No language in history has dominated the world quite like English does today. Is there any point in resisting? 

Written by Jacob Mikanowski and read by Lucy Scott

Behemoth, bully, thief: how the English language is taking over the planet

We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week: The ability of statistics to accurately represent the world is declining. In its wake, a new age of big data controlled by private companies is taking over – and putting democracy in peril. By William Davies. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>

From the archives: How statistics lost their power – and why we should fear what comes next

Jake Haendel spent months trapped in his body, silent and unmoving but fully conscious. Most people never emerge from ‘locked-in syndrome’, but as a doctor told him, everything about his case is bizarre by Josh Wilbur. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>

'Is anybody in there?' Life on the inside as a locked-in patient

We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2016: All of our efforts to be more productive backfire – and only make us feel even busier and more stressed. By Oliver Burkeman. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>

From the archive: Why time management is ruining our lives

Strangely eventless, yet swelling with high drama, The Archers is the longest-running series in the world. But has this rural soap been teaching Middle England about itself, or inventing it from scratch? By Charlotte Higgins. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>

'A peculiarly English epic': the weird genius of The Archers

The Guardian Long Read - audio versions of our regular long reads published online and in the newspaper Monday through Friday.  The long reads are long form articles on a wide variety of topics from global politics to the big cultural debates of our time.

For the print version go to - http://www.theguardian.com/news/series/the-long-read

The Guardian Long Read

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