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When our arts desk asked 20 experts to list the books that got them through their 20s, I doubt they expected one of them to come back with Heart of Darkness. A mesmerising work of genius, sure, but a companion to surviving early adulthood? When I read the explanation as to why this book made it on to the list, however, I was immediately convinced.
I think that’s why this two-part series – the second of which we published this week – has proven so popular. It’s an unexpected reading list for an uncertain period in anyone’s life. Madame Bovary isn’t a character you would want to emulate in your 20s but her story has a lot to teach us, so it made the cut. In fact, there's arguably something to offer readers of any age in the lineup and certainly inspiration for Christmas pressies for the young people in your life.
News that a crypto investor based in Thailand has donated a record-breaking £9 million to Reform has party finance specialist Sam Power wondering: could we please start talking seriously about capping political gifts? British elections are small-fry compared to the orgy of spending that characterises a US contest. And maybe we should want to keep it that way.
With this year’s flu season tipped to be exceptionally bad, we thought it would be a good moment to answer some key questions on vaccination. Who should get one, how well does it work and what will happen when you’ve had the jab? All covered in this essential guide.
And this interesting article proposes a technique to help inoculate yourself against misinformation. It explains how using visual thinking to analyse what you see online can help you critically analyse whether what you’re looking at is all that it seems. There’s even a guide to trying it yourself.
Also this week, the secrets spilled by a database of 290,000 medieval soldiers, the reason why Your Party chose such a terrible name and the benefits of eating kimchi.
And if you’ve enjoyed our content this week, please do consider becoming a donor to The Conversation.
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Katarina Båth, Lund University; Ellen Howley, Dublin City University; Emily Hauser, University of Exeter; Jenni Ramone, Nottingham Trent University; Lewis Mondal, Royal Holloway, University of London; Martha McGill, University of Cambridge; University of Warwick; Nada Saadaoui, University of Cumbria; Olumayokun Ogunde, City St George's, University of London; Scarlett Baron, UCL; Tom Emanuel, University of Glasgow
We asked 20 of our academic experts to recommend the book that steered them through this challenging decade.
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Catherine Wilson, University of Glasgow
This year’s flu season started early and is expected to be severe. Here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated, from timing and side-effects to how well it works.
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Sam Power, University of Bristol
Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne has given the largest ever single donation to a British political party.
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Adrian R Bell, University of Reading; Anne Curry, University of Southampton; Jason Sadler, University of Southampton
We created the database in order to challenge assumptions about the lack of professionalism of everyday soldiers.
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Christopher Adam, University of Oxford; İrem Güçeri, University of Oxford
The country can’t keep tinkering with a dysfunctional tax system and expect things to get better.
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Shaun Nolan, Malmö University
We are entering an era where seeing is no longer believing.
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Alicia Denby, Manchester Metropolitan University
Singlehood has been rebranded as a time for self-love, self-prioritisation and personal growth.
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Nicholas Dickinson, University of Exeter
Parties of the British left have been notorious for the arguments about what names mean. No wonder this new endeavour chose a name that effectively says nothing.
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Philip Murphy, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Help! might sit uncomfortably for a lot of viewers today but it should not be allowed to fall into obscurity
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Rachel Woods, University of Lincoln
As little as 30 grams of kimchi per day may lead to beneficial immune system changes.
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Gemma Ware, The Conversation
Political scientist Carolyn Holmes speaks to The Conversation Weekly podcast about the history of American interest in South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority.
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