
LSE Review of Books
A podcast series from the LSE Review of Books blog lsereviewofbooks.com - the podcasts give listeners the opportunity to hear prolific authors and academics discuss the ideas behind their latest books.
Latest episodes

Jul 22, 2014 • 30min
LSE Review of Books Podcast in Brazil: Episode 3: Politics, People and Petroleum [Audio]
Contributor(s): Francisco Panizza, Anthony Hall, Guy Michaels, Francesco Casselli, André Vitor Singer, Armando Simões, Antonio Claret Campos Filho, Marcos Mendes, Marislei Nishijima | In the third and final episode of our series on Brazil, we head inland from Rio de Janeiro, to the heart of the country’s political life: the capital of Brasília. Authors from the LSE, the University of São Paulo, and Brasília policymakers, talk to LSE Review of Books about left-of-centre politics and social development in the country. We also find out whether Brazil proves or disproves the "oil curse" theory. Presented by Amy Mollett. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Music and sound came courtesy of: Groove Gravy Records for "Jazzilicious Sambossa" from their Brazil Remixed album with special permission; TVBNR "Em pronunciamento, Dilma do Bolsa Familia" via Youtube (CC BY); DJ Sunho from the album DJ Sunho in Brasil with special permission; and selections from SoulBrigada presents One Note Samba Mixtape Vol.2. (CC BY). Published 22 July 2014.

Apr 2, 2014 • 36min
LSE Review of Books in Brazil: Favela life: From Drugs Gangs to Drums Beats [Audio]
Contributor(s): Sandra Jovchelovitch, Jacqueline Priego-Hernandez, Paul Heritage, Silvia Ramos, Celso Athayde | In this second episode of our three-part series on Brazil, the LSE Review of Books Podcast, we spend time in Rio de Janeiro’s morros, or hills, to see just how two grassroots movements are shaking things up in the city’s favelas. Sandra Jovchelovitch, Director of the Social and Cultural Psychology Programme at the LSE, and researcher Jacqueline Priego-Hernandez, about their new book: Underground Sociabilities: Identity, culture and resistance in Rio’s favelas. Paul Heritage, Professor of Drama and Performance at Queen Mary College in London, also talks about art in the city's periphery at a circus school in central Rio. Other guests include: Silvia Ramos, Public Security expert in Rio and Celso Athayde, founder of CUFA (Central Unicas das Favelas). Presented by Amy Mollett. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. All contributors in order of appearance: Sandra Jovchelovitch, Jacqueline Priego-Hernandez, Silvia Ramos, Jailson de Souza e Silva, Celso Athayde, Cristal Moniz de Aragão, Angela Arruda, Pedrinho Guareschi, Paul Heritage. Translations by: Sierra Williams (Silvia Ramos), Simon Bastow (Jailson de Souza e Silva), Chris Gilson (Celso Athayde), Eduardo Feteira (Pedrinho Guareschi). Music and sound came courtesy of: DJ Sunho from the album DJ Sunho in Brasil with special permission; The Prelinger Archives: Brazil: South American Medley (National Geographic, 1948); Banda AfroReggae for their songs:" Capa de Revista" and "Conflitos Urbanos"; CriadaFavela via Soundcloud for "Feito pra favela mast. gravação voz ProDbeats"; Groove Gravy Records for "Jazzilicious Sambossa" from their Brazil Remixed album with special permission; Robinhood: A circus jump via Freesound.org; and Ergo Phizmiz "Music for an Underground Circus" via Free Music Archive. Crescer e Viver photos: © 2013 Catarina Heeckt. Published 2nd April 2014.

Feb 25, 2014 • 11min
LSE Literary Festival 2014: The books that inspired Ellen Helsper [Audio]
Contributor(s): Dr Ellen Helsper | To celebrate and support the LSE Literary Festival the LSE Review of Books is asking prominent LSE academics and event speakers about the books that inspired them into their academic subject. In this podcast, Dr Ellen Helsper, Lecturer in the Media and Communications Department at the LSE, talks us through the books that have inspired her interest in media technologies and privacy. Ellen will contribute to the Literary Festival event titled "Private Lives: Do we still value our privacy?" on 1st March 2014. Presented by Amy Mollett. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Other contributor: Ellen Helsper. Music courtesy of Candlegravity for the song Tomie's Bubbles on Freemusicarchive.org.

Feb 21, 2014 • 9min
LSE Literary Festival 2014: The books that inspired David Stevenson [Audio]
Contributor(s): David Stevenson | To celebrate and support the LSE Literary Festival the LSE Review of Books is asking prominent LSE academics and event speakers about the books that inspired them into their academic subject. In this podcast, David Stevenson, Professor of International History at the LSE, tell us about the books on World War I that have had the most impact on his academic career. Professor Stephenson will chair at this year's Literary Festival titled "Why Remember? Reflections on the First World War Centenary" on 26th February. Presented by Amy Mollett. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Other contributor: David Stevenson. Music courtesy of Nic Bommarito for his song Casiotone Walt on Freemusicarchive.org.

Feb 17, 2014 • 8min
LSE Literary Festival 2014 - The books that inspired Craig Calhoun [Audio]
Contributor(s): Amy Mollett, Craig Calhoun | To celebrate and support the LSE Literary Festival the LSE Review of Books is asking prominent LSE academics and event speakers about the books that inspired them into their academic subject. In this podcast, The Director of the LSE and world-renowned sociologist, Professor Craig Calhoun, tells us about the classical social theorists who inspired him early in his career, and why the most inspiring books are the ones with which you find a multitude of limits and problems. Presented by Amy Mollett. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Other contributor: Craig Calhoun. Music courtesy of Podington Bear for his song Lilywhite on Freemusicarchive.org.

Feb 7, 2014 • 22min
LSE Review of Books in Brazil: Rio in transition [Audio]
Contributor(s): Cheryl Brumley | In the first episode of a three-part series on Brazil, the LSE Review of Books Podcast takes a closer look at the city of Rio de Janiero to uncover wider issues that face the world’s fastest growing cities. Before talking to LSE and Brazilian authors about their books on Brazil, LSERB podcast producer, Cheryl Brumley, made her first stop at the annual Urban Age Conference to hear how politicians, academics and planners from cities around the globe grapple with city transformations. The conference, put on by LSE Cities and the Alfred Herrhausen Society, is a globetrotting event which invites 70 experts to participate in a two-day investigation of cities. The conference took place in Rio amidst unprecedented urban transformation and ambitious redevelopment projects, spurred on by the impending World Cup and Olympic Games. This podcast features Ricky Burdett, Director of LSE Cities, and architectural adviser to the London 2012 Olympics; Washington Farjado, Adviser on Urban Affairs to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro; Dame Tessa Jowell, MP and former UK Minister for the Olympics; Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogota; Amanda Burden, Director of the New York City Department of Planning; and many others. Presented and produced by Cheryl Brumley. Other Contributors in order of appearance: Ricky Burdett, Antoni Vives, Washington Farjado, Jurgen Bruns-Berentelg, Dame Tessa Jowell, Anthony Williams, Andy Altman, Jailson de Sousa e Silva, Suketu Mehta, Alejandro Echeverri, Edgar Pieterse, Amanda Burden, Silvio Torres, Maria Olivia Rocart, Enrique Penalosa, Adam Greenfield. Music and sound came courtesy of: DJ Sunho from the album DJ Sunho in Brasil with special permission; The Prelinger Archives: Brazil: South American Medley (National Geographic, 1948).

Dec 3, 2013 • 29min
Episode 8: Architecture and Design: Framing the urban experience [Audio]
Contributor(s): Amy Mollett, David Kohn, Fran Tonkiss, Hyun Bang Shin | In this podcast we set out to explore how design and architecture can enhance and manipulate our everyday experiences. Architect David Kohn, co-designer of A Room for London, discusses how design can influence the way we experience everything from time to the urban experience. Fran Tonkiss, LSE Reader in Sociology and Director of the LSE Cities Programme, talks about her latest book on the social life of urban form and why ‘the devil gets all the best designs’. Hyun Bang Shin, LSE Associate Professor in Geography and Urban Studies, talks about reading Marx under South Korea’s strict national security laws and how this has influenced his own work on urban displacement. Presented by Amy Mollett. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Other Contributors: David Kohn, Fran Tonkiss, Hyun Bang Shin. Music and sound came courtesy of the following users at freesound.org: Corsica_S (Argon Sky Multisample), Klankbeeld (Riverside and (traffic horns city nervous busy); inchadney (seagulls); Synth pad (ambient pad); The Working Bamboo (Piano ambient); Bosk 1 (wind houling); Stomachache (New Year 2012); Leady (War Noise REV); Fonogeno (police sirens); Suonho (crystal airlines). From The FreeMusicArchive.org: Dumbo Gets Mad (Radical Leap), Podington Bear (Sneaker Chase); Sunsearcher (Latin Rhythm); and Telegraphy (Grey Matter). Photo collage: matt_e from Flickr.com.

Sep 30, 2013 • 8min
Academic Inspiration: Deputy Director of LSE Stuart Corbridge [Audio]
Contributor(s): Stuart Corbridge | In this special edition podcast, Stuart Corbridge, Professor of International Development, Provost and Deputy Director at the LSE, focuses on the books that have inspired him throughout his academic career: From the Marxist theory that shaped his undergraduate study, to the many books on India and development studies that have inspired his passion for these areas, and finally through to a very special history of The Beatles. To read more academic inspiration essays and the latest social science book reviews visit LSE Review of Books.com Presented by Amy Mollett. Contributors: Stuart Corbridge. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Music courtesy of Podington Bear (Falcon Hood) from the Freemusicarchive.org.

Jul 17, 2013 • 32min
Episode 7: Behind Economics and Finance: Prisoners’ Dilemmas and Payday Lenders [Audio]
Carl Packman, a researcher and author of 'Loan Sharks', dives deep into the troubling rise of payday lending in the UK, revealing its impact on vulnerable communities and the cycle of debt it creates. John van Reenen, Director of LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, reflects on the influential books that shaped his economic perspective, showcasing how narratives and trust play crucial roles in decision-making. Together, they explore the blend of economic theory and real-world implications, making complex ideas relatable.

Jun 14, 2013 • 8min
The Women’s Library @ LSE [Audio]
Contributor(s): David Doughan, Asiya Islam, Amy Mollett | This special joint podcast from the LSE Review of Books and LSE Equality and Diversity, examines the history of the newly acquired Women’s Library at the LSE through the eyes of a long-term librarian. David Doughan MBE, who has been at the Women's Library for 23 years, speaks to Asiya Islam about the continued significance of the library and its role in the late 20th century feminist movement. Presented by Amy Mollett. Contributors: Asiya Islam, David Doughan. Produced by Cheryl Brumley. Music courtesy of Duke Hugh (Sweet and Lowdown) from the Freemusicarchive.org.