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Solitude

Will the clutter and chatter of the modern world crowd out those precious moments when we need to be on our own? With Eleanor Catton, Diana Senechal and Yiyun Li.

Do you crave precious moments of solitude, to take stock and think things through? Or do you loathe being alone and always try to be around other people? Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss solitude are New Zealand novelist Eleanor Catton, New York educator Diana Senechal and Chinese-American writer Yiyun Li.

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 Apr 2014 02:06GMT

Chapters

  • Diana Senechal

    Solitude is good for learning

    Duration: 17:47

  • Yiyun Li

    Why some people choose to be alone

    Duration: 05:13

  • 60 Second idea

    Think before you 鈥楲ike鈥 something

    Duration: 05:31

  • Eleanor Catton

    Not all solitude is loneliness

    Duration: 11:59

Diana Senechal

Diana Senechal

Diana Senechal聽 currently teaches philosophy at Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science & Engineering.聽 Her book, Republic of Noise: The Loss of Solitude in Schools and Culture, examines ways in which individuals, schools, and culture are pushing solitude aside. It looks at what solitude is; why we need it and avoid it; and what can happen when we drive it away.聽 Photo by StudioDuda Photography.

Yiyun Li

Yiyun Li

Yiyun Li grew up in Beijing and now lives in the United States. Kinder Than Solitude, her latest novel, explores why some people choose to be alone:聽 as a way to avoid facing uncomfortable questions about the past. Her other books include A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, The Vagrants,聽 and Gold Boy, Emerald Girl. They have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Eleanor Catton

Eleanor Catton

Eleanor Catton was born in Canada but raised and lives in New Zealand. The winner of the prestigious 2013 Man Booker Prize, and a host of other awards, Eleanor鈥檚 second novel The Luminaries is set in 19th century New Zealand, a world littered with loners who've abandoned friends and families in search of gold.聽 But not all solitude is loneliness: 鈥業t鈥檚 dreadful to feel alone and really be alone.聽 But I love to enjoy the feeling when I am not鈥, says one of Catton鈥檚 characters.聽 Photo 漏 Robert Catto

60 Second Idea to Change the World

60 Second Idea to Change the World
Diana Senechal suggests that whenever anyone clicks on a 'Like" icon (on Facebook or elsewhere), a popup should appear that reads: "Popularity is not the same as quality. Proceed anyway?鈥 The popup would cast doubt on an array of similar certainties and would help create a shyer, humbler, more inquisitive culture.聽 Sooner or later, the number of 鈥淟ikes鈥 would go down but their meaning would rise. Over time, we would witness a renaissance of meaning on the internet and in our lives.

In Next Week's Programme

If we want to stop wars and violence do we need to re-imagine peace first?聽 With Gabrielle Rifkind, Mary Zournazi and James Blair.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 19 Apr 2014 21:06GMT
  • Sun 20 Apr 2014 09:06GMT
  • Mon 21 Apr 2014 02:06GMT

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