Something Understood

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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: In the Interest of Boredom

In the Interest of Boredom

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, In the Interest of Boredom

John McCarthy explores that most exasperating of moods, boredom.

Boredom, wrote Fernando Pessoa, is 'like having a cold in the soul'. Why does it afflict us? And are we right to fear it? John McCarthy gets into the mood.

The Desert Fathers complained of the 'noonday demon' that tempted them away from God. Pliny wrote of people ending their lives because of taedium. But it was Charles Dickens who gave it the name we use today: boredom. He called it the 'chronic malady' of modern life.
 
John McCarthy explores this most frustrating of moods, that strips the world of meaning and forces us to face ourselves. With readings from David Foster Wallace, Fernando Pessoa and Evagrius Ponticus, and music by Alain Chamfort, Shostakovich and Erik Satie.

Producer: Jo Fidgen
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

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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In the Interest of Boredom

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