In 'Rumbles', Elsa Richardson leads readers on a lively tour of the gut, exploring its influence on cognition, mental well-being, and emotions. The book spans from ancient Greece to Victorian England, eighteenth-century France to modern America, and includes a diverse cast of characters such as Edwardian bodybuilders, hunger-striking suffragettes, and medieval alchemists. Richardson scrutinizes various historical sources, including religious tracts, etiquette guides, satirical cartoons, and political pamphlets, to answer the millennia-old question: Are we really ruled by our stomachs?
Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
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Cultural historian Elsa Richardson discusses her book, Rumbles: A Curious History of the Gut. It looks at our relationship over the centuries with a very intimate part of the body but one for which many know little more about than having a general gut feeling. Richardson is Lecturer of History at the University of Strathclyde and holds a Chancellor's Fellowship in the History of Health and Wellbeing at the Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare. In addition to lecturing in the history of medicine and her own research, she also curates arts and science events for public institutions, including the Wellcome Collection. Joining Richardson in conversation for this episode is the historian Helen Carr, an award-nominated writer and broadcaster specialising in medieval history and public history. Her popular books include The Red Prince and the upcoming Sceptered Isle.
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