Latest thinking

RSA Book of the Year - and the winner is...

Blog

19 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Time for books nine and ten in the RSA Books of the year. Before unveiling them a special mention for Stephen Pinker’s The Stuff of Thought, a wonderful, engaging and authoritative book about the structure, evolution and purpose of language. Unfortunately, although Stephen spoke here in 2008, the book was published in 2007 and so doesn’t really count.

RSA Book of the Year (4)

Blog

18 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Time for books seven and eight in the RSA Books of the year list. Tomorrow will see the unveiling of the last two and my choice of the overall winner.

RSA announces Royal Designers for Industry for 2008

Press release

17 Dec 2008

Recognised for their outstanding contribution to design, Max Fordham, Sam Hecht, Sarah King, Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd will join a select group of designers who currently hold the RDI award.

From St James' Palace to the launch of the RSA Tomorrow's Investor Report

Blog

17 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Just back from St James’s Palace and the opening session of a conference of the Prince of Wales' Accounting for Sustainability Forum. The day started with a powerful speech from HRH in which he argued that the factors that had led to the credit crunch – debt fuelled over consumption, complacency about risk and regulation and rampant short-termism – were precisely those which had to be overcome if a new model of capitalism is to confront the ‘climate crunch’. Sadly, the Prince’s challenge was not fully met by the rather bland and complacent offering from some of the big business bigwigs who followed HRH to the podium. It’s not that they said anything one could disagree with, more that they failed to confront the question of how the hard wiring of modern capitalism has to be reengineered. 

RSA Book of the Year (3)

Blog

17 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Two more books for the RSA top ten list:

Low cost, high accountability: a pension fund for the 21st century

Press release

17 Dec 2008

Millions of pounds could be added to the value of the UK's pension pot by reducing charges, according to research published by the RSA

RSA Book of the Year (2)

Blog

16 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Jonathan Powell – Great Hatred, Little Room

Duped consumers - who is to blame?

Blog

16 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

It is fitting in this Christmas period - after all an homage to shopping – that there are lots of interesting consumer stories about.  The Times reports that US tobacco companies are to be sued for making false claims about the health benefits of low tar cigarettes.  The appellants claim that the companies knew those who switched to low tar simply smoked more fags and inhaled more deeply. 

RSA Book of the Year (1)

Blog

15 Dec 2008

Matthew Taylor

Commenting on my blog last week, ‘Michael’ suggested I compile a list of RSA books of the year. What a great idea. So, this week I will be featuring every day two books we have helped to launch here at the RSA in 2009. Then on Friday afternoon – partly depending on the feedback I get – I will reveal the RSA’s Book of the Year.