What is it to imagine exactly? How do we go about it, and why is it so important that we imagine for ourselves? In July 2023 author and Condé Nast Britain managing director Albert Read came to Intelligence Squared to explain that the imagination is not just the preserve of artists and creatives but rather a muscle – an essential faculty of the mind which we can all train and develop throughout our lives. Drawing on his new book The Imagination Muscle, Read explains how the imagination is central to human achievement. In conversation with Times columnist and author of What I Wish I'd Known When I Was Young: The Art and Science of Growing Up, Alice Thomson, the discussion touches on art, music, film, literature, science and entrepreneurship. As technology advances and threatens to take over the creative aspects of our lives, Read's book suggests it is more pressing than ever to harness the power of our imaginations.
We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.
Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.
And if you’d like to get ad-free access to all Intelligence Squared podcasts, including exclusive bonus content, early access to new episodes and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today for just £4.99, or the equivalent in your local currency .
Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Putin's Shrinking Circle: Russia after Prigozhin
Whose Word is 'Woke'?
The New Science Behind Tackling Depression
Naomi Klein on Conspiracies, Doppelgangers and Democracy's Demise
Mustafa Suleyman on the AI Revolution, Part 2
Mustafa Suleyman on the AI Revolution, Part 1
John Gray and David Runciman on Finding Meaning in a Post-Liberal World
Politics in the Age of Chaos with Rafael Behr
Trash Talk: The Dirty Truth About What We Throw Away
Debate: The Battle for the Countryside, with George Monbiot and Rory Stewart
No Bullsh*t Leadership: Sir Nicholas Hytner
How Extremists are Taking Over
David Baddiel: The Reluctant Atheist, Part 2
David Baddiel: The Reluctant Atheist, Part 1
How Misinformation Led to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Katherine Ryan: How I Found My Voice
Ravinder Bhogal and Kavita Puri on Taste, Tradition and Turmoil
Debate: Burgundy vs Bordeaux
Growing Up Between Two Cultures
Adam Buxton: How I Found My Voice
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Maverick Show with Matt Bowles