Growing up with a passion for literature and reading, Diana Athill went on to read English at Oxford after which she helped André Deutsch establish his publishing house. It was a small but influential...More Growing up with a passion for literature and reading, Diana Athill went on to read English at Oxford after which she helped André Deutsch establish his publishing house. It was a small but influential company and Athill worked closely with many authors including Phillip Roth, Norman Mailer, V. S. Naipaul and Gitta Sereny.

Ben A. Barres is an American neurobiologist who teaches at Stanford University. His research focuses on the interaction between neurons and glial cells in the nervous system. Barres was born Barbara...More Ben A. Barres is an American neurobiologist who teaches at Stanford University. His research focuses on the interaction between neurons and glial cells in the nervous system. Barres was born Barbara Barres and became a man in 1997.

Thomas Eisner, a professor at Cornell University, is a world authority on animal behavior, ecology, and evolution, and a pioneer of chemical ecology, the discipline dealing with the chemical...More Thomas Eisner, a professor at Cornell University, is a world authority on animal behavior, ecology, and evolution, and a pioneer of chemical ecology, the discipline dealing with the chemical interactions of organisms. Eisner is a well-known nature photographer, an avid pianist and occasional conductor.

Concert pianist Alice Herz Sommer has experienced a wealth of suffering. Incarcerated in Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Second World War, she survived the Holocaust with her young son,...More Concert pianist Alice Herz Sommer has experienced a wealth of suffering. Incarcerated in Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Second World War, she survived the Holocaust with her young son, although her husband died. Despite these experiences, along with her battles with cancer and the tragic loss of her son to illness in 2001, she remains passionate about music and life.

A distinguished British political observer, Anthony Howard has written for “The Guardian”, “The Sunday Times” and “The Observer” for over 40 years, during which time he has commented on the historical...More A distinguished British political observer, Anthony Howard has written for “The Guardian”, “The Sunday Times” and “The Observer” for over 40 years, during which time he has commented on the historical significance of global political issues. He was also editor of “The Listener” and “The New Statesman”, and has been a reporter on both “Newsnight” and “Panorama”.

British-born independent scientist and environmentalist James Lovelock has worked for NASA, the Institute for Medical Research in London and MI5. He invented the electron capture detector, but he is...More British-born independent scientist and environmentalist James Lovelock has worked for NASA, the Institute for Medical Research in London and MI5. He invented the electron capture detector, but he is perhaps best known for proposing the Gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the Earth’s biosphere is a self-regulating entity with the capacity to keep our planet healthy by controlling the chemical and physical environment.

Initially studying medicine at Cambridge, Sir Jonathan Miller came to prominence with the production of the British comedy revue Beyond the Fringe. Following on from this success he embarked on a...More Initially studying medicine at Cambridge, Sir Jonathan Miller came to prominence with the production of the British comedy revue Beyond the Fringe. Following on from this success he embarked on a career in the theatre, directing a 1970 West End production of “The Merchant of Venice” starring Lawrence Olivier. He also started directing opera, famously producing a modern, mafia-themed version of “Rigoletto”.

British author Redmond O’Hanlon writes about his journeys into some of the wildest places in the world. His travels have taken him into the jungles of the Congo and the Amazon, he has faced some of...More British author Redmond O’Hanlon writes about his journeys into some of the wildest places in the world. His travels have taken him into the jungles of the Congo and the Amazon, he has faced some of the toughest tribes alive today, and has sailed in the hurricane season on a trawler in the North Atlantic. In all of this, he explores the extremes of human existence with passion, wit and erudition.

Martin Raff is a Canadian-born neurologist and research biologist who has made important contributions to immunology and cell development. He has a special interest in apoptosis, the phenomenon of cell...More Martin Raff is a Canadian-born neurologist and research biologist who has made important contributions to immunology and cell development. He has a special interest in apoptosis, the phenomenon of cell death. Recently retired from his professorship at University College, London, these stories were recorded in 2000.

From her earliest experiences as a welfare officer looking after concentration camp survivors, Gitta Sereny was fascinated by the Holocaust and the nature of those who had engineered this systematic...More From her earliest experiences as a welfare officer looking after concentration camp survivors, Gitta Sereny was fascinated by the Holocaust and the nature of those who had engineered this systematic genocide. She went on to write “Into That Darkness”, a work based on her conversations with Franz Stangl, the commandant of Treblinka death camp, and later wrote a critically-acclaimed biography of Hitler's main architect and close friend, Albert Speer.

Edward Osborne Wilson, Harvard University, is an American biologist, researcher (sociobiology, biodiversity), theorist (consilience, biophilia), naturalist (conservationist) and author (two Pulitzer...More Edward Osborne Wilson, Harvard University, is an American biologist, researcher (sociobiology, biodiversity), theorist (consilience, biophilia), naturalist (conservationist) and author (two Pulitzer Prizes). His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants.