Month: May 2011

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World Book Club - Boris Akunin – The Winter Queen

Detective Erast Fandorin investigates a student's apparent suicide in 19th-century Moscow. Russian writer Boris Akunin talks to Harriett Gilbert and listeners in the studio and around the world about his page-turning, best-selling crime novel The Winter Queen.

After setting out to solve the apparent suicide of a university student in 19th Century Moscow, eager young investigator Erast Fandorin soon finds himself embroiled in a far-reaching international conspiracy.

Boris Akunin tells us where he found the inspiration for his winning young detective who bounces from one cliff-hanger to the next. He also describes why short Russian literature - rather than the heavy tomes of earlier generarions - provides a better "role model" for today's youngsters.

Photo: Boris Akunin Credit: Getty Images

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Motley Fool Money - Motley Fool Money: 05.06.2011

What does the death of Osama bin Laden mean for investors? What was the most surprising thing about this year's Berkshire Hathaway meeting? Will thinking like an economist really improve your marriage? We tackle those questions and talk about the business of Buffett with Lou Ann Lofton, author of Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl: And Why You Should, Too.  Plus, Spousonomics author Jenny Anderson explains how using economics can help you improve your marriage.

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Start the Week - 02/05/2011

Andrew Marr explores how far empathy, or the lack of it, can explain cruelty. Simon Baron-Cohen proposes turning the focus away from evil or specific personality disorders, and to understand human behaviour by studying the 'empathy circuit' in the brain. Gwen Adshead, a forensic psychotherapist at Broadmoor Hospital and the crime writer Val McDermid question whether this would help in their line of work, and the philosopher Julian Baggini tries to pin down what we mean when we talk about the self.

Producer: Katy Hickman.