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Oliver James

Not in Your Genes

Hay Festival 2016, 

The clinical psychologist explores the childhood causes of our individuality, “revealing why our upbringing, not our genes, plays such an important role in our wellbeing and success. The implications are huge: as adults we can change, we can clutch our fates from predetermined destiny, as parents we can radically alter the trajectory of our children’s lives, and as a society we could largely eradicate criminality and poverty.” James will also illustrate his thesis through a new book he has written about the impact of David Bowie’s childhood on his work and public personas. Chaired by Daniel Davis.