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Something Understood

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

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Something Understood: Mentors

Mentors

16/10/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, Mentors

Mark Tully discusses the importance of mentors in our lives.

Mark Tully discusses the importance of mentors in people's lives and the pleasures and pitfalls of being a mentor.

Particularly in the aftermath of disturbances like the British riots in August, youth mentoring programmes have been much a frequent topic for discussion in recent months. 

In this edition of Something Understood, Mark Tully examines the important part a mentor can play in everybody's life. He also examines some of the attendant dangers in being a mentor, the temptation to exploit, patronize or underestimate a pupil, charge or protege. 

Writer and broadcaster Malchi O'Doherty remembers his troubled relationship with his mentor for three years, a Hindu guru in India and we hear about mentors of all types from spiritual directors and schoolteachers to musicians and youth workers. With music from Bach, Tavener and Bernstein and readings from Denise Levertov and Umberto Eco. 

The readers are Hattie Morahan and Dan Stevens. 


Producer: Frank Stirling. 
A Unique production for BBC Radio 4.

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