The Economist: Culture

Our science columnist, Oliver Morton, joins Matthew Sweet to talk about energy in our cells. It flows across cellular membranes with a force as strong as lightning, helps to explain why things age, and may even give us a new way to understand life itself

P.W. Singer and August Cole discuss their new thriller, in which America's navy fights back against a Chinese invasion of Hawaii with the support of hackers, venture capitalists and an Australian billionaire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They were the stories that gripped a generation. So what imprint did they leave on young minds? In this episode, Matthew Sweet is joined by the novelist Katherine Rundell to talk about the influence Harry Potter had on her

More and more decisions are being dictated by data. So where does that leave our hunches? Matthew Sweet is joined by the author Ian Leslie and The Economist's data editor Kenneth Cukier to work it out

The Economist’s business affairs editor, Andrew Palmer, discusses his new book “Smart Money”, which argues that for all its flaws, we need the finance industry more than ever Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Palmer on the good that finance can do

Finnish author Sofi Oksanen discusses her latest book "When the Doves Disappeared" and her own family’s experience with deportations and resistance in Estonia

Books of the year

Steven Pinker on bad and good writing

Big data at school: Customising education or creating a permanent record?

Karl Ove Knausgaard's whole life: My Struggle

The Vikings' rich history: Beyond berserk

Russia and America: A prickly pair

Russia and America: A prickly pair

Mr Selden's Map of China