A recipe for festivals
The experience of speaking at food festivals made me wonder whether we should shake up our assumptions about the way book festivals do and should work. Book lovers could learn a few lessons from the foodies.
ReadAuthor: Julian Baggini
Are free markets bad for good food?
Genuinely free markets are not the enemies of a sound food economy. The problem is with under-regulated markets. To some ‘regulated market’ is an oxymoron, but this is a historical and factual mistake. Free does mean unfettered but free from distortion by manipulation or misinformation. That is why Adam Smith, for example, favoured breaking up monopolies and cartels. Markets need to be regulated in order to be free, fair and sustainable.
ReadWho’s responsible for our happiness?
Some have concluded that governments should focus less on raising GDP and more on increasing general happiness. But not so fast. Happiness promotion is not the only alternative to wealth creation. Human wellbeing is surely greater than being in a good mood more of the time.
ReadThe case for shame
Most people seem happy to harness the power of shame when the victims are the rich and powerful. But our attitudes to shame are actually much more ambivalent and contradictory. That’s why it was a stroke of genius to call Paul Abbott’s Channel Four series Shameless. We are at a point in our social history where the word is perfectly poised between condemnation and celebration.
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