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BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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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: Preparation

Embracing the Classical

24/09/2017

Preparation

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, Preparation

Mark Tully examines the much-vaunted precept that preparation is the key to success.

Preparation: 'Failure to prepare is preparing to fail,' said Benjamin Franklin. He is one of many eminent figures who lay great store by this idea. Mark Tully considers its wisdom.

For the boy scouts and Cicero, for Benjamin Franklin and Confucius, preparation has been a key to success. Some, however, feel that too much preparation is the gateway to procrastination - that it is dangerous to be over-prepared. 

Mark Tully considers both these views - the wisdom of preparing and the value of spontaneity - with the help of writers as diverse as Napoleon Bonaparte, Effie Waller Smith and Louis MacNeice. There is music too from Mozart, Paul Termos and Charlie Parker.

The readers are David Holt, Adjoa Andoh and Francis Cadder.

Written and presented by Mark Tully
Produced by Frank Stirling.

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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