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Thinking Allowed

Affluence

Thinking Allowed

BBC

Science, Society & Culture

4.4997 Ratings

🗓️ 15 November 2017

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Affluence - from the Kalahari desert to Wall St; Laurie Taylor explores contrasting conceptions of material plenty and the 'good life'. He's joined by James Suzman, an anthropologist who has spent 30 years studying and spending time with the bushmen of Namibia and Rachel Sherman, Associate Professor of Sociology at The New School whose study of wealthy New Yorkers found an uneasiness, as well as an enjoyment in affluence.

Producer: Jayne Egerton.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

0:07.0

Happiness Podcast.

0:08.0

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

0:14.4

to share that science with you.

0:16.1

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

0:19.4

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

0:25.5

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:31.7

How might I justify my immense wealth? Find out.

0:37.0

This is a Thinking Loud Podcast from the BBC, and for more details in our terms of use and much much more about thinking

0:44.5

allowed go to our website at BBC.co. UK.

0:50.0

Hello I was recently about to be introduced to a very rich man.

0:54.4

He's made millions out of the crash I was told and he's got this fabulous park lane flat,

0:59.5

bang next to the Dorchester and a virtual castle in southern Spain, two to infinity pools, but honestly they went on.

1:06.4

I mean you wouldn't know it from looking at him. He's really down to earth, very basic.

1:11.1

He never actually even mentions money. Well of course he doesn't I thought.

1:16.2

Of course he doesn't. Hadn't I learned years ago from my childhood reading of Emmel and

1:20.8

the detectives and it's only those who don't have money who spend much of their time

1:24.3

talking about it. In a society with at least some token commitment to equality talking about money

1:29.6

when you have wads of the stuff is not only vulgar but also likely to

1:33.4

arouse the wrath of any lurking Bolsheviks, all of which means that

1:37.6

a special credit must go to the author of a new book which explicitly

1:40.8

explores how the rich do talk about money or can be made to talk about money,

...

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