In the last episode of Season 7, Liba Taub introduces the science of ancient Greece and Rome and details the link between poetry, philosophy, and science. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/VSI-Ep-79-Ancient-Greek-and-Roman-Science-transcript.pdf Learn more about Ancient Greek and Roman Science: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/ancient-greek-and-roman-science-a-very-short-introduction-9780198736998 Liba Taub is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, in the Depart ..read more

In this episode, David A. Bell introduces Napoleon Bonaparte and his revolutionary life and career. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VSI-Ep-78-Napoleon-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Napoleon: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/napoleon-a-very-short-introduction-9780199321667 David A. Bell is the Sidney and Ruth Lapidus Professor in the Department of History at Princeton. He is the author of seven books, including the prize-winning The First Total War (2007), and, most rece ..read more

In this episode, Ross H. McKenzie introduces condensed matter physics, the field which aims to explain how states of matter and their distinct physical properties emerge. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VSI-Ep-77-Condensed-Matter-Physics-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Condensed Matter Physics: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/condensed-matter-physics-a-very-short-introduction-9780198845423 Ross H. McKenzie is an Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Queensla ..read more

In this episode, Naomi Zack introduces democracy and the challenges posed against such a foundational part of our lives in the 21st century. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/VSI-Ep-76-Democracy-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Democracy: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/democracy-a-very-short-introduction-9780192845061 Naomi Zack is Professor of Philosophy at Lehman College, CUNY. Her recent books include The American Tragedy of COVID-19: Social and Political Crises of ..read more

In this episode, Lyman Tower Sargent introduces utopianism, an idea that is commonplace in our society and has shaped our politics, literature, and religion. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-75-Utopianism-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Utopianism: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/utopianism-a-very-short-introduction-9780199573400 Lyman Tower Sargent is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is the primary bibliographer i ..read more

In this episode, Elleke Boehmer introduces the world-renowned figure of Nelson Mandela and looks critically at his legacy. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-74-Nelson-Mandela-transcript.pdf Learn more about Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/nelson-mandela-a-very-short-introduction-9780192803016 Elleke Boehmer is Professor of World English at the University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing at Wolfson College. She is a Fellow of ..read more

In this episode, David Sterritt introduces the Beats, the generation of writers in the 1950s and 1960s who broke taboos and countered conservative culture to change American literature. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-73-The-Beats-transcript.pdf Learn more about The Beats: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-beats-a-very-short-introduction-9780199796779 David Sterritt is Professor Emeritus of Theatre and Film at Long Island University and Editor-in-Chief of the Quar ..read more

In this episode, Jolyon Mitchell introduces martyrdom and explores why we view historical martyrdom differently than acts of martyrdom in today’s world. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-72-Martyrdom-transcript.pdf Learn more about Martyrdom: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/martyrdom-a-very-short-introduction-9780199585236 Jolyon Mitchell is Principal of St John’s College, Durham University and a Professor specialising in Religion, Violence and Peacebuilding. He is au ..read more

In the first episode of Season 7, David Weir introduces what we mean when we refer to the “bohemian” lifestyle and culture, and the way it has influenced spheres such as literature and cinema. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-71-Bohemians-transcript.pdf Learn more about Bohemians: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/bohemians-a-very-short-introduction-9780197538296 David Weir is Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Professor Emerit ..read more

In the last episode of Season 6, Alan Tansman introduces Japanese literature, a canon that stretches back 1500 years, and includes writers such as Murasaki Shikibu and Haruki Murakami. Learn more about Japanese Literature: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/japanese-literature-a-very-short-introduction-9780199765256 Alan Tansman is Professor and Louis B. Agassiz Chair in Japanese at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of The Writings of Kôda Aya, The Aesthetics of Japanese Fascism, and The Culture of Japanese Fascism ..read more