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Learning 18

Comedy & Audiobook

The number one Sunday Times best seller.

TLS, Observer, Sunday Times, FT, Guardian, Daily Mail and Evening Standard Books of the Year 2017.

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, read by John Sackville.

Includes a bonus PDF of graphs and diagrams.

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health and longevity and yet it is increasingly neglected in 21st century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world - Alzheimer's, cancer, obesity, diabetes - has very strong causal links to deficient sleep.

Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why its absence is so damaging to our health. Compared to the other basic drives in life - eating, drinking and reproducing - the purpose of sleep remained elusive.

Now, in this audiobook, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores 20 years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves in to everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, read by John Sackville

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM7224VK
Audiobooks: https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/834811
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-we-stand-to-lose-kristen-buras/1146487390?ean=2940193529491
Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780807020920

ABOUT
Spotlights the tireless work of Black teachers in a historic New Orleans public school, one of countless public schools now part of a school closing crisis in cities nationwide

Time and again, teachers of color have been blamed for every conceivable wrong in urban schools, a tactic that ignores the history of racism and bolsters the expansion of charter schools that lack community roots. Covering the rich, 50-year legacy of George Washington Carver Senior High School from 1958-2005, What We Stand to Lose investigates how public school closures have impacted predominantly Black urban neighborhoods in New Orleans. This institutional history demonstrates the cultural value of school communities over time, including the ways they have navigated and excelled despite racism and state neglect.

Through oral history interviewing and archival research, antiracist organizer and author Kristen Buras offers an in-depth look into counter stories that oppose white majoritarian allegations of school failure. She conducted oral history interviews with more than 30 Carver alumni and teachers, unveiling the intergenerational culture that nurtured self-determination and an abiding sense of community in the face of endemic racism. In turn, Buras demonstrates Black teachers’ invaluable and often unrecognized contributions.

In compelling detail, Buras highlights the dire consequences of school closings, illuminating why the assault on veteran teachers, and the communities they have fostered, is the civil rights issue of our era.

A Selection from "What We Stand to Lose"

Emily is a PhD student and biological anthropologist at Northwestern University and a Student Representative for the Human Biology Association. She studies brain development from an evolutionary perspective, focusing on how early life stress shapes cognitive, behavioral, social, and physiological development. Her dissertation examines how early adversity and parenting influence executive function, learning, and memory, exploring potential adaptive outcomes of early stress. Emily is also pursuing research on brain energetics during development in early childhood and developing field-friendly methods to study brain energetics for anthropologists. She’s passionate about bringing ideas and methods from neuroscience into the field of anthropology to better understand what shapes human behavior and biology.

Contact Emily Barron: emilybarron2026@u.northwestern.edu
Twitter: @emilyhbarron 
------------------------------
Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association:
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc

Chris Lynn, Co-Host Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter: @Chris_Ly

Courtney Manthey, Guest-Co-Host, Website: holylaetoli.com/ E-mail: cpierce4@uccs.edu, Twitter: @HolyLaetoli 

Anahi Ruderman, SoS Co-Producer, HBA Junior Fellow
E-mail: ruderman@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar, Twitter: @ani_ruderman


SoS 244: Emily Barron discusses early life stress and its impact on brain development from an evolutionary perspective

Elizabeth Okogwu- Winner of the BAFTA'S 2025 young presenter award

The Christian Story

In response to what the US sees as potential growing threats from China and North Korea, nuclear weapons are becoming a more and more important part of US alliance commitments and partnerships in East Asia. But what does this focus on nuclear weapons for both deterrence and reassurance mean for US foreign policy and for the security of the region? And could there be an alternative which puts a greater focus on conventional armed forces?

To discuss these topics, in June 2025 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Dr Lauren Sukin about her recent article, in the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, with Samuel Seitz of MIT, “Deemphasizing Nuclear Weapons in Nuclear Deterrence: The Case for Conventional Counterforce”. Dr Sukin is Assistant Professor in LSE’s Department of International Relations and a Centre Affiliate at the LSE Phelan US Centre. 

Further reading and resources

-	Seitz, S. and Sukin, L. (2025). Deemphasizing Nuclear Weapons in Nuclear Deterrence: The Case for Conventional Counterforce. Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, [online] 8(1), pp.15–35. 

LSE: The Ballpark | Deemphasizing Nuclear Weapons in Nuclear Deterrence with Dr Lauren Sukin

Kate Atkinson brings an antique silver hare, a Halifax Bomber and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ‘A God In Ruins’ with host Richard E Grant. The topics of conversation include the long-term effects of war on veterans, The Queen, how we age and the power of classical music to evoke an emotional response in us all.  

#PenguinPodcast

The Penguin Podcast: Richard E Grant with Kate Atkinson

Outrageous, iconic and unforgettable - these are some of the books Penguin have been publishing over its 90-year history. As part of a special content series called 'The books that shaped us' on Penguin.co.uk, we invited readers from the world of publishing, comedy, and music to explore must-read titles across the decades. The Internet's resident librarian Jack Edwards and Penguin editor Simon Prosser discuss their curated reading lists, and explore the impact of the books that shocked society and became pop culture phenomena in this special episode, recorded live at Waterstones Picadilly



Find all the books mentioned in this episode and more by clicking this link: The Penguin Podcast Waterstones Special

Follow our dedicated Broadcast channel on Instagram for exclusive content and giveaways: @PenguinUKBooks 



Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk

Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast

Which Penguin books shocked society and became cultural icons? With Jack Edwards and Penguin Editor, Simon Prosser

Comedian Bridget Christie brings a yoghurt, a ‘votes for women' sash given to her by Emmeline Pankhurst’s great-granddaughter and a piece of gammon to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ‘A Book For Her’. Host Richard E. Grant and Bridget discuss a wide range of topics including FGM, labiaplasty, how a yoghurt advert perpetuates rape myths and how a unsavoury incident in a book shop inspired the book. 
#PenguinPodcast


The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Bridget Christie

Pat Barker brings a child’s gas mask, a jar of water from a wishing well and a notebook to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book Noonday. Host Richard E. Grant and Pat discuss witchcraft, the impact of WW2 as well as her personal journey to becoming an award winning novelist. Noonday is available as an audiobook featuring Juliet Stevenson and Anne Reid out now on iTunes. 

#PenguinPodcast

The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Pat Barker

Meera Syal brings her copy of The Handmaid’s Tale, her Mother’s Indian passport and precious gold bangles given to her at her wedding to the Penguin Studio to talk about her latest book ’The House of Hidden Mothers’ with host Richard E Grant. Their discussion includes surrogacy, India’s fascination with babies and dowry payments as well as playing excerpts from the audiobook which is read by Meera and is available now.

#PenguinPodcast

The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Meera Syal

Paula Hawkins brings a photo of her father, an Edward Hopper picture and a DVD of Rear Window to the Penguin Studio to talk about her bestselling book 'The Girl On The Train' with host Richard E Grant. Their discussion includes unreliable narrators, growing up in South Africa and the transition from business journalist to best selling author. Throughout the episode Richard plays excerpts from the audiobook, a multi cast production which is out now. 


The Penguin Podcast: Richard E. Grant with Paula Hawkins

Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, best recognized for his raw, real-life comedy that audiences everywhere can relate to. Known for his wild hair and his often-imitated phrase, "what's up, fool?", people are always surprised to find out that Felipe is also the same person referred to and imitated in several infamous stories by fellow comedian, Gabriel Iglesias. Felipe has most recently been seen as the winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing (2010) and is currently touring comedy clubs and theaters across the country.

Felipe is a product of the streets of East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, to be exact) and much of his material is the result of seeing the humor in the struggles of everyday life. 

Felipe got immediate television exposure, when he appeared on a Showtime, "Diamonds in the Rough" segment, just 1 1/2 years into his stand-up career. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous television shows, including ABC's "Comics Unleashed", Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" and "Russell Simmons Presents Stand-Up at the El Rey", Showtime's "Comics Without Borders", BET's "Comic View", and Galavisión's "Que Locos" (where he holds the title of most appearances by any comedian).

In 2009, he appeared in his first two feature-length films, "The Deported", with Nick Turturro, Talia Shire, and Paul Rodriguez and a feature-length film based on his stand-up comedy called, "I'm Not Like That No More", where he stars opposite Paul Rodriguez. He recently wrapped production on his 1-hour stand-up special entitled "They're Not Gonna Laugh at You", which is scheduled to air on Showtime in fall, 2011.

Video found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWVZSYDIeWA
Website: http://www.felipesworld.com/

Felipe Esparza - Theyre Not Goin To Laugh At You

Dawn French: Oh Dear Silvia - Narrator (read by Dawn French)

Penguin Books publishes blockbusting, prize-winning, celebrated, controversial, heart-warming, thought-provoking and inspiring books by a range of authors from Ali Smith to Zadie Smith, Jeremy Clarkson to Jeremy Paxman and Jamie Oliver to Oliver Goldsmith.

Which Penguin books shocked society and became cultural icons? With Jack Edwards and Penguin Editor, Simon Prosser

Penguin Books UK