Know It All
From primary school dropout to earning 16 degrees, Matthew Syed explores whether the pursuit of endless learning amounts to wisdom, through the journey of a lifelong student.
From being told to stand in a dustbin in primary school because he struggled to spell, to earning 16 graduate degrees from some of the world's most prestigious universities, Benjamin Bolger's extraordinary journey is one of academia's most unconventional success stories.
In this series finale of Sideways, Matthew Syed follows Benjamin's remarkable path to explore what it really means to pursue knowledge. Does an insatiable curiosity lead to a life well lived? And how can a lifetime of information add up to genuine wisdom?
With contributions from Dr Benjamin Bolger; Dr Iain McGilchrist, psychiatrist, philosopher and bestselling author of The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World; and Professor Judith Glück, wisdom researcher and Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria.
Featuring a personal archive recording of Benjamin’s mother, Loretta.
Presenter: Matthew Syed
Producer: Vishva Samani
Editor: Katherine Godfrey
Production Manager: Joe Savage
Sound Design and Engineering: Daniel Kempson
Theme tune by Ioana Selaru
A Novel production for BBC Radio 4
On radio
Broadcasts
- Wed 2 Sep 202609:00BBC Radio 4
- Fri 4 Sep 202616:30BBC Radio 4
Sideways - Articles
Features on some of the fascinating topics from Sideways with Matthew Syed.
My last 5p: How one homeless man’s generosity led to him marrying the love of his life
How one act of generosity can have profound consequences.
Why we all need an alter ego
Matthew Syed looks at how adopting an alter ego can help us all to access confidence.
What's the secret of making a smash hit pop song?
Exploring the success of Max Martin, the behind-the-scenes genius behind 22 No.1 hits.
Podcast
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Sideways
Matthew Syed explores the ideas that shape our lives, making us see the world differently.
