The Author Archive Podcast

Laura K.Field : Furious Minds - The Making of the New Right

It seems that the current American administration is behaving in even more wild emotionally driven vindictive ways.

This gripping and shocking book tells the story of the radical conservative movement shaping Donald Trump's agenda and how it threatens freedoms, values and democracy.

Robin Dunbar - How Religion Evolved And Why it Endures

The war that is spreading across the Middle East has a religious dimension.

American aggression is supported by evangelical Christians, Iran is an Islamic state and Israel has its own Jewish deity.

Donald Trump seems to waver been god and allah.

None of the gods seem to be seekers for peace. All seek vengeance and revenge. 

In early 2025 a million Hindus tried to bathe in a river at the same time. Why would anyone think this would be a good idea.

Robin Dunbar is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford. From his academic standpoint he charts the evolution of religion in all its many guises and forms.

Does the professor's analysis explain the enduring but shrinking appeal of non logical beliefs?

Prue Leith - Being Old, and Learning to Love It!

THis book is number 10 in the Sunday Times General Hardbacks chart

In our conversation Prue talks to me about her life and how she still has a lot of fun.

Ageing, acting your age, health, exercise, fame ...... she talks about it all!!!

 

 

Sir Martin Gilbert - Never Again - history of the Holocaust

 

The new war that is happening now and the the appalling inhumanity still happening in the world makes this conversation distressingly relevant. There is the thought that some people are less human then others. 

Some people in power seem to think that bombs and missiles provide an answer.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10th 1948.

We now live in a world where the rights agreed in that document are widely ignored.

Racial intolerance is on the march . The horrible spectre of antisemitism is looming over the news as is denial of the rights of Palestinians. 

As an American bishop recently said ..... immigrants and gay people are as valuable as everyone else.

A good time to listen to the words of the late Sir Martin Gilbert.

The name Winston Churchill has been used recently to score political points.

Sir Martin Gilbert is known as Churchill's biographer, but also as the historian of the Holocaust.

This conversation with David Freeman took place when his book Never Again was published. Sir Martin's thoughts on war are sadly relevant.

Sir Martin died in 2015.

Andrew Lownie - Entitled

The man who used to be Prince Andrew is now back at his new Norfolk home with dogs for company.

Apparently he will soon have a chef and a valet who will address him as 'Sir'. Unbelievable.

The sorry story continues.

Andrew and his ex wife Sarah are in the Epstein linked news again.

The photographs of him on his knees by a young lady lying on her back on the floor don't look good. 

A new paperback edition of Entitled is published soon.

Andrew Lownie will be talking about it here on the Author Archive.

 

 

Andrew Lownie - Traitor King : The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor.

.

In the wake of the Andrew Windsor  scandal there is much questioning of the need for the  royals at all

Being royal is not a job you can apply for.  If you decide to walk away from your royal identity or are pushed away from it just what are you left with?

This book,'Traitor King', tells the story of an inglorious royal. It is a shocking example of what happens when inherited status is randomly given to a person who is clearly not up to the task. The book is the basis of the Channel 4 programme that shed light on the whole episode.

As well as telling the historical story Andrew Lownie discusses the lessons that can be learned by the present Royal Family. 

This book was published long before 'Entitled'.

 

 

 

Richard Dawkins - The War on Science

There are powerful politicians who have taken to denying scientific facts to further their own ambitions.

This took another massive leap into the abyss when President Trump removed all the limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the US.  Not a solution to the problem - just a denial of its existence. Inconvenient scientific facts denied and dismissed.

There is a new book edited by Lawrence M.Krauss - The War on Science.

Among the writers and scientists who have contributed chapters is Richard Dawkins.

Professor Dawkins talked to me about his chapter.

Eric Bibb talking about his life as a blues troubadour, the political and musical legacy he inherited from his father Leon ....and his new record.

Eric Bibb is a blues music legend.

In this conversation he talks about his teenage life growing up in the middle of the New York civil rights movement.

The people he knew... Paul Robeson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger ..... and how his father Leon Bibb continues to be an inspiration.

In the middle of an increasingly wayward world Eric Bibb is a voice of sanity.

Nina Simone

Nina Simone was born on February 21st 1933.

There has been news recently of a plan to buy Nina Simone's childhood home in Tryon North Carolina and make it into a museum celebrating the life and work of the girl who was born Eunice Waymon.

I interviewed Nina  in December 1998 just before her last ever show at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

She was talking to me for a programme on the radio station Jazz fm, which would promote the concert.

Nina had a reputation for being a tricky interviewee but on the day she was delightful and during the conversation she was eager to give her views on sexism, racism and feminism.

After the interview I  was asked to introduce Nina on stage at the Albert Hall. It was a memorable day.

 

 

Stephen P. Kershaw - The Harvest of War -Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy: Now available in paperback.

The future of democracy is a popular talking point at the moment. It seems some democratically elected leaders would like to change the system that gave them the job in the first place.

History records that we have been here before! When I talked to Dr Steve Kershaw about his book about battles in ancient Greece. it seemed that the human desire for conflict is unchanged through history. 

Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy is an entertaining and instructive read - now published in the US by Pegasus Books. 

Great review in the Wall Street Journal.

Will it be read in the White House?