Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Arts & Culture
Creativity and curiosity: Do we make stuff up or find it out?
The world of music has much to contribute to debate around the nexus between discovery and invention.
Professor Colin Lawson, Independent, 9 November 2011
The world of music has much to contribute to debate around the nexus between discovery and invention.
Professor Colin Lawson, Independent, 9 November 2011
From the sublime to the ridiculous: can we measure the value of the arts?
In a world that is increasingly quantified, compared and assessed, it is perhaps only fair that a framework for measuring the value of the arts is put in place. But where would we begin?
Tom Hutchinson, Independent, 28 October 2011
In a world that is increasingly quantified, compared and assessed, it is perhaps only fair that a framework for measuring the value of the arts is put in place. But where would we begin?
Tom Hutchinson, Independent, 28 October 2011
Angels: a very short introduction
What are angels? Where were they first encountered? Can we distinguish angels from gods, fairies, ghosts, and aliens? And why do they remain so popular? And what about demons?
David Albert Jones, Oxford University Press, 27 October 2011
The Simpsons versus Shakespeare
Children don’t need to go to school in order to enjoy cartoons, but that it takes years of study to understand great literature and become an educated person.
Michele Ledda, Independent, 23 October 2011
Children don’t need to go to school in order to enjoy cartoons, but that it takes years of study to understand great literature and become an educated person.
Michele Ledda, Independent, 23 October 2011
Hard as nails: Literature and translation today
Against all odds, people with different languages and cultures manage to understand one another. Not only in writing, but in speaking as well.
Miguel Ceia, Independent, 19 October 2011
Against all odds, people with different languages and cultures manage to understand one another. Not only in writing, but in speaking as well.
Miguel Ceia, Independent, 19 October 2011
Giving the people’s Bible back to the people
The King James Bible (KJB) contains 66 books; now 66 writers have been commissioned to compose plays and other performances “in response” to each of those books.
Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph, 17 October 2011
The King James Bible (KJB) contains 66 books; now 66 writers have been commissioned to compose plays and other performances “in response” to each of those books.
Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph, 17 October 2011
Young people's fiction: Feisty girls, feckless boys
In young people’s fiction, why are girls so self-righteous and boys so oafish, asks author and Costa judge Eleanor Updale
Eleanor Updale, Daily Telegraph, 6 October 2011
In young people’s fiction, why are girls so self-righteous and boys so oafish, asks author and Costa judge Eleanor Updale
Eleanor Updale, Daily Telegraph, 6 October 2011
The Purpose of Science Fiction
How it teaches governments—and citizens—how to understand the future of technology.
Robert Sawyer, Slate, 27 September 2011
How it teaches governments—and citizens—how to understand the future of technology.
Robert Sawyer, Slate, 27 September 2011
What is it about politicians and football?
What is it about politicians and football? Tony Blair bragged of growing up as a Newcastle United fan, and made sure he was seen heading the ball with Kevin Keegan, then the England manager. He even invited the England squad to Downing Street after they had been beaten by a Brazil side playing just ten men in the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup.
Michael Henderson, Daily Mail, 27 September 2011
What is it about politicians and football? Tony Blair bragged of growing up as a Newcastle United fan, and made sure he was seen heading the ball with Kevin Keegan, then the England manager. He even invited the England squad to Downing Street after they had been beaten by a Brazil side playing just ten men in the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup.
Michael Henderson, Daily Mail, 27 September 2011
How Brighton v Crystal Palace grew into an unlikely rivalry
Most of football's great rivalries involve clubs thrown together either by geography – Arsenal and Tottenham, say, or Dundee United and, er, Dundee – or by years of high-profile, high-intensity competition for the game's biggest prizes – which explains Liverpool ongoing ding-dong with Manchester United, or Real Madrid's with Barcelona.
Simon Burnton, Guardian, 27 September 2011
Most of football's great rivalries involve clubs thrown together either by geography – Arsenal and Tottenham, say, or Dundee United and, er, Dundee – or by years of high-profile, high-intensity competition for the game's biggest prizes – which explains Liverpool ongoing ding-dong with Manchester United, or Real Madrid's with Barcelona.
Simon Burnton, Guardian, 27 September 2011
What's the point of the social sciences?
"The Battle of Ideas is a must for any individual who cares about the issues of today. It is the most intelligent and stimulating forum to share ideas I have ever come across."
Clare Gerada, GP; chair-elect, Royal College of General Practitioners
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