Clive James presents reflections on topical issues ranging from politics to pop culture in this award-winning series of BBC Radio 4's A Point of View. These programmes were first broadcast between 2007 and 2009.
Episodes available:
Indefinitely 
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Duration:
11 mins
Nothing could be worse than eternal youth if it meant denying the next generation room to live, says Clive James. Celebrating the scope for human progress, as each generation gives way to the next, he reflects on the energy his own grandchildren give him – yet he does not envy them.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Duration:
11 mins
Computerised customer service systems are a modern waste of time says a frustrated Clive James - all he wants is a real person to answer the phone.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Duration:
10 mins
Clive James reflects on the media coverage of man-made global warming and stresses the need for minds to be open and the need for a fair hearing for all voices - including sceptical ones.
Fri, 4 Dec 09
Duration:
11 mins
Living in a democracy can be trying, says Clive James, until you think of the alternatives. A democracy can hope to avoid some of the abuses that even less perfect systems are guaranteed to generate.
Fri, 27 Nov 09
Duration:
10 mins
It's the spirit in which a game is played which determines whether Clive James likes or loathes a particular sport.
Fri, 20 Nov 09
Duration:
11 mins
Following the exposure of the identity of Belle de Jour, the author of The Diary of a London Call Girl, Clive James reflects on how her identity makes us think of a litany of brilliant courtesans.
Fri, 13 Nov 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James celebrates the honouring of Battle of Britain commander Sir Keith Park with a temporary statue on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth – although the achievements of some people stand so tall, he says, a statue in their honour can never match up.
Fri, 6 Nov 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James gives his personal view of the world of drugs and reflects on the seductive allure of illegal narcotics, laying the blame for their attractions at the door of the English romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his trip to Xanadu.
Fri, 30 Oct 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James reflects on the postal workers' dispute and gives his personal view of the modern history of labour relations. At the heart of the postal strike is a reminder that the relationship between workers, managers and machines can be difficult.
Fri, 23 Oct 09
Duration:
11 mins
Scepticism is important in every walk of life, says Clive James, as he criticises extreme reactions to those who are sceptical about man-made global warming.
The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.
All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties. You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast. To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of, or connected to, the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.
You need Javascript enabled and Flash version 10 installed to access this audio. Please view our BBC Webwise guide.
James Naughtie and readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best known novels. Authors include: Douglas Adams, Alan Bennett, Alice Sebold and Maya Angelou.
Sun, 5 May 13
27 minutes
All the World Service's music podcasts gathered into one place. New documentaries will be added intermittently.
Thu, 18 Apr 13
25 minutes
UK only
BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
