In this week's bumper podcast, George Berridge assesses the legacy of Cormac McCarthy; Toby Lichtig on this summer's ideal reads; and an interview with American novelist Brandon Taylor.

'The Late Americans', by Brandon Taylor

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week David talks to science writer Meehan Crist about Thomas Malthus and the perennial question of overpopulation. Malthus wrote 225 years ago and was wrong about almost everything, yet his ideas still have a powerful hold on our imaginations and our fears. How many people is too many? What are the limits of population in the age of climate change? And why does Elon Musk think we should all be having more children?

Thomas Malthus, ‘An Essay on the Principle of Overpopulation’ (1798) 

Meehan Crist’s 2020 LRB lecture, ‘Is it OK to Have a Child?’

Sign up to LRB Close Readings:

Directly in Apple: https://apple.co/3pJoFPq

In other podcast apps: lrb.supportingcast.fm

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices