Listen to all Massey Lectures
In 2011 the CBC Massey Lectures mark their 50th anniversary. This year, Adam Gopnik, bestselling author and staff writer for The New Yorker, presents Winter: Five Windows on the Season.
The CBC has commissioned the annual Massey Lectures since 1961. The lectures were unveiled in late February by the vice-president and general manager of English networks at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), H.G. Walker. "Each year," he said ...
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Browse 50 Years of Massey Lectures. Sort by year, lecturer, title or topic.
Lectures By Topic: Tag 1
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Coupland, Douglas | Player One: What is to Become of Us |
| 2008 | Atwood, Margaret | Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth |
Lectures By Topic: Canada
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Gopnik, Adam | Winter: Five Windows on the Season |
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 2000 | Ignatieff, Michael | The Rights Revolution |
| 1983 | Kierans, Eric | Globalism and The Nation State |
| 1979 | Jacobs, Jane | Canadian Cities and Sovereignty Association |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
| 1963 | Underhill, Frank | The Image of Confederation |
Lectures By Topic: Captialism
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|
Lectures By Topic: Civil Disobedience
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Corry, James | The Power of Law |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
Lectures By Topic: Civilization
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Coupland, Douglas | Player One: What is to Become of Us |
| 2009 | Davis, Wade | The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World |
| 2004 | Wright, Ronald | A Short History of Progress |
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1995 | Ralston Saul, John | The Unconscious Civilization |
| 1982 | Lifton, Robert Jay and Falk, Richard | Indefensible Weapons |
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1977 | Lévi Strauss, Claude | Myth and Meaning |
Lectures By Topic: Cold War
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Bethke Elshtain, Jean | Democracy on Trial |
| 1988 | Chomsky, Noam | Necessary Illusions |
| 1982 | Lifton, Robert Jay and Falk, Richard | Indefensible Weapons |
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
| 1964 | Macpherson, C. B. | The Real World of Democracy |
Lectures By Topic: Colonialism
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1965 | Kenneth Galbraith, John | The Underdeveloped Country |
| 1961 | Ward, Barbara | The Rich Nations and The Poor Nations |
Lectures By Topic: Communism
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Heilbroner, Robert | Twenty-First Century Capitalism |
| 1964 | Macpherson, C. B. | The Real World of Democracy |
Lectures By Topic: Culture
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Gopnik, Adam | Winter: Five Windows on the Season |
| 1972 | Dansereau, Pierre | Inscape and Landscape |
Lectures By Topic: Democracy
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Ralston Saul, John | The Unconscious Civilization |
| 1994 | Cruise O'Brien, Conor | On The Eve of the Millennium |
| 1993 | Bethke Elshtain, Jean | Democracy on Trial |
| 1988 | Chomsky, Noam | Necessary Illusions |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
| 1964 | Macpherson, C. B. | The Real World of Democracy |
Lectures By Topic: Development
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1965 | Kenneth Galbraith, John | The Underdeveloped Country |
| 1961 | Ward, Barbara | The Rich Nations and The Poor Nations |
Lectures By Topic: Difference
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Ignatieff, Michael | The Rights Revolution |
| 1998 | Vanier, Jean | Becoming Human |
| 1968 | Laing, R.D. | The Politics of Family |
Lectures By Topic: Economics
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Davis, Wade | The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World |
| 2008 | Atwood, Margaret | Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth |
| 2004 | Wright, Ronald | A Short History of Progress |
| 2001 | Gross Stein, Janice | The Cult of Efficiency |
| 1995 | Ralston Saul, John | The Unconscious Civilization |
| 1992 | Heilbroner, Robert | Twenty-First Century Capitalism |
| 1984 | Fuentes, Carlos | Latin America: At War With The Past |
| 1983 | Kierans, Eric | Globalism and The Nation State |
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
| 1965 | Kenneth Galbraith, John | The Underdeveloped Country |
| 1961 | Ward, Barbara | The Rich Nations and The Poor Nations |
Lectures By Topic: Family
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Fiedler, Leslie | The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom to Roots |
Lectures By Topic: Freedom
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Vanier, Jean | Becoming Human |
| 1973 | Beer, Stafford | Designing Freedom |
Lectures By Topic: Global South
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Fuentes, Carlos | Latin America: At War With The Past |
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1965 | Kenneth Galbraith, John | The Underdeveloped Country |
| 1964 | Macpherson, C. B. | The Real World of Democracy |
| 1961 | Ward, Barbara | The Rich Nations and The Poor Nations |
Lectures By Topic: Health
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Somerville, Margaret | The Ethical Imagination |
| 2001 | Gross Stein, Janice | The Cult of Efficiency |
| 1968 | Laing, R.D. | The Politics of Family |
Lectures By Topic: History
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Wright, Ronald | A Short History of Progress |
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1984 | Fuentes, Carlos | Latin America: At War With The Past |
| 1979 | Jacobs, Jane | Canadian Cities and Sovereignty Association |
| 1978 | Fiedler, Leslie | The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom to Roots |
| 1969 | Grant, George | Time As History |
Lectures By Topic: Identity
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Coupland, Douglas | Player One: What is to Become of Us |
| 2000 | Ignatieff, Michael | The Rights Revolution |
| 1997 | Kenner, Hugh | The Elsewhere Community |
| 1993 | Bethke Elshtain, Jean | Democracy on Trial |
| 1963 | Underhill, Frank | The Image of Confederation |
Lectures By Topic: Indigenous
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Davis, Wade | The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World |
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1977 | Lévi Strauss, Claude | Myth and Meaning |
Lectures By Topic: Law
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Corry, James | The Power of Law |
Lectures By Topic: Literature
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Gopnik, Adam | Winter: Five Windows on the Season |
| 1997 | Kenner, Hugh | The Elsewhere Community |
| 1978 | Fiedler, Leslie | The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom to Roots |
Lectures By Topic: Media
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Fulford, Robert | The Triumph of Narrative - Storytelling in an Age of Mass Culture |
| 1988 | Chomsky, Noam | Necessary Illusions |
Lectures By Topic: Media
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Fulford, Robert | The Triumph of Narrative - Storytelling in an Age of Mass Culture |
| 1988 | Chomsky, Noam | Necessary Illusions |
Lectures By Topic: Modernity
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Coupland, Douglas | Player One: What is to Become of Us |
| 1993 | Bethke Elshtain, Jean | Democracy on Trial |
| 1991 | Taylor, Charles | The Malaise of Modernity |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
| 1969 | Grant, George | Time As History |
Lectures By Topic: Myth
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Davis, Wade | The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World |
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1999 | Fulford, Robert | The Triumph of Narrative - Storytelling in an Age of Mass Culture |
| 1978 | Fiedler, Leslie | The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom to Roots |
| 1977 | Lévi Strauss, Claude | Myth and Meaning |
Lectures By Topic: Nature
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Davis, Wade | The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World |
| 2008 | Atwood, Margaret | Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth |
| 2004 | Wright, Ronald | A Short History of Progress |
| 1990 | Lewontin, Richard | Biology As Ideology |
| 1989 | Franklin, Ursula M. | The Real World of Technology |
| 1977 | Lévi Strauss, Claude | Myth and Meaning |
| 1975 | J. Tuzo Wilson | Limits To Science |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
| 1972 | Dansereau, Pierre | Inscape and Landscape |
Lectures By Topic: Peace & Conflict
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Lessing, Doris | Prisons We Choose to Live Inside |
| 1984 | Fuentes, Carlos | Latin America: At War With The Past |
| 1983 | Kierans, Eric | Globalism and The Nation State |
| 1982 | Lifton, Robert Jay and Falk, Richard | Indefensible Weapons |
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
Lectures By Topic: Philosophy
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Somerville, Margaret | The Ethical Imagination |
| 2002 | Visser, Margaret | Beyond Fate |
| 2000 | Ignatieff, Michael | The Rights Revolution |
| 1995 | Ralston Saul, John | The Unconscious Civilization |
| 1994 | Cruise O'Brien, Conor | On The Eve of the Millennium |
| 1993 | Bethke Elshtain, Jean | Democracy on Trial |
| 1991 | Taylor, Charles | The Malaise of Modernity |
| 1979 | Jacobs, Jane | Canadian Cities and Sovereignty Association |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
| 1969 | Grant, George | Time As History |
| 1965 | Kenneth Galbraith, John | The Underdeveloped Country |
Lectures By Topic: Poverty
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1987 | Baum, Gregory | Compassion and Solidarity |
| 1981 | Brandt, Willy | Dangers and Options: The Matter of World Survival |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
| 1965 | Kenneth Galbraith, John | The Underdeveloped Country |
| 1961 | Ward, Barbara | The Rich Nations and The Poor Nations |
Lectures By Topic: Race
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1978 | Fiedler, Leslie | The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom to Roots |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
Lectures By Topic: Relationships
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Vanier, Jean | Becoming Human |
| 1997 | Kenner, Hugh | The Elsewhere Community |
| 1991 | Taylor, Charles | The Malaise of Modernity |
| 1968 | Laing, R.D. | The Politics of Family |
Lectures By Topic: Religion
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Davis, Wade | The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World |
| 1998 | Vanier, Jean | Becoming Human |
| 1994 | Cruise O'Brien, Conor | On The Eve of the Millennium |
| 1987 | Baum, Gregory | Compassion and Solidarity |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
Lectures By Topic: Science
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Lewontin, Richard | Biology As Ideology |
| 1977 | Lévi Strauss, Claude | Myth and Meaning |
| 1975 | J. Tuzo Wilson | Limits To Science |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
| 1973 | Beer, Stafford | Designing Freedom |
| 1972 | Dansereau, Pierre | Inscape and Landscape |
| 1970 | Wald, George | Therefore, Choose Life |
Lectures By Topic: Social Change
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Ralston Saul, John | The Unconscious Civilization |
| 1985 | Lessing, Doris | Prisons We Choose to Live Inside |
| 1971 | Corry, James | The Power of Law |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
Lectures By Topic: Social Organization
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Franklin, Ursula M. | The Real World of Technology |
| 1973 | Beer, Stafford | Designing Freedom |
Lectures By Topic: Social Justice
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1998 | Vanier, Jean | Becoming Human |
| 1987 | Baum, Gregory | Compassion and Solidarity |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
| 1961 | Ward, Barbara | The Rich Nations and The Poor Nations |
Lectures By Topic: Sociology
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Visser, Margaret | Beyond Fate |
| 1999 | Fulford, Robert | The Triumph of Narrative - Storytelling in an Age of Mass Culture |
| 1995 | Ralston Saul, John | The Unconscious Civilization |
| 1990 | Lewontin, Richard | Biology As Ideology |
| 1989 | Franklin, Ursula M. | The Real World of Technology |
| 1988 | Chomsky, Noam | Necessary Illusions |
| 1985 | Lessing, Doris | Prisons We Choose to Live Inside |
| 1982 | Lifton, Robert Jay and Falk, Richard | Indefensible Weapons |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
| 1968 | Laing, R.D. | The Politics of Family |
Lectures By Topic: Technology
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Coupland, Douglas | Player One: What is to Become of Us |
| 2006 | Somerville, Margaret | The Ethical Imagination |
| 2004 | Wright, Ronald | A Short History of Progress |
| 1989 | Franklin, Ursula M. | The Real World of Technology |
| 1988 | Chomsky, Noam | Necessary Illusions |
| 1974 | Steiner, George | Nostalgia for the Absolute |
| 1973 | Beer, Stafford | Designing Freedom |
| 1969 | Grant, George | Time As History |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
Lectures By Topic: United States
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | King, Thomas | The Truth about Stories |
| 1983 | Kierans, Eric | Globalism and The Nation State |
| 1978 | Fiedler, Leslie | The Inadvertent Epic: From Uncle Tom to Roots |
| 1967 | Luther King, Martin | Conscience for Change |
| 1966 | Goodman, Dr. Paul | The Moral Ambiguity of America |
Lectures By Topic: Time
| Year | Lecturer | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Visser, Margaret | Beyond Fate |
| 1969 | Grant, George | Time As History |
Purchase past Massey Lectures
| 2011: Adam Gopnik |  |
| 2010: Douglas Coupland | | 2009: Wade Davis |
|
2008: Margaret Atwood | |
2005: Stephen Lewis | |