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The FT's books of the year special is out, and today, our literary editor Fred Studemann and outgoing deputy books editor Laura Battle join us one last time to talk about their top picks of 2024. This year has seen some huge releases from authors including Sally Rooney, Miranda July, Alexei Navalny, Al Pacino and Salman Rushdie. What trends did Fred and Laura notice this year? What books did they love? -------As you know, the show is ending in early January – we're still collecting your cultural questions. What's rolling around in your head? How can we help? Email Lilah at lilahrap@ft.com or message her on Instagram @lilahrap.-------Links (all FT links get you past the paywall): – Books we mentioned: Orbital by Samantha Harvey; Patriot by Alexei Navalny; All Fours by Miranda July; Haunted Wood by Sam Leith; Rosarita by Anita Desai; There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak; Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World by David van Reybrouck; A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brown; Killing Time by Alan Bennett; Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Wizard of the Kremlin by Giuliano da Empoli; Hope by Pope Francis (2025); and Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2025)– The FT Books of the Year are out now! Here is a roundup of the FT's top columnists and editors' book recommendations for 2024, including Fred's top picks. Laura's fiction picks are here.– Food, drink and travel books are here. Music books here. Art and design books are here. Check out the full guide for more (paywall)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What should you read on the beach this summer? What about if you're stuck indoors, or if you need a break from kids? Each June, our literary editor Fred Studemann and deputy books editor Laura Battle put together the FT's summer books special, and today they give us their recommendations, each with a different summer activity in mind. Their overall top picks are James by Percival Everett and Knife by Salman Rushdie.-------We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap. We're on X @lifeandartpod and on email at lifeandart@ft.com. We are grateful for reviews on Apple and Spotify.-------Links (all FT links get you past the paywall): – A few categories Fred and Laura drew on from the best books special: Best fiction: https://on.ft.com/3VH3WrnBest literary non-fiction: https://on.ft.com/3VI1kt9Best audio book: https://on.ft.com/3VM1W0U– Here are the other recommendations mentioned: More by Molly Roden Winter, Long Island by Colm Tóibín, Come and Get It by Kiley Reid, Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst, Beirut Station by Paul Vidich, You Are Here by David Nicholls, Memoir of My Former Self by Hilary Mantel, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen, and Glowrushes by Roberto Piumini. Fred and Laura also recommend This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud on audiobook, narrated by Cassandra Campbell.-------Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art podcast listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial, are here: http://ft.com/lifeandart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, we talk books. The FT's books team recently published our annual books of the year special, and they join us to share their personal recommendations. They also answer listener questions: what books will get you out of ‘reader's block'? What's a good gift for a family member who loves history, or a friend who's anxious about the world? What book could you pair with a candle and some socks? Lilah speaks with literary editor Fred Studemann and deputy books editor Laura Battle. -------We love hearing from you. You can email us at lifeandart@ft.com. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap.-------Recommendations and links (all FT links get you past the paywall): Some great lists from our books of the year special:– Best fiction: https://on.ft.com/4a4xjds– Best history: https://on.ft.com/4a9ErFx– Best audiobooks https://on.ft.com/3t9tVNT– Critics' picks: https://on.ft.com/3RyWH3H– For getting past your reader's block, Laura and Fred recommend Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell and The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng. Laura also loved The Fraud by Zadie Smith– Fred's picks for history lovers are Revolutionary Spring by Christopher Clark and King: a Life by Jonathan Eig; Laura's is Red Memory by Tanya Branigan– For a stocking stuffer, Lilah suggests Love and Other Poems by Alex Dimitrov. Laura likes The Cabin by Natasha Preston and other books about the outdoors. Fred is going with Claire Keegan's So Late in the Day-------Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art podcast listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial, are here: http://ft.com/lifeandart-------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, we learn why we love the music we love. Lilah speaks with Susan Rogers, who was a recording engineer for Prince on albums such as ‘Purple Rain'. Now she's a neuroscientist who has studied what music does to the brain. Her book, 'This Is What It Sounds Like', helps us make sense of our own musical preferences. Susan joins us to listen to some music and explain how it affects us. Why is Despacito one of the most listened to songs of all time? Why does one person love techno, and another just not care? Then, ahead of the FT's Books of the Year special, our literary editors Fred Studemann and Laura Battle come on to share their personal favourite fiction books from 2022. -------Tell us your cultural prediction for 2022! You can record a voice message here: https://sayhi.chat/jzdg3If you prefer, you can email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We're on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.-------Links and mentions from the episode:– Susan's book is called This Is What It Sounds Like: What The Music You Love Says About You: https://www.thisiswhatitsoundslike.com/ – Here's the Spotify playlist, which you should listen to while reading the book: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FwghDk8f8jgJdGPIF1RNM– Fred is on Twitter @frederick65. Laura is on Twitter @battlelaura– The FT Books of the Year will be published across the FT on 26th November Books mentioned by Fred and Laura:– Trust by Hernan Diaz. FT review: https://on.ft.com/3GkYZOW– Iron Curtain by Vesna Goldsworthy. FT review: https://on.ft.com/3OfuYBT– The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li. FT review: https://on.ft.com/3tCvtg7– Punishment by Ferdinand von Schirach– Grand: Becoming My Mother's Daughter by Noelle McCarthy – A Sort of Life by Graham Greene, in Slightly Foxed Magazine– Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self by Andrea Wulf – An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong-------Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial can be found here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast-------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco-------Clips courtesy of Universal Music, DFA/Virgin / Parlophone, and Warner Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week is our summer books and films spectacular, full of recommendations of things to read and watch. First, Lilah is joined by literary editors Fred Studemann and Laura Battle to explore the FT's Summer Books special. They suggest a range of light summer reads, sharp non-fiction, deep dives, thrillers and classics to take on your summer holiday, and talk trends in book publishing. Then, deputy arts editor Raphael Abraham recommends the top films to look out for this summer. After watching 24 films in less than a week at the Cannes film festival, he's filtered the new releases down to a must-see list.--------------Tell us about your own favourite new books and films! We'll share them alongside the episode on our social platforms. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We're on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: Here's Laura's list of the best fiction summer reads: https://on.ft.com/3AvtuPg. The whole summer books special is at http://ft.com/summerbooks.Books mentioned:–Audiobooks: Bad Actors by Mick Herron and Ulysses by James Joyce–Novels that span centuries: To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara and Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel–Beach read: You Made a Fool of Death with your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi–Fun non-fiction: Circus of Dreams by John Walsh–Empire books: Legacy of Violence by Caroline Elkin and In the Shadow of the Gods by Dominic Lieven–BRussian influence: Putin's People by Catherine Belton and Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough–AI simulation: The Anomaly by Hervé Le TellierStories mentioned: –Marriage in all its divine tedium: https://on.ft.com/3KXOBfm–Edward Luce on whether America is headed for another civil war: https://on.ft.com/3yJ43az–Fred's BookTok column: https://on.ft.com/3GEC5AdFilms to watch this summer, from Raph:–Aftersun: https://on.ft.com/3uUt9lJ–Nitram: https://on.ft.com/3auhgvs–Hit the Road–McEnroe–Three Thousand Years of Longing: https://on.ft.com/3nMshLK–Elvis: https://on.ft.com/3P1Uaeu—-------------Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial can be found here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week is our summer books and films spectacular, full of recommendations of things to read and watch. First, Lilah is joined by literary editors Fred Studemann and Laura Battle to explore the FT's Summer Books special. They suggest a range of light summer reads, sharp non-fiction, deep dives, thrillers and classics to take on your summer holiday, and talk trends in book publishing. Then, deputy arts editor Raphael Abraham recommends the top films to look out for this summer. After watching 24 films in less than a week at the Cannes film festival, he's filtered the new releases down to a must-see list.--------------Tell us about your own favourite new books and films! We'll share them alongside the episode on our social platforms. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We're on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: Here's Laura's list of the best fiction summer reads: https://on.ft.com/3AvtuPg. The whole summer books special is at http://ft.com/summerbooks.Books mentioned:–Audiobooks: Bad Actors by Mick Herron and Ulysses by James Joyce–Novels that span centuries: To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara and Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel–Beach read: You Made a Fool of Death with your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi–Fun non-fiction: Circus of Dreams by John Walsh–Empire books: Legacy of Violence by Caroline Elkin and In the Shadow of the Gods by Dominic Lieven–BRussian influence: Putin's People by Catherine Belton and Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough–AI simulation: The Anomaly by Hervé Le TellierStories mentioned: –Marriage in all its divine tedium: https://on.ft.com/3KXOBfm–Edward Luce on whether America is headed for another civil war: https://on.ft.com/3yJ43az–Fred's BookTok column: https://on.ft.com/3GEC5AdFilms to watch this summer, from Raph:–Aftersun: https://on.ft.com/3uUt9lJ–Nitram: https://on.ft.com/3auhgvs–Hit the Road–McEnroe–Three Thousand Years of Longing: https://on.ft.com/3nMshLK–Elvis: https://on.ft.com/3P1Uaeu—-------------Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial can be found here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This weekend, we're going behind the scenes of the FT's legendary Books of the Year roundup. Literary editor Frederick Studemann and deputy books editor Laura Battle take us into a secret room in the basement of the FT, where all the books sent in for review are kept behind lock and key. You'll leave this episode with a lot on your reading list, including recommendations from editor Roula Khalaf, FT weekend editor Alec Russell, chief economics commentator Martin Wolf and more.--------------If you want a $1 trial or 50% off a digital subscription, go to http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We're on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.--------------We want your cultural predictions, wishes, or questions for 2022! Share them with Lilah and FT Magazine editor Matt Vella by Sunday, December 12. Open your phone's voice memo app, get close to the mic and say your name, location and your thoughts, then email it to ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. You can write to us, too. But you'll sound great on tape, we promise.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Roula Khalaf recommends Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe–Pilita Clark recommends The Hydrogen Revolution by Marco Alvira and How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm. Her whole climate list: https://on.ft.com/3DFcYLr –Alec Russell recommends Sentient by Jackie Higgins and Free by Lea Ypi–Edwin Heathcote recommends Public House: A Cultural and Social History of the London Pub. His whole architecture and design list: https://www.ft.com/content/37545da9-7142-408b-a0bb-e458079ebd53 –One of Edwin's favorite books of the past few years is Sandfuture by Justin Beal. Here's his review (free to read): https://www.ft.com/content/91a35024-4e41-4325-81ca-2373321ae4ff –Fred Studemann recommends Notes from Deep Time by Helen Gordon, The Passenger by Ulrich Boschwitz and Just the Plague by Lyudmila Ulitskaya–Laura Battle recommends Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, and the audiobook of Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. Her whole fiction list: https://www.ft.com/content/7a881a03-2462-459e-930c-f526e4e54449 –Martin Wolf's economics list: https://www.ft.com/content/25ca2b59-8047-4f9b-bf99-e7f7c15d8d51 –Explore the whole Books of the Year package: https://www.ft.com/booksof2021Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This weekend, we're going behind the scenes of the FT's legendary Books of the Year roundup. Literary editor Frederick Studemann and deputy books editor Laura Battle take us into a secret room in the basement of the FT, where all the books sent in for review are kept behind lock and key. You'll leave this episode with a lot on your reading list, including recommendations from editor Roula Khalaf, FT weekend editor Alec Russell, chief economics commentator Martin Wolf and more.--------------If you want a $1 trial or 50% off a digital subscription, go to http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We're on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.--------------We want your cultural predictions, wishes, or questions for 2022! Share them with Lilah and FT Magazine editor Matt Vella by Sunday, December 12. Open your phone's voice memo app, get close to the mic and say your name, location and your thoughts, then email it to ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. You can write to us, too. But you'll sound great on tape, we promise.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Roula Khalaf recommends Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe–Pilita Clark recommends The Hydrogen Revolution by Marco Alvira and How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm. Her whole climate list: https://on.ft.com/3DFcYLr –Alec Russell recommends Sentient by Jackie Higgins and Free by Lea Ypi–Edwin Heathcote recommends Public House: A Cultural and Social History of the London Pub. His whole architecture and design list: https://www.ft.com/content/37545da9-7142-408b-a0bb-e458079ebd53 –One of Edwin's favorite books of the past few years is Sandfuture by Justin Beal. Here's his review (free to read): https://www.ft.com/content/91a35024-4e41-4325-81ca-2373321ae4ff –Fred Studemann recommends Notes from Deep Time by Helen Gordon, The Passenger by Ulrich Boschwitz and Just the Plague by Lyudmila Ulitskaya–Laura Battle recommends Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, and the audiobook of Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. Her whole fiction list: https://www.ft.com/content/7a881a03-2462-459e-930c-f526e4e54449 –Martin Wolf's economics list: https://www.ft.com/content/25ca2b59-8047-4f9b-bf99-e7f7c15d8d51 –Explore the whole Books of the Year package: https://www.ft.com/booksof2021Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
What will the world look like when machines are cleverer than we are? Fred Studemann, Literary editor, and John Thornhill, Innovation editor, discuss how different writers have imagined the future in response to the advance of artificial intelligence.Contributors: Fred Studemann, Literary editor, and John Thornhill, Innovation editor. Producer: Fiona Symon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
How will the struggle for power between China and the US play out and how will it determine the future world order? Fred Studemann puts this question to China expert Rana Mitter, who has reviewed a series of books looking at the issue from different perspectives.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Fred Studemann, books editor, and Rana Mitter, director of the Oxford University China Centre and author of 'Modern China: A Very Short Introduction' See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The scientific study of different forms of the human race has a bad history, culminating in the atrocities of Nazi Germany. But despite its discredited record, race science is enjoying something of a revival. Writer Angela Saini discusses her new book: Superior: The Return of Race Science with Fred Studemann and Clive Cookson.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Fred Studemann, FT books editor, writer Angela Saini and Clive Coookson, FT science editor. Producer: Fiona Symon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Treating men as the 'default human' in economic planning is not only costly for society but the practice can also be deadly for women when applied to things like medical trials. This is a case made by Caroline Criado-Perez in her book: Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Fred Studemann talks to FT business editor Sarah Gordon about the arguments put forward. Read Sarah's book review here Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Fred Studemann, books editor and Sarah Gordon, business editor. Producer: Fiona Symon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The US Congress is packed with a new generation of radical Democrats and impeachment is in the air. But are there sufficient grounds to take such an action against Donald Trump and would it be a wise move? Fred Studemann puts these questions to Ed Luce, the FT’s US national editor.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Frederick Studemann, books editor, and Edward Luce, US national editor. Producer: Fiona Symon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
As Angela Merkel struggles to form a new government, Guy Chazan and Fred Studemann join Gideon Rachman to discuss if we are witnessing the end of the Merkel era? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Helen and Stephen discuss the Brexit negotiations and the lack of progress on the Irish border question. Then, they wonder what Labour is up to at the moment. Finally, they answer a listener question: how sinister is the Legatum Institute?Contact us on Twitter @ns_podcasts, @helenlewis or @stephenkb. Further reading:Fred Studemann on German politics.Stephen in 2016 on Michael Gove and the single market. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Daniel Dombey asks Gideon Rachman, the FT's chief foreign affairs columnist, and Fred Studemann, features editor, how the big events of 2016 - Brexit, the US election, and Syria - will play out on the world stage in the coming year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Angela Merkel is facing a new challenge to her leadership after the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany dealt her party a stinging blow in a regional election on Sunday. What threat does the success of the populist party pose for German stability and for Merkel's chance of remaining as chancellor? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Stefan Wagstyl, the FT's Berlin bureau chief and Fred Studemann, comment editor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats suffered a setback in regional elections last weekend. How wounded is the chancellor and have German politics changed fundamentally under the pressure of the refugee crisis? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Fred Studemann and Stefan Wagstyl. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The German federal election is less than two weeks away, and the consensus among experts is that Angela Merkel will secure a third term in office. As the world’s fourth largest economy, Germany appears socially and financially secure, so what issues will decide the outcome of the vote and how far down the political agenda have developments in Syria fallen as a result? Joining Gideon Rachman are Fred Studemann, comment editor, and Michael Steen, Frankfurt bureau chief. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.