Richard Sennett is a sociologist and the Centennial Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics, whose work has given particular focus to areas such as how we co-exist in urban spaces and our places of employment. But his new book looks at the role of performance in society. The Performer explores how the spectacle of the arts can be mirrored in roles found elsewhere in life, such as in politics and wider everyday business, where we’re often being encouraged to try and make ourselves the main attraction. Joining Sennett in conversation for this episode is someone who is no stranger to the merits of a good performance, Philip Colins. He was chief speechwriter for Tony Blair and has been an influential writer and columnist at publications ranging from The Times to Prospect magazine and The Evening Standard. Collins also heads up Writing Company, The Draft.
If you'd like to get access to all of our longer form interviews and members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.
For £4.99 per month you'll also receive:
- Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts
- Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series
- 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events
- Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox
...
Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99:
- Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts
- Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series
...
Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more.
...
Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and what's coming up.
https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Archive: Killer in the Kremlin, with John Sweeney
Six Centuries of Feminist Writing, with Hannah Dawson and Merve Emre
Material World: How Six Crucial Substances Shape the Global Economy
Energised: How Do We Create A Green Jobs Revolution?
Novelist Helen Oyeyemi on Why the City of Prague has Main Character Energy
Is Democracy Future-proof? with Jonathan White and David Runciman
Alastair Campbell on Starmer, Sunak, and Saving Britain From Itself, Part Two
Alastair Campbell on Starmer, Sunak, and Saving Britain From Itself, Part One
A History of Magic and Astrology
The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade
The Showman: How Volodymyr Zelensky Shines on the World Stage
How to Prevent Dementia, with Richard Restak
How to be a Supercommunicator, with Charles Duhigg
Adam Grant and Tim Harford on Achieving Greatness, Part Two
Adam Grant and Tim Harford on Achieving Greatness, Part One
Fame, Women and the Toxic Noughties
Adventures in Philosophy with Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins
Life Lessons from the Early Greeks with Adam Nicolson
The Mend is Nigh: Hannah Ritchie on How to Build a Sustainable Planet
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West