What makes a great business book and how do you make practical advice on a subject like accounting a riveting read? What makes you more likely to read a business book - a top business leader's journey to the top, like Sheryl Sandberg or Phil Knight of Nike, or one offering simple 'how to' advice. And what is the business model of business books themselves - do they sell loads of copies, or are they more about building up a public brand? Join Evan Davis and guests , in the final programme of the current series, to learn about some great business reads and how business publishing is thriving. GUESTS Margaret Heffernan, Author, Uncharted. Former CEO and Entrepreneur. Alison Jones, publisher Practical Inspiration Publishing and Presenter, The Extraordinary Business Book Club Podcast Helen Kogan, Managing Director, Kogan Page, Business Book Publisher PRODUCTION TEAM: Producer: Julie Ball and Simon Tulett Editor: China Collins Sound: James Beard and Graham Puddifoot Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed.

What's the best way to recruit people who have the right skills for the job, but are also the right cultural fit for your business? And how do you do that without discrimination? Evan Davis and guests discuss the many different hiring options available, from the standard CV and interview to social media snooping, and the importance of getting it right. GUESTS Michael Barrington Hibbert, CEO, Barrington Hibbert Associates Sir John Timpson, chairman, Timpson Group Claire Hamilton, head of UK talent acquisition, Capgemini Wouter Durville, CEO, TestGorilla PRODUCTION TEAM Producer: Simon Tulett Editor: China Collins Sound: Graham Puddifoot Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

Machines now have the ability to write novels, create works of art, or compose original songs thanks to artificial intelligence. In future the technology could be used to discover drugs, design entire buildings, or come up with new materials. So how should businesses respond to the evolution of AI, most embodied by the AI chatbot ChatGPT? Evan Davis and guests discuss its potential for creating new products and increasing efficiency, as well as the risks involved in handing machines even more power. GUESTS Priya Lakhani, CEO, CENTURY Tech Scott Petty, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone and Colin Murdoch, Chief Business Officer, DeepMind PRODUCTION TEAM Producer: Simon Tulett Editor: China Collins Sound: Neil Churchill and Graham Puddifoot Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

Warren East has run two of the UK's most successful companies, ARM and Rolls Royce Holdings. During his tenure at ARM he oversaw a rapid growth of this globally successful Cambridge semi conductor company. He went on to lead Rolls Royce during a time of turbulence, from aircraft engine trouble, to COVID and a massive restructure which led to several thousand redundancies. He shares his reflections on his business career, as well as his thoughts on Brexit, tax and economic growth. GUEST Warren East, former CEO Rolls Royce Holdings Ltd. PRODUCTION TEAM Producer: Julie Ball Editor: China Collins Sound: James Beard and Graham Puddifoot Prod Co-ordinator: Siobhan Reed

It seems these days everyone is making a podcast, from Michelle Obama and Kate Hudson to Alastair Campbell and Dua Lipa. Covering every subject from health and wellbeing to politics, food and even funerals, the last few years has seen a proliferation of new titles. Although only a third of us are currently listening to podcasts, that number is steadily growing. So who is making money from podcasts, and how? Evan Davis and guests discuss. PRESENTER: Evan Davis GUESTS Jack Davenport, managing director, Goalhanger Podcasts Sam Shetabi, content director UK, Acast and Rebecca McGrath, senior media analyst, Mintel PODCAST CLIPS Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster, featuring Jarvis Cocker, Plosive Productions The Rest is Politics with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, Goalhanger Podcasts and Shagged, Married, Annoyed with Chris and Rosie Ramsay, Avalon Productions PRODUCTION TEAM Producer: Julie Ball Editor: China Collins Producton Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Sound: Neil Churchill and John Scott

The French work fewer hours, take longer holidays and retire earlier than UK employees, but they are also more productive and their economy is therefore roughly the same size as ours. How do they do it? As the UK looks for a way out of its sluggish economic growth, Evan Davis asks what we can learn from our neighbours. Why is it that for each hour worked a French employee produces almost 20 per cent more than a British one? GUESTS Olivier Morel, board member of the French Chamber of Great Britain and partner at Cripps. Rebecca Riley, professor of practice in economics at King’s Business School, London, and member of The Productivity Institute. and Neil Coales, managing director of Agilité Solutions, Paris. PRODUCTION TEAM Producers: Simon Tulett and Julie Ball Researcher: Marianna Brain Editor: China Collins Sound: Rod Farquhar and Graham Puddifoot Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

If you've ever felt bamboozled by the sheer range of biscuits at your local supermarket or in a quandary over which pair of headphones to buy from the plethora on offer, then you're not alone. Studies suggest that consumers can struggle to make decisions when there is too much choice. So how much choice should businesses offer their customers? And how can retailers help us navigate the dizzying array of products out there? Evan Davis brings together a perfectly chosen group of experts to discuss. GUESTS Dr. Paul Marsden, Consumer Pscyhologist, Business School, London College of Fashion , University of Arts London Laurence Mitchell, Buying Director, Electricals and Home Technology, John Lewis Partnership Donna Smith, Managing Director, Thursday Cottage Ltd. and Paul Stainton, Retail Consultant, IPLC PRODUCTION TEAM Producer: Julie Ball Researcher: Marianna Brain Editor: China Collins Sound: Rod Farquhar and Neil Churchill Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

Current strike action across the UK led to more than a million lost working days in 2022, the worst industrial strife the nation has experienced since the 'Winter of Discontent' in the 1970s. But with the benefit of hindsight, what can we learn from those who have dealt with labour relations in the past, and can their insights help to establish a better way of working out employee grievances? Evan Davis and guests discuss. GUESTS Alan Johnson, former MP, Secretary of State and former Head of the Union of Communication Workers. Professor Sian Moore, Professor of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Employment and Work (CREW), University of Greenwich Susanna Newing, Chief People Officer, Coventry Council Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Julie Ball and Marianna Brain Editor: China Collins Sound: Gareth Jones and Neil Churchill Production Co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill

As the UK struggles with recession, Evan Davis talks to four business people who are not afraid to be bulls in a bear market. Does a recession offer opportunities to serial entrepreneurs and start-ups that others might fear? Evan Davis and guests discuss. GUESTS Capucine Codron, Co-founder, Swizzle Arka Dhar, CEO and Co-founder SKOV Ltd Sir John Hegarty, Founder, The Garage Soho and BBH Advertising Agency and Sarah Willingham, Co Founder, Nightcap bar chain and former Dragon's Den panellist. PRODUCTION TEAM Producers: Julie Ball, Nick Holland, Kirsteen Knight Editor: Simon Watts Sound: Graham Puddifoot Production Co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross

Col Needham set up his first business at the age of 14 designing and selling games software for computers. But his real love, since the age of 5, has always been film. Col started logging every movie he'd seen in a paper diary which he eventually set up as a database, along with other like-minded film fans. Although it began and remains a personal passion, IMDB is now a multi million pound business, which was one of Amazon's first acquisitions. Col has remained CEO and founder, and he's now seen 15,000 films - all logged religiously in IMDB. He talks to Evan Davis about the journey from passion to profit. GUEST Col Needham, CEO and Founder, IMDB PRESENTER: Evan Davis PRODUCER: Julie Ball EDITOR: Simon Watts SOUND: Graham Puddifoot PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATORS: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross