Science

Hear first-hand from a pioneer who changed the world. Visionary inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee tells the remarkable story of how he created the World Wide Web. He reveals This is for Everyone as part memoir, part manifesto, reminding us that he gave the web freely to the world, and urges us to work together to protect it as a force for good. He talks to John Thornhill, innovation editor at the Financial Times.

Come on a fascinating tour of the night sky and hear the stories of how the stars have shaped us through the ages. Whether a budding astronomer or an armchair stargazer, this will make you want to rush outside and look up in search for the curve of the Milky Way.

Dr Sheila Kanani MBE demystifies the rich tapestry of stars in our skies and reveals how stars have helped people to explore and understand the Earth over time. And, thrillingly, she shows what you’d see if you could jump on a spacecraft and explore these galaxies yourself. Kanani talks to Philippa Hall, presenter of the Quick Book Reviews podcast.

Who really decides what we eat, and which medicines we take? How much is down to what we as consumers need, and how much is decided by power, policy and profit? Doctors Kamran Abbasi, editor-in-chief of the British Medical Journal, and Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People, and the cross bench peer Rosie Boycott expose the networks between government and big business and argue that hidden influences are having a huge impact on public health. Expect a lively, engaging and sometimes shocking discussion.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. During the walk we’ll discuss the impact of the climate emergency on national parks.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

Why do we find love so difficult? Psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz sheds light on the universal experience of love and its ups and downs, in this enlightening conversation with author and psychologist Claudia Hammond. Grosz shares stories and insights about love gained from 40 years of conversations with his patients. He suggests that learning how to love is work well worth doing, and points us towards what we can do to be ready to truly love.

Grosz is a practising psychoanalyst and author of best-seller The Examined Life. Hammond is presenter of several podcasts and radio shows including All in the Mind on BBC Radio 4 which covers psychology, neuroscience and mental health.

Why does Reform appeal to so many voters? Can they be attracted back to the centre ground? Former Labour cabinet minister Liam Byrne MP exposes the forces propelling the populist surge – and sets out a plan to stop it. He’s joined by Financial Times journalist John Burn-Murdoch, for a deep analysis of why we vote the way we do. They talk to Anna Foster, presenter of Radio 4’s flagship Today programme.

Prediction has always shaped the way we live – from the oracles of the ancient world and the astrologers of the Middle Ages, to today’s algorithms determined by computer scientists and statisticians. In this conversation with technology journalist Jamie Bartlett, Carissa Véliz uncovers the unspoken truths of putting too much stock in predictions about the future, and the practical and philosophical risks we face when we hand our hopes and data to AI.

In her latest book Prophecy, the University of Oxford professor looks at medicine, climate, technology and society, revealing how predictions about humans are often self-fulfilling, why more data doesn’t mean better outcomes, and how prediction is much more about power than it is understanding the future.

Plankton are the silent heroes of our planet. They produce about half the Earth’s oxygen and are the foundation for all sea life. In this first appearance discussing his new book, Vincent Doumeizel brings plankton to life, revealing how the smallest life forms can have the biggest impact. He uncovers the hidden connections between the microscopic life in the ocean and the survival of our planet.

A seaweed expert, director of the Food Programme at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and senior adviser on the oceans to the United Nations Global Compact, Doumeizel’s work has made significant advancements to global nutrition security.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. During the walk we’ll discuss the impact of the climate emergency on national parks.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

The climate crisis is accelerating. Inequality is deepening. Public trust is crumbling. Ahead of the release of her new book, the visionary economist Professor Mariana Mazzucato presents a new theory of the common good – a rigorous reimagining of economics and a manifesto for a future economy that serves people and the planet. She talks to editor-in-chief of The Economist Zanny Minton Beddoes.

In partnership with The Economist.

How can ancient cultures open up our senses and help us dream of a better collective future? Bringing together ideas, traditions and perspectives from indigenous cultures, Brazilian anthropologist Hanna Limulja considers how dreaming is a form of indigenous resistance and hope while Bolivian writer Liliana Colanzi reflects on how environmental devastation and neoliberal violence threaten to create a dreamless future. They talk to British Library curator Polly Russell.

In You Glow in the Dark, Colanzi imagines eerie, post-nuclear futures where survival and postcolonial revolution are the norm, while Limulja’s work focuses on how dreams have been part of the territorial and cultural struggle of the Yanomami people.

Join world-renowned public health expert, Devi Sridhar, for a fascinating, myth-busting conversation about what really determines how long – and how well – we live. Forget the simple eat better, move more, sleep well mantra; Sridhar argues that good health depends as much on public policy as personal choice. In conversation with best-selling science writer Professor Dan Davis, she explores how things like clean water, safe transport, and strong community health systems can transform lives. Drawing on powerful real-world examples, this lively and insightful discussion reveals how smarter policies can help us all live longer, healthier lives. Thought-provoking, hopeful and urgently relevant.

Prepare to be shocked by this alarming exposé of the plastics industry and its impact on us all. Plastic is present in every part of our daily lives, despite many of us trying to cut back on the amount we use. In this hugely thought-provoking conversation, award-winning journalist Beth Gardiner reveals why the industry is planning to increase production in years to come, despite the public’s overwhelming desire for less plastic in our lives. She talks to the Observer’s climate editor Jeevan Vasagar.

Gardiner has written for the New York Times, the Guardian and the National Geographic. She is author of Choked, a close look at air pollution. Her latest work exposing the plastics industry in Plastic Inc. is similarly disturbing and likely to provoke many to demand change.

Is Europe becoming irrelevant on the world stage? The US and China are battling it out for technological dominance, economic influence, military might and global governance. So where does it leave European nations? This panel puts this profoundly changing world order under the microscope. David Miliband, former UK foreign secretary and now President of the International Rescue Committee, philosopher Susan Neiman, and international law expert Philippe Sands join Misha Glenny, host of the BBC’s In Our Time. Combining political, philosophical and legal perspectives, they discuss the challenges – and opportunities – that lie ahead on the world stage.

When endless to-do lists, constant notifications and mounting expectations compete for our attention, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in our modern world. Claudia Hammond, with her practical and evidence-based toolkit, can help.

The author and BBC Radio 4 presenter speaks to journalist Catrin Nye, offering practical strategies for managing procrastination, regret, imposter syndrome, perfectionism and more. Arrive feeling like your problems can’t be solved, and leave this event with science-backed solutions to help you feel calmer.

Hammond is a writer and broadcaster, visiting professor of the public understanding of psychology at the University of Sussex, and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind.

If you’re worried about AI, this is an unmissable event. Award-winning journalist and author Karen Hao exposes the impact of AI on our democracies, our planet and our private lives. With unparalled access to the company behind ChatGPT, she argues the industry is having a sinister impact on society and warns that the vast growth of the tech companies behind AI has created a new kind of empire. She talks to Carissa Véliz, an Oxford professor and expert on AI ethics, privacy and surveillance. This is a unique chance to hear two of the most influential voices on AI discuss the promises, perils and ethical dilemmas shaping the world ahead.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The Park’s expert ecologists will introduce you to some of the captivating local flora and fauna.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

Join gut health guru and best-selling author, Professor Tim Spector, for a lively dive into the bubbling world of fermentation. In conversation with lifestyle journalist Gaby Huddart, Spector reveals how everyday microbes – tiny invisible chefs – can transform our food, boost our health, and even put us in a better mood. From sauerkraut to kimchi, sourdough and even coffee, discover how fermented foods can profoundly influence our gut health, boost our immunity and kickstart our overall well-being.

Expect humour, fascinating science, and practical tips to make your kitchen a thriving microbial playground. Perfect for food lovers, science fans, and anyone curious about the quirky, powerful world of microbes that live inside – and alongside – us.

What awaits us in the deep? Dive into the power of the ocean with Tom Whipple for a live recording of BBC Radio 4's Inside Science. With amazing ocean guides Helen Czerski and Vincent Doumeizel alongside, Tom will illuminate the mysteries and challenge the controversies behind the sea science that’s changing our world.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The Park’s expert ecologists will introduce you to some of the captivating local flora and fauna.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

At a pivotal moment for our climate, economist and academic Nicholas Stern comes to Hay Festival with a powerful message: we do not have to choose between prosperity and the planet.

Drawing on decades at the forefront of international climate policy – including his landmark Stern Review – Stern argues that climate action is the growth story of the 21st century. The real risk lies not in acting, but in failing to act. Bringing together economics, finance, politics and behavioural science, he sets out a bold, practical vision for transforming our economies to deliver sustainable, inclusive growth while tackling the climate and biodiversity crises head on.

As Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, Stern offers an unrivalled insight into what must happen next. Urgent, authoritative and solutions-driven – this is an essential Hay Festival conversation about the future we choose. He talks to the BBC’s Europe editor Katya Adler.

A masterclass in how to train your brain to adapt and survive in a world of AI and technology. Neuroscientist and author Hannah Critchlow reveals how our 21st-century brains are already changing. But don’t panic – she also knows how we can actively nurture them to thrive in our rapidly changing world. She reveals what cutting-edge neuroscience tells us about creativity, empathy and resilience – and why these human strengths will be more important than ever. A Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge and one of the UK’s most compelling scientific voices, Critchlow invites us all to reconsider not just how our brains function, but what they’re capable of becoming.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is also home to a UNESCO geopark, and on the walk the Park’s Geopark Officer Alan Bowring will offer a journey through deep time, exploring the geology of the hills.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is also home to a UNESCO geopark, and on the walk the Park’s Geopark Officer Alan Bowring will offer a journey through deep time, exploring the geology of the hills.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work.

What makes us who we are today? Science professors Turi King and Adam Rutherford discuss the fascinating world of DNA and genes with best-selling science writer Professor Dan Davis. The pair share true stories from history, show us how we’re all interconnected, and illuminate who we are and how we came to be.

King’s The Secrets of our DNA: How Genetics has Changed the World is a myth-busting book that examines the world of modern genetics and reveals how DNA is essential to everything from solving crime to keeping food safe and protecting threatened wildlife. King is a scientist, presenter and author who led the genetic analysis for the identification of King Richard III.

Rutherford’s A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived at 10 Years is a look at what our genes now tell us about human history, and what history can now tell us about our genes. Rutherford is a professor of genetics and biosciences, and an author and broadcaster.

It’s likely that at some point today, you spoke to a machine that used Artificial Intelligence, a technology that is reshaping society faster than any other in modern history.

In this timely event Jamie Bartlett, one of the UK’s leading technology writers and thinkers, discusses this new world with the Observer’s technology reporter Patricia Clarke, deepening our understanding of how AI systems work, how to make the most of them, and what the dangers of them might be for us now and in the future.

Bartlett’s previous books include The Dark Net and The People vs Tech, which was longlisted for the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Writing.

The question ‘are you really the doctor?’ is one Matt Hutchinson has heard too many times. Claiming it as the title for his new book, the comedian, writer and doctor shares his experiences as a Black British doctor on the frontline of the NHS. In this frank and humorous conversation with scientist Adam Rutherford, you’ll hear more about the reality of working in healthcare as a member of an ethnic minority.

Hutchinson recounts his journey from medical school through to some of the UK’s most chaotic hospitals, highlighting both his personal experiences and the unique challenges that non-white patients face in our healthcare system. Learn about the key issues facing the NHS while celebrating the immigrant healthcare workers who are its true backbone.

The perfect session if you love new ideas, original thinking and passionate speakers.

Here we present the joy of maths, genealogy and language all on one ticket! Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy explains how maths shapes our creativity, geneticist Adam Rutherford will prove that everyone in the audience is of royal descent, and author Sophia Smith Galer talks about how to kill a language. Chaired by former BBC and Sky News correspondent Robert Nisbet. We guarantee you’ll leave having learnt something new – something you Heard at Hay Festival.

What can a comic book tell you about your health? Cartoonist and GP Dr Ian Williams shares how he found his voice through coining a new genre of ‘Graphic Medicine’, in this illustrated talk exploring the growing intersection of comics, autobiography, illness and healthcare.

William’s The Bad Doctor series of graphic novels draws upon his own struggles with OCD. His new book The Sick Doctor, inspired by his experience of cancer treatment, is out later this year.

Inventor and educator Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu takes us on a fun and informative deep dive into the world of chain reactions that underpin our everyday existence. Sharing personal anecdotes about how chemistry has shaped her life, as well as scientific insights, Uchegbu explains how our bodies and our world are held together by chemical bonds.

Uchegbu is professor of pharmaceutical nanoscience at University College London, and president of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. Talking to geneticist and science communicator Dr Adam Rutherford about her new book Chain Reaction, she’ll leave you thinking about the world around you in a new way.

One of the most influential thinkers in the field of AI risk explains why superintelligent AI is a global suicide bomb. In this essential session, Nate Soares, co-author of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies with Eliezer Yudkowsky, explains just why superintelligent AI could be catastrophic for our species, and how we stop it.

Soares is president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute and one of its most senior researchers. He has been working in the field of AI alignment for over a decade, after previous experience at Microsoft and Google. He talks to Patricia Clarke, technology reporter at the Observer.

Two women, two different approaches to life, one goal – to live your best life. Celebrate the joys of getting older and learn how to live a healthier life as you age in this candid and fun discussion. Wellbeing expert Liz Earle shares the science, while chef, businesswoman and Bake Off star Prue Leith divulges details from her life as a modern woman in her 80s. They talk to journalist Gaby Huddart about embracing life, the tips they swear by to keep them feeling good, and why we should all look forward to ageing.

Earle’s latest book, How to Age, draws on cutting-edge science to show us how to strengthen our bodies, to look and feel more youthful. Earle is an award-winning author and co-founder of her eponymous global beauty brand. Leith’s Being Old…and Learning to Love It is packed with her trademark wit, wisdom and no-nonsense charm as she takes a spirited canter through the triumphs, challenges and surprises of ageing well.

How can our agricultural systems adjust to the changing needs of people and planet? The challenges range from rising energy costs and labour shortages to extreme weather events, but a high level of consumer trust, investment in agritech and a shift towards regenerative practices promise hope for the industry. Our panel of experts explores what the future of farming looks like, and how we can serve people’s needs while protecting the natural environment.

Adam Henson, Countryside presenter and well-known farmer; Philip Lymbery, global CEO of Compassion in World Farming International; and Deborah Meaden, business leader and fellow of the WWF, speak to journalist and Countryfile presenter Sean Fletcher.

We use AI to help us with everything from making dinner to finding love. But what happens when we hand over judgement, decision making and critical thinking to algorithms? Will we forget how to do things for ourselves? Join leading AI experts for a provocative Hay Festival conversation. Jamie Bartlett, author of How to Talk to AI (and How Not to), journalist Aleks Krotoski, author of The Immortalists, tech journalist Madhumita Murgia, author of Code Dependent, and AI safety researcher Nate Soares, co-author of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies, examine how AI is already reshaping our behaviour – and explore what it truly means to stay human in an age of artificial minds.

Cartoonist, writer and long-time-anxious-person Gemma Correll takes us on a relatable and riotous journey through her struggles with anxiety, and introduces her graphic novel Anxietyland. Take a trip to a theme park like no other, where rides include the Hormonal Rollercoaster, the Overcaffeinated Teacups and the Train of Overthinking.

Correll discusses her struggles with anxiety, her search for relief and the realisation that it is possible to feel ok again. Correll is an award-winning cartoonist, writer and illustrator whose work has featured in the New York Times, Elle and more.

On the eve of Oak Apple Day, our panel of nature experts explore the distinguished folklore of the oak tree, sharing extraordinary tales of the nation’s forests and how they enrich our lives, as well as the threats to them and what we can all do to make a difference.

Join Jules Acton, author of Oaklore, Anita Roy, country diarist for the Guardian and editor of Gifts of Gravity and Light, and Tamara Ullyart, who leads the Woodland Trust’s ‘Forgotten Forests’ campaign, for a close-up look at the glory of the greenwood with Andrew Simms, director of the New Weather Institute.

A conversation to lift your spirits, as leading scientist Professor Daisy Fancourt reveals how art and culture can directly improve our health and wellbeing – mending us as well as moving us. Talking to Tamsine O'Riordan, Vice President for Science Books at Springer Nature, one of the world's leading research publishers, Fancourt explores the extraordinary links between creativity and health from songs that shape children’s brains to paintings and performances that ease pain, stress and depression. Learn how engaging with art and culture can reduce loneliness, build resilience and even help us to live longer. Is there a better reason to book a place at this optimistic and refreshing conversation?

Anxiety can affect the way you think, feel and behave, but what if there was a way to make it work for you? Broadcaster and psychologist Dr Sian Williams takes a warm and accessible look at anxiety, talking to journalist Kirsty Lang. She shares stories from her counselling career and her book The Power of Anxiety, and urges us to see sensitivity as a strength and anxiety as a tool.

Williams is an award-winning broadcast journalist and chartered counselling psychologist, who has worked in the NHS and privately. She hosted BBC Breakfast for 11 years, and currently presents on BBC Radio 3 and 4.

There will be a BSL interpreter at this event

Former A&E doctor and leading mental health advocate, Dr Alex George, joins comedian Sara Pascoe to explore the perennial question: Am I normal? Together, they tackle the uncertainties and anxieties so many of us share about our bodies, minds, and emotions – from self-image and relationships to mental wellbeing in a digital age. Blending humour, honesty and empathy, this very personal conversation offers practical wisdom and reassurance in a world obsessed with comparison. This event is for anyone feeling the pressures of modern life, seeking inspiration and laughter in equal measure.

There will be a BSL interpreter at this event

Internationally-celebrated choreographer and director Sir Wayne McGregor tells us how and why we should master our physical intelligence, in conversation with Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, director of V&A East.

In We Are Movement, McGregor draws on research with elite performers, athletes and cognitive neuroscientists to argue that our intelligence lies not only in our brains, but our bodies too. By learning to use it properly, we can become better communicators, more creative thinkers and live fuller lives. Filled with practical advice and inspiration, this event will have you appreciating your body in a new way.

Kenyan social entrepreneur Linda Kamau and BBC technology and social science writer and presenter Aleks Krotoski discuss the opportunities and challenges facing women carving careers in technology across Africa.

Kamau is a pioneer in the inclusion of women in technology. Co-founder of AkiraChix, she has trained hundreds of young women in programming, providing them with the tools to transform their lives and communities. She has been recognised by initiatives such as the Obama Foundation’s Leaders Africa programme, and is a member of the Segal Family Foundation, a trust supporting social justice in East Africa. Krotoski has written and presented landmark technology and social science series for BBC Radio 4 and BBC World.

They speak to Madhumita Murgia, AI editor at the Financial Times and author of Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI.

The perfect session if you love new ideas, original thinking and passionate speakers all on one ticket! Podcaster and entrepreneur Jamie Laing talks about how to be a good man in today’s society. Historian Peter Jones reveals how self-help worked in the Middle Ages. And journalist Aleks Krotoski discusses the moguls and tech bros who are trying to defy death so they can live forever. Hosted by Decca Aitkenhead, chief interviewer for the Sunday Times. We guarantee you’ll leave having learnt something new – something you Heard at Hay Festival.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, and learn more about the area’s iconic ancient and veteran trees.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

Discover the miraculous and often misunderstood world of hormones in this lively and engaging conversation. Leading endocrinologist Dr Saira Hameed, author of Signals, speaks to comedian Sara Pascoe about how hormones write life’s masterplan, as well as control our minute-to-minute experiences, from appetite to mood.

Combining science, history and patient stories, this informative and accessible event will have you thinking differently about hormones, and provide a deeper understanding of how health and happiness depends on their power. Hameed is a consultant endocrinologist for the NHS, a senior tutor and an honorary clinical senior lecturer at Imperial College London.

Come on a walk through the beautiful surrounds of Hay-on-Wye, led by guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, and learn more about the area’s iconic ancient and veteran trees.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful countryside that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

A moving and nuanced look at what it is to struggle in the wake of distressing and painful life events, with forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead. Calling on her expertise and long career working in the NHS, including in prisons and secure hospitals, Adshead brings to life the work of therapy, and shares stories of patients who have stepped out of the darkness of shame and fear to discover new possibilities. You’ll leave thinking in new ways about trauma, with myths about its toxicity and permanence burst.

Adshead, author of Unspeakable (co-authored with Eileen Horne), has worked as a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist in the NHS for three decades. She speaks to neuropsychology professor Catherine Loveday.

In this rare and personal conversation, BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth interviews her sister, the economist Kate Raworth, about her groundbreaking book Doughnut Economics. Kate is at the forefront of rethinking how the economy works, so that everyone can live well without compromising the planet. During this intelligent and thought-provoking session, Kate and Sophie explore the challenges of how we meet people’s needs within the Earth’s environmental limits; and ponder the parallel lines of their own careers and how they’ve inspired each other along the way. Warm, insightful and full of humanity, this is a must for those who enjoy smart, accessible discussion about the world’s biggest challenges – and how we might fix them.

What makes us who we are? Is it our background that creates our identities? Or our families, where we lived, how we were brought up and educated? The answer is all of the above, but more fundamental than any of these is our brain. Neurologist Masud Husain uses real-life examples of patients to show us how our brains create our identity and how that identity can be changed by brain dysfunction. Among his patients is a man who ran out of words, and a woman who stopped caring what others thought of her. Husain is professor of neurology and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Oxford and a practising clinician with over 30 years’ experience. He talks to TLS arts editor Lucy Dallas.