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David Runciman

The History of Ideas Podcast
with David Runciman

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A bi-weekly podcast exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, science to fiction.

Latest episode

The History of Bad Ideas: Genius

19 June 2025

00:00 / 01:04

Today’s bad idea is ‘genius’, the label that has enabled all sorts of terrible behaviour through the ages. Writer and broadcaster Helen Lewis explains how and why the idea of genius gets misapplied to people and things that just aren’t. Why are geniuses meant to be tortured? Why are individual geniuses prized over the collaborations that lie behind most innovations? Why do we think that people who are brilliant at one thing will be good at everything else? Plus, David makes the case for Dickens as a bona fide genius.

The Genius Myth by Helen Lewis is out from today wherever you get your books https://bit.ly/3FSAKda

David’s new 20-part series Postwar – about the 1945 general election and the making of modern Britain – is available now on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002d8v1

Next time on The History of Bad Ideas: The Decisive Battle w/Dan Snow

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More episodes

The History of Bad Ideas: Austerity

15 June 2025

00:00 / 01:04

Politics on Trial: Charles I vs Parliament

12 June 2025

00:00 / 01:04

Politics on Trial: Galileo vs the Inquisition

8 June 2025

00:00 / 01:04

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