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Mind and Body

Cultural discussion programme. Andrew Marr talks to games designer Jane McGonigal, science writer Jo Marchant, philosopher AC Grayling and actor Simon McBurney.

On Start the Week Andrew Marr talks to Jane McGonigal, a designer of alternate reality games, about her latest innovation SuperBetter. Designed to aid her recovery from a brain injury and subsequent depression, the game reportedly gives people a sense of control over their own health. Harnessing the mind in the fight against chronic illnesses is the subject of Jo Marchant's book, Cure, which looks at the latest research into the science of mind over body. Rational thought and magic went hand in hand in the Renaissance period and the philosopher AC Grayling looks back at the life of John Dee - mathematician, alchemist and the Queen's conjurer. The actor Simon McBurney tests the limits of perception and human consciousness as he recreates what it feels like to be lost in the remote part of the Brazilian rainforest.
Producer: Katy Hickman.

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43 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 Feb 2016 21:30
BBC Radio 4

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Jo Marchant

Jo Marchant is a science journalist and author.

Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body is published by Canongate.

AC Grayling

Professor AC Grayling is Professor of Philosophy and Master of New College of the Humanities, London.

Anthony will be giving a free public lecture at the LSE at 7pm on Wednesday 24 February about his new book The Age of Genius, which is published next month.

Jane McGonigal

Jane McGonigal is a designer of alternate reality games.

SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver and More Resilient is published by Thorsons and the game can be found online for free.

Simon McBurney

Simon McBurney is Artistic Director of Complicite.

The Encounter is on at the Barbican from Friday 12 February – Sunday 6 March.

The Encounter: Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu, with a new foreword by Simon McBurney, is published on 20 February by Pushkin Press.

Credits

Presenter Andrew Marr
Interviewed Guest Jane McGonigal
Interviewed Guest Jo Marchant
Interviewed Guest AC Grayling
Interviewed Guest Simon McBurney
Producer Katy Hickman

Broadcasts

  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 09:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 21:30
    BBC Radio 4

Podcast

  • Start the Week

    Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday