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Prescription for a Pessimist

After a break from the news, Alistair Cooke reflects on how knowledge affects the psyche.

• 15 mins

Diplomacy and Public Relations

Alistair Cooke considers President Bush's European policy blueprints.

• 15 mins

Wake Up to Summer

Alistair Cooke considers how people alter their politics from a national to a local level.

• 15 mins

Changing Tastes: 25 Years of Social Taboos

Alistair Cooke considers the changing social taboos and bigotries over the past 25 years.

• 15 mins

Ringing the Changes!

Alistair Cooke reflects on the Independence Day celebrations and the Wimbledon finals.

• 15 mins

Secret Service Secrets

Whilst Bush takes a vacation, Alistair Cooke considers the private life of the president.

• 15 mins

Stem Cell Brain Drain

Alistair Cooke weighs up the political and ethical debates surrounding stem cell research.

• 15 mins

Policies and Popularity

Whilst poll ratings stagnate, Alistair Cooke considers George Bush's popularity.

• 15 mins

East meets West

Alistair Cooke explores Europe's ignorance of America's long history with the Far East.

• 15 mins

Golf: It's a Very Difficult Game

A special mixed-couples golf match heightens Alistair Cooke's passion for golf.

• 15 mins

Life, Death and Medical Research

A coma patient makes Alistair Cooke consider the complex ethics of medical advancement.

• 15 mins

Financial Wizards and Economic Prophecy

Alistair Cooke considers the worldwide pandemic of economic decline.

• 15 mins

The Threat from Wobbling Warheads

Alistair Cooke reflects on President Bush's desire to build a defence missile shield.

• 15 mins

A Conference Against Human Prejudice

A UN convention on racism reminds Alistair Cooke of racism in professional tennis.

• 15 mins

America's Day of Terror, 9/11

Reactions to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001.

• 15 mins

America on Standby

In the 9/11 aftermath, Alistair Cooke reflects on Mayor Giuliani reaction to the attack.

• 15 mins

The "Loss of Eden"

Alistair Cooke recalls Einstein’s warning letter to the US President about nuclear power.

• 15 mins

Civil Rights and Censorship

Alistair Cooke compares the UK government’s civil rights abuses with those of the USA.

• 15 mins

Blair and Bush: The special relationship

Alistair Cooke reflects on Tony Blair's popularity ratings in America.

• 15 mins

In The Olden Time: Before 11 September

Alistair Cooke reflects on how the September 11th attack has changed the American psyche.

• 15 mins

Living with anthrax

Amid scares of anthrax in the post, Alistair Cooke considers the emotional effect of 9/11.

• 15 mins

The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Alistair Cooke reflects on how America is coping after the 9/11 terrorist attack.

• 15 mins

The Stars and Stripes

Alistair Cooke reflects on the outburst of flag hanging since the 9/11 attacks.

• 15 mins

Project Space Guard

Extraterrestrial catastrophes remind Alistair Cooke of The Space Guard Project.

• 15 mins

French forces in Afghanistan, November 2001

The assassinations of Lincoln and Kennedy. Plus UN debate on war with Afghanistan.

• 15 mins

The Terrorists' Trojan Horse

Born in the USA? Alistair Cooke reflects on Al-Qaeda's use of home grown terrorists.

• 15 mins

Security, Civil Rights and New Laws

Racial profiling at airports since 9/11 is an ethical dilemma for Alistair Cooke.

• 15 mins

The Golden Gate

Alistair Cooke discusses the rumour of a potential attack on the San Francisco Bridge.

• 15 mins

The Messiah at Christmas

In the wake of 9/11, Alistair Cooke remembers introducing Bernstein to Handel's Messiah.

• 15 mins

Tears and Anthems

Alistair Cooke reflects on why the national anthem is more emotive since the 9/11 attack.

• 15 mins