Boffins and WW I - Thinking Allowed

Here is a quick heads up about BBC's sociology program Thinking Allowed, before the newest will be put on line.

There was a fine show last week with two interesting issues. One, about so-called Boffins or Nerds or whatever the high achieving school children are pejoratively called. Presenter Laurie Taylor spoke with researcher Becky Francis from Roehampton University who studied the children and found out how they struggle in the balancing act between being good at school and being popular. What struck me the most is how thoroughly kids are aware of their position in the school class hierarchy - as if I did not remember.

The second subject may interest listeners beyond sociology. I know I have a lot of history podcast listeners among my readers who are profoundly interested in World War I. They might consider taking up Thinking Allowed's second subject. A study was made of letters sent home by soldiers in WWI and Laurie Taylor speaks with Michael Roper and Joanna Bourke what can be learned from these.

More Thinking Allowed:
Richard Hoggart,
Secular vs. Religious,
Renoir and Slumming,
Mizrahi Jews,
The weekly social science stop.