Every Third Thought By Robert Mccrum

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20170904

How do we approach and accept death?

In 1995, aged 42, Robert McCrum suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off.

Ever since that life-changing event, he has lived in the shadow of death, unavoidably aware of his own mortality. And now, 21 years on, he is noticing a change - his friends are joining him there. Death has become his contemporaries' every third thought.

The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?"

With the words of Robert's favourite authors as travel companions, Every Third Thought takes us on a journey through a year and towards death itself. As he acknowledges his own and his friends' ageing, he confronts an existential question - in a world where we have learned to live well at all costs, can we make peace with what Freud calls "the necessity of dying"?

Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom.

Witty, lucid and provocative, this is an enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal.

It all begins with Robert's sudden and unexpected fall in the street, resulting in a head injury...

Abridged in five parts by Barry Johnston

Read by Nicky Henson.

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017.

Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death.

Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.

20170905

Robert reflects on how his attitude to life changed after suffering a stroke at a young age.

Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal.

In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off.

The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?"

Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom.

Abridged by Barry Johnston

Read by Nicky Henson.

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017.

Robert reflects on how his attitude to life changed after his stroke at a young age.

Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.

20170906

Robert meets a neurosurgeon and visits the writer Clive James, who is staring death in the face.

Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal.

In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off.

The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?"

Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom.

Abridged by Barry Johnston

Read by Nicky Henson.

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017.

Robert reflects on life and death with a neurosurgeon and Clive James.

Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.

20170907

Robert tries to come to terms with the impending decline of his close friends, as well as his own.

Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal.

In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off.

The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?"

Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom.

Abridged by Barry Johnston

Read by Nicky Henson.

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017.

Robert tries coming to terms with the impending decline of close friends, and his own.

Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.

20170908

Despite thoughts of decline and death, Robert finds new hope through a new love.

Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal.

In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off.

The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?"

Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom.

Abridged by Barry Johnston

Concluded by Nicky Henson.

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017.

Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20170904	How do we approach and accept death? In 1995, aged 42, Robert McCrum suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off. Ever since that life-changing event, he has lived in the shadow of death, unavoidably aware of his own mortality. And now, 21 years on, he is noticing a change - his friends are joining him there. Death has become his contemporaries' every third thought. The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?" With the words of Robert's favourite authors as travel companions, Every Third Thought takes us on a journey through a year and towards death itself. As he acknowledges his own and his friends' ageing, he confronts an existential question - in a world where we have learned to live well at all costs, can we make peace with what Freud calls "the necessity of dying"? Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom. Witty, lucid and provocative, this is an enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal. It all begins with Robert's sudden and unexpected fall in the street, resulting in a head injury... Abridged in five parts by Barry Johnston Read by Nicky Henson. A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017. Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.
02	20170905	Robert reflects on how his attitude to life changed after suffering a stroke at a young age. Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal. In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off. Ever since that life-changing event, he has lived in the shadow of death, unavoidably aware of his own mortality. And now, 21 years on, he is noticing a change - his friends are joining him there. Death has become his contemporaries' every third thought. The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?" With the words of Robert's favourite authors as travel companions, Every Third Thought takes us on a journey through a year and towards death itself. As he acknowledges his own and his friends' ageing, he confronts an existential question - in a world where we have learned to live well at all costs, can we make peace with what Freud calls "the necessity of dying"? Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom. Abridged by Barry Johnston Read by Nicky Henson. A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017. Robert reflects on how his attitude to life changed after his stroke at a young age. Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.
03	20170906	Robert meets a neurosurgeon and visits the writer Clive James, who is staring death in the face. Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal. In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off. Ever since that life-changing event, he has lived in the shadow of death, unavoidably aware of his own mortality. And now, 21 years on, he is noticing a change - his friends are joining him there. Death has become his contemporaries' every third thought. The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?" With the words of Robert's favourite authors as travel companions, Every Third Thought takes us on a journey through a year and towards death itself. As he acknowledges his own and his friends' ageing, he confronts an existential question - in a world where we have learned to live well at all costs, can we make peace with what Freud calls "the necessity of dying"? Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom. Abridged by Barry Johnston Read by Nicky Henson. A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017. Robert reflects on life and death with a neurosurgeon and Clive James. Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.
04	20170907	Robert tries to come to terms with the impending decline of his close friends, as well as his own. Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal. In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off. Ever since that life-changing event, he has lived in the shadow of death, unavoidably aware of his own mortality. And now, 21 years on, he is noticing a change - his friends are joining him there. Death has become his contemporaries' every third thought. The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?" With the words of Robert's favourite authors as travel companions, Every Third Thought takes us on a journey through a year and towards death itself. As he acknowledges his own and his friends' ageing, he confronts an existential question - in a world where we have learned to live well at all costs, can we make peace with what Freud calls "the necessity of dying"? Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom. Abridged by Barry Johnston Read by Nicky Henson. A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017. Robert tries coming to terms with the impending decline of close friends, and his own. Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.
05	20170908	Despite thoughts of decline and death, Robert finds new hope through a new love. Witty, lucid and provocative, this Robert McCrum's enthralling exploration of what it means to approach the end-game, and begin to recognise, perhaps reluctantly, that we are not immortal. In 1995, aged 42, Robert suffered a dramatic and near-fatal stroke - the subject of his acclaimed memoir My Year Off. Ever since that life-changing event, he has lived in the shadow of death, unavoidably aware of his own mortality. And now, 21 years on, he is noticing a change - his friends are joining him there. Death has become his contemporaries' every third thought. The question is no longer "who am I?" - but "how long have I got?" and "what happens next?" With the words of Robert's favourite authors as travel companions, Every Third Thought takes us on a journey through a year and towards death itself. As he acknowledges his own and his friends' ageing, he confronts an existential question - in a world where we have learned to live well at all costs, can we make peace with what Freud calls "the necessity of dying"? Searching for answers leads him to others for advice and wisdom. Abridged by Barry Johnston Concluded by Nicky Henson. A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2017. Author Robert McCrum reflects on how we approach and accept death. Read by Nicky Henson.