The Essay Episodes Available now
A War of Words—The Free Thinking Essay
6/10 Christopher Bannister on the way a fashion show in Buenos Aires helped win World War II.
Doing Nothing—The Free Thinking Essay
5/10 Alistair Fraser on teenagers, gangs and filling time.
Educating Ida—The Free Thinking Essay
4/10 Eleanor Lybeck on the women campaigners satirised in an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Does Trusting People Need a Leap of Faith?—The Free Thinking Essay
3/10 Tom Simpson on a study of suspicion in a 1950s Italian village and community relations now
Art for Health's Sake—The Free Thinking Essay
2/10 Daisy Fancourt's research shows the arts can improve health so should we prescribe them?
Welling Up: Women and Water in the Middle Ages—The Free Thinking Essay
1/10 Hetta Howes looks at male fears + why Margery Kempe was criticised for crying and bleeding
Beyond the Crisis of Attention—Are You Paying Attention?
5/5 In her final essay, writer Madeleine Bunting asks whether we are in a crisis of attention.
Prayer and Snake Oil—Are You Paying Attention?
4/5 Writer Madeleine Bunting explores some key moments in the history of attention.
Escaping the Onslaught—Are You Paying Attention?
3/5 Writer Madeleine Bunting presents her third essay on attention in the digital age.
Multitaskers and Gorillas—Are You Paying Attention?
2/5 The writer Madeleine Bunting continues her exploration of how we pay attention.
