Joe Moran has spent his life trying to get to grips with his shyness. In this Field Guide to Shyness, he explores the hidden world of reticence, navigating the myriad ways scientists and thinkers have tried to explain and cure shyness, and uncovering the fascinating stories of the men and women who were 'of the violet persuasion'.

"It feels like coming late to a party when everyone else is about three beers in and entering that state that allows them to have fluent exchanges that settle on some pre-agreed theme as if by magic."

Early 20th century working class British culture valued shyness in its men. But by the 1960s this natural reserve no longer fitted with our confident, post-war view of ourselves as a nation. Could the swinging 60s sweep away our shyness? It was now seen as a disability it was everyone's duty to overcome. And yet, two decades later, indie music made stars out of paralysingly shy men like Steven Morrissey. Moran explores our ambiguous War on Shyness.

Read by Nigel Planer
Written by Joe Moran
Abridged and produced by Hannah Marshall
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4. Show less