
NEW in Understand: How Reading Made Us
Did learning to read rewire our brains and change the way we live today? And with reading on the decline, what does this mean for our ability to think? With writer James Marriott.
Understand from BBC Radio 4 - unravelling the complexities of the biggest stories and subjects that really matter right now.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 83 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsNewsGovernment | |||

Learning to read permanently alters your brain. It changes the emotions you experience and the way you relate to others. When a society learns to read the consequences are dramatic: wars break out, revolutions erupt and new political systems spring i... more
Reading seems an unremarkable skill. When we say something is as “easy as ABC”, we mean it is very easy indeed. In fact, learning to read has dramatic and irreversible consequences for people and for societies. Learning to read permanently alters you... more
Reading seems an unremarkable skill. After all, everyone can read. Even small children. When we say something is as “easy as ABC”, we mean it is very easy indeed. In fact, learning to read has dramatic and irreversible consequences for people and for... more
The story of how reading made us and what might happen if we stop - with James Marriott.
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The show is billed as one Tim on the BBC podcast menu and show description, however it’s actually by another Tim, regardless it’s an excellent show!
How to rate Understand? It consists of multiple series, each of varying quality, but usually above average. The same can be said of its individual episodes. The aim of Understand is to document the UK's post- Cold War consensus and resultant decline. Post-WW1, it was called the Great Depression, and Churchill kicked Britain out of that. After WW2, it was unionised sclerosis, and Thatcher kicked Britain out of that. Following the collapse of communism, it's mass immigration and the return to squa... more
I would describe this show as fast-paced, breezy, and chipper. I listened to three of the four series they put out, and I only really got anything out of the one about the history of Israel and Palestine. The others were too quick and superficial. I think you could get more out of reading the Wikipedia page about any of these topics than you will from the 10-minute episode about it. There are better tech or political explainers out there.
This is a really helpful foundation and bite size review of the history of the region. Thank you to those involved.
Very informative and enjoyable. Thank you.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #31 | |
Apple Podcasts | #62 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #90 | |
Apple Podcasts | #123 | |
Apple Podcasts | #23 |
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The content explores significant shifts in US foreign policy, tracing its evolution from historical doctrines to contemporary practices. Covering key events and decisions, the discussions highlight how these changes reflect America's adaptive responses to global dynamics. Notably, the series examines whether the approaches taken during Donald Trump's presidency are radical deviations or continuations of longstanding American strategies. Through insightful analyses and expert commentary, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding US international relations and its implications for global politics.
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Understand launched 3 years ago and published 83 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Understand include:
1. Jung Chang
2. Sarah Maxwell
3. Maryanne Wolf
4. Douglas Brinkley
5. Gül Dölen
6. Eugenia Bone
7. Katrin Preller
8. Lucie Berkovitch
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