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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

BBC Radio 4 LW

Something Understood: Sleeping on It

Walking in Ireland and Spain - Philippines

10/01/2016

Sleeping on It

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, Sleeping on It

John McCarthy investigates the weird and wonderful world of sleep.

We spend around a third of our lives asleep, but rarely stop to think about it. John McCarthy considers the weird and wonderful world of sleep.

John McCarthy investigates the weird and wonderful world of sleep.

Every day, for several hours, the mind dissolves and enters a radically different realm where terrifying apparitions might appear. If it were described to us as a disease then the idea of sleep might be quite frightening! But sleep is also a wonderful place of rest and fantasy that we all frequently yearn for.

Given we spend about a third of our lives asleep, you might think that we would know a little more about it. Unless we are having trouble with sleep, as millions around the world do on a regular basis, it's a daily fact of life that we rarely consider.

John McCarthy explores the attractions and pitfalls of sleep and the ways in which writers and poets - from John Donne to Schopenhauer - have presented their ideas on sleep and dreams. Why does the reality of sleep make so many of them think about death? He talks to the physician and philosopher Raymond Tallis about sleep and what it suggests about human consciousness.

John introduces sleep related music from Chopin, The Smiths and The Incredible String Band, as well as an extract from Max Richter's epic 8-hour lullaby on Sleep.


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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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