of the pandemic? You can read their essays online here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/issues/288 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the world slows down, many of us are thinking—what comes next? Oxford geographer Danny Dorling joins the Prospect Interview to discuss what a world after growth might look like. His latest book, Slowdown: The end of the great acceleration–and why it’s good for the planet, the economy, and our lives was written long before Covid-19 forced much of the world to stop, but many of his reflections on what a post-growth society might look like feel ever more relevant today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Infectious disease expert Adam Kucharski didn’t know that the world was going to be overtaken by a virus when he wrote his new book, The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread – and Why They Stop. But today, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine professor has a schedule filled with meetings about the progression of Covid-19—and how best to curb it. Arts and books editor Sameer Rahim talks to Adam about what it’s been like researching the disease, which countries have handled the outbreak best, and what to expect next.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Human rights lawyer and award-winning author Philippe Sands joins the Prospect Interview to talk about his new book, The Ratline: Love, Lies, and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive. The author of bestselling history memoir East West Street discusses his new book, which traces the real-life disappearance of a Nazi leader and his wife. He talks to deputy editor Steve Bloomfield about what drew him to this curious family history, what 20th century atrocities can teach us today, and—as a human rights lawyer—what concerns him about life under lockdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer Thomas Chatterton Williams joins the Prospect Interview this week to talk about his curious approach to race in America. His new memoir, Self Portrait in Black and White, explores his own background as a mixed-race child of a black father and white mother growing up in New Jersey. He talks to our Arts and Books editor Sameer Rahim about why he sometimes calls himself “ex-Black”, how he feels about calls for race reparations, and whether he really thinks, in divided political times, one might really transcend race.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Novelist Colum McCann joins the Prospect Interview this week to discuss his new bestseller, Apeirogon, a fictional story based on the real-life friendship between an Israeli and a Palestinian. He talks to our Arts and Books editor about how he went about researching the novel, learning from the Northern Ireland peace process, and why, in spite of everything, he still has hope.Colum McCann’s Apeirogon is published by Bloomsbury: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/apeirogon-9781526607874/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobel prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman joins the Prospect podcast to talk about what he calls “zombie economics”: the right-wing free market economic orthodoxy that he believes persists past its sell-by date. He also reflects on America’s 2020 election, whether he misjudged Obama, and if he has faith in the future of economics.Paul Krugman’s Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future, is published by W. W. Norton: https://www.wwnorton.co.uk/books/9781324005018-arguing-with-zombiesArticles discussed in the introduction:Paul Krugman on the coronavirus and climate change: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/opinion/coronavirus-trump-response.htmlDavid Runciman on Keynesians and the lockdown: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n07/david-runciman/too-early-or-too-lateTom Clark on coronavirus’s market aftershocks: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/locking-down-leaders-damned-whatever-they-do-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-quarantine-social-distancing-economy-recession Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Kim Ghattas joins the Prospect Interview to explain the political conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran—where did it come from, and how has it fundamentally transformed the region? She also gives her perspectives on lessons from the Arab Spring, and why her own background growing up in Lebanon means she’s able to tell stories that challenge popular Western narratives. Kim’s book, Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Rivalry that Unravelled the Middle East, is published with Wildfire: https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/kim-ghattas/black-wave/9781472271112/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early modern historian and polyglot John Gallagher joins the Prospect Interview this week to talk about language learning in Britain from the 16th century to today. What was it like when the English language was, in the words of one early modern writer, useless anywhere past Devon? And why do Brits today perform so poorly on language acquisition, especially against their continental peers?John’s book, Learning Languages in Early Modern England, is published by Oxford University Press.Plus: Stephanie Boland and Steve Bloomfield on language learning in the time of coronavirus lockdown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.