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.
Lifestyle & Society
Page Three Girls and porn-again feminists
It really is sad that so many feminists get their knickers in a twist about the Sun’s topless beauties.
Jennie Bristow, spiked, 22 November 2012
It really is sad that so many feminists get their knickers in a twist about the Sun’s topless beauties.
Jennie Bristow, spiked, 22 November 2012
What happened to the caring professions?
The Tory drive to make teachers and carers chase after statistics has hindered rather than helped
Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, Independent, 29 October 2012
The Tory drive to make teachers and carers chase after statistics has hindered rather than helped
Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, Independent, 29 October 2012
There's a new species of prohibitionism on the rise
Instead of an outright ban on activities deemed "undesirable" - like getting off your head on booze - the state is trying to render them socially inacceptable
Jason Smith, Independent, 15 October 2012
Instead of an outright ban on activities deemed "undesirable" - like getting off your head on booze - the state is trying to render them socially inacceptable
Jason Smith, Independent, 15 October 2012
Choirs are magical - but should they be a social tool, too?
There's a risk that in using choirs for everything from helping fragmented communities to stress relief, we drag them down to the level of the mundane
Niall Crowley, Independent Voices, 10 October 2012
There's a risk that in using choirs for everything from helping fragmented communities to stress relief, we drag them down to the level of the mundane
Niall Crowley, Independent Voices, 10 October 2012
Why the 'couples where women do more housework stay together' study isn't shocking
The recent Norwegian study ‘Equality in the Home’ found higher divorce rates among couples who shared housework than among those where most of the tasks were carried out by the woman. What surprises me is that so many commentators were surprised by this.
Frank Furedi, Independent Voices, 1 October 2012
The recent Norwegian study ‘Equality in the Home’ found higher divorce rates among couples who shared housework than among those where most of the tasks were carried out by the woman. What surprises me is that so many commentators were surprised by this.
Frank Furedi, Independent Voices, 1 October 2012
Riot-hit communities need more than this lazy policy
Too often government tries to "fix" communities whose problems can only truly be solved from within
Dave Clements, Independent Voices, 30 September 2012
Too often government tries to "fix" communities whose problems can only truly be solved from within
Dave Clements, Independent Voices, 30 September 2012
My Take: 'I'm spiritual but not religious' is a cop-out
The increasingly common refrain that "I'm spiritual, but not religious," represents some of the most retrogressive aspects of contemporary society. The spiritual but not religious "movement" - an inappropriate term as that would suggest some collective, organizational aspect - highlights the implosion of belief that has struck at the heart of Western society.
Alan Miller, CNN, 29 September 2012
The increasingly common refrain that "I'm spiritual, but not religious," represents some of the most retrogressive aspects of contemporary society. The spiritual but not religious "movement" - an inappropriate term as that would suggest some collective, organizational aspect - highlights the implosion of belief that has struck at the heart of Western society.
Alan Miller, CNN, 29 September 2012
Capturing the moment the royals became slebs
Those grainy pics of a naked Kate Middleton tell a striking story about the celebrification of the Windsors.
Tim Black, spiked, 20 September 2012
Those grainy pics of a naked Kate Middleton tell a striking story about the celebrification of the Windsors.
Tim Black, spiked, 20 September 2012
Racism in football still a significant problem, says report
Racism remains a "significant problem" in British football despite improvements in recent years, according to a House of Commons committee report.
BBC News, 19 September 2012
Racism remains a "significant problem" in British football despite improvements in recent years, according to a House of Commons committee report.
BBC News, 19 September 2012
Optimism versus Pessimism
"The Battle of Ideas is a weekend like no other. I found the 2011 festival immensely stimulating. It gave me a great deal to think about, and a whole new list of books to read - from Virgil to Vygotsky. On to greater battles in 2012!"
Ken Macleod, award-winning science fiction writer; author, The Restoration Game and Intrusion
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