Throughout the highs and lows of a long diplomatic career, Archie Mackenzie has always striven to put service ahead of ambition. Campbell Leggat and Kenneth Noble tell his story.

Pierre Spoerri finds both inspiration and food for thought in Alain de Botton’s, ‘The consolations of philosophy’.

Edy Korthals Altes shocked the Dutch establishment when he resigned from the diplomatic service to become an outspoken writer and peace activist. He tells Hennie de Pous-de Jonge why he did it.

Russian essayist and philosopher Grigory Pomerants found his voice in a Soviet prison camp. He talks to Peter Thwaites

Peter Everington returns often to 'The Testing of Hearts', a book written amid the tensions of the Holy Land.

Catherine Guisan-Dickinson reads two books which express diametrically opposed views of European union.

Charis Waddy joins Indian historian Rajmohan Gandhi on a journey through the history, pain and hope of his subcontinent.

Margaret Smith finds lessons for peacemakers in a book which looks at conflict resolution through the lens of Jewish tradition.

Laurie Vogel reflects on Michael Ignatieff's recent book on ethnic conflict.

In 1988 Rob Parsons gave up his job as a lawyer to help bolster Britain's ailing family life. The founder of Care for the Family talks to Kenneth Noble.