Stephen Fry Does The Knowledge

by Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry presents this intriguing programme charting the history of knowledge, how technology changes our relationship with it, and how we know what we know.Knowledge. The Google generation thinks it doesn’t need to carry much of it around in its head any more. Much has already been written about the internet changing the way we think and learn. But is knowledge less valuable than it used to be?This absorbing programme explores the concept of ‘knowledge’, drawing on a variety of diverse sources: quiz games, psychology, education, news, trivia shows, satellite navigation and comedy. Featuring cab drivers, philosophers, memory champions and members of the Brains Trust, it looks at topics including cultural relativism, language learning and prodigious feats of memory. Plus, it attempts to answer such questions as: what constitutes useful knowledge in an era when we can find anything very quickly?; why has 'useless knowledge' gained in currency?; and, if Typhoo put the tea in Britain, should we take the piss out of epistemology?’Packed with interviews, debates and a feast of archive clips from the past three decades, this is an enlightening and entertaining overview of the world of knowledge, both general and specific.

Presenting an archive-rich investigation into the changing value of knowledge from an original angle—the London black cabbie's famed �Knowledge” test—starring Britain's favorite examiner of language and culture, Stephen Fry.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Humor

Audio CD

First published October 6, 2011

About the author

Stephen John Fry is an English comedian, writer, actor, humourist, novelist, poet, columnist, filmmaker, television personality and technophile. As one half of the Fry and Laurie double act with his comedy partner, Hugh Laurie, he has appeared in A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster. He is also famous for his roles in Blackadder and Wilde, and as the host of QI. In addition to writing for stage, screen, television and radio he has contributed columns and articles for numerous newspapers and magazines, and has also written four successful novels and a series of memoirs.

See also Mrs. Stephen Fry as a pseudonym of the author.

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I like Stephen Fry, this was a bit to flimsy and much ado about nothing.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was expecting to learn a bit about cab driving in London but instead got an essay on epistemology. Thought provoking (I always enjoy Stephen Fry), and short, but not was I was looking for at the moment.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh.... Weird, boring, but some Fry.

[osoi · Rating 2 out of 5]

О моей любви к информативно-развлекательным фраевским плюшкам уже можно слагать легенды. Время от времени я натыкаюсь на какие-то его программки, которые тут же попадают в плеер и услаждают мои ушки несколько вечеров подряд.

В этой программе в течение часа обсуждается одна тема — знание. Common knowledge, general knowledge, quizzes, всезнающий гугл, таксисты, устаревшие знания, ценность знаний и пр. Вроде бы все на месте — и фраевский благожелательный юмор, обрамляющий интересные факты, и вкрапления интервью и записей, и обширность ссылок, — но все же мне было неимоверно скучно. Вспоминая его инглиш делайт, там я чуть до потолка не прыгала, настолько все было кратко и познавательно.

Очень качественная программка, впрочем, как и все фраевское, но конкретно эта тема не доставила.

annikeh.net

[Ravi Warrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous twist on epistemology, contrasted with that of what we consider popular knowledge, general knowledge and what we know and how we know it!

Stephen Fry is as usual funny to listen to. A quick, short read to not only make you laugh (or smile), but give you some knowledge about "the knowledge".

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been an NPR radio show or a topic for the old Seinfield show. This was amusing, covering all kinds of explanations of what knowledge is, how it’s used, what’s important and what isn’t, etc….

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

Stephen Fry is at his most engaging in this Radio 4 exploration of knowledge: what it is; how it changes; in what forms we value it; and where it is (or isn’t) useful. Fry’s lucid discourse is underscored by numerous archival recordings.

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd little number where Stephen Fry investigates the true nature of knowledge. He cobbles together bits and pieces from radio, tv shows, and books to learn about knowledge. As someone who is literally in the business of knowing things (teaching) and my favorite board game is Trivial Pursuit, I found the discussion of knowledge and it’s place in society and how it has changed over time to be really interesting. The format was a little odd but I still learned some things.

[Zac Stojcevski · Rating 2 out of 5]

What would an eye drop’s worth of a fine scotch whiskey taste like? Barely enough to make an instantaneous impression but just enough to evoke negativity towards the sommelier for holding out on at least a nip of the thing. Stephen Fry fails to whet the appetite but provides enough fumes of an intriguing concept- knowledge- and then fails to condense it to anything of real substance to savour. Too much of a tease.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

What... what? What happened? Turns out the blurb for this is longer than the actual content. Just when I thought we'd gotten through the fun rambly bits and were going to talk about something interesting, we were done. Not really recommended, even for fans of the actor.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I expected. I thought it would be a short about the history of sharing knowledge. Instead, it turned out to be a show short about Stephen Fry’s bits on a show called The Knowledge.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a humorous exploration of the theory of knowledge. Enjoyable.

[Lorie Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just under an hour that serves as an excellent prelude to Fry’s 2022 podcast “Inside Your Mind.” Choose both to go meta on cognition.

[A.A.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and punny, as usual, with a little sprinkle of history and philosophy casually thrown in.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Placeholder for Edwardian Secrets audiobook.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't what I thought it was it was Stephen fry talking about different types of knowledge instead of talking about the very niche topic of the taxi knowledge.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this. I'm a librarian and quiz night enthusiast, so the topic of knowledge is of interest to me. Plus I'm a fan of Mr Fry, so this was a thought provoking and entertaining 'read'. My one complaint was that it was too brief.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thinking it was an audiobook of some substance I was disappointed but for what it was it was interesting enough and decently entertaining.