The Spectator

The week that was | 30 March 2012

Here is a selection of articles and discussions from this week on Spectator.co.uk… Most discussed: Peter Hoskin on fuel for the political bonfire. Most read and shared: Nick Cohen on the tweet police. And the best of the rest… Fraser Nelson unveils the grey recovery and looks at what politics has become. James Forsyth says Cameron

Interview: Mark Pagel and the origin of the species

In his new book, Wired for Culture, Mark Pagel — a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Reading — argues that social structures and culture are vital components in human evolution. Human beings are altruistic, helpful, and cooperative in ways that other mammals are not. Pagel says our facility for culture is the

Shelf Life: Mike Skinner

Perhaps one of the best things to come out of Birmingham, Mike Skinner, mastermind behind The Streets, lets us know what he’s reading in this week’s Shelf Life. He reveals an interest in 20th Century history, what he once managed to get 10,000 people to do and a fondness for Philip Marlowe’s bon mots. His

Just in case you missed them… | 26 March 2012

…here are some posts made on Spectator.co.uk over the weekend: Fraser Nelson believes the Lib Dems are an easier target than the Prime Minister and looks at the borrowing behind Osborne’s Budget. James Forsyth examines Ken’s identity crisis.  Peter Hoskin believes spending will become more significant as 2015 approaches and looks at the ‘next big

Letters | 24 March 2012

Unmentionable question Sir: Peter Hitchens is no doubt right that the collapse of marriage among heterosexuals is a more serious matter than extending marriage to same-sex couples (‘The gay marriage trap’, 17 March). The damage to the family started with the removal of stigma from having children out of wedlock and divorce on demand; and