info@kingsplace.co.uk Tel 020 7520 1440

Being Human

Jewish Book Week 2025

Wed 5 Mar
Words

Being Human

Jewish Book Week 2025

Speakers Guy Leschziner, Alastair Santhouse
Chair Bidisha

Are our emotions and behaviours shaped by biology alone, or is there something deeper at play? And are we truly less psychologically healthy than past generations? Two leading medical experts tackle these pressing questions.


Neurologist Dr Guy Leschziner, author of The Man Who Tasted Words, explores the biological roots of human behaviour in his new book, Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human, questioning whether “sins” are moral failings or natural functions. Psychiatrist Dr Alastair Santhouse, author of No More Normal: Mental Health in an Age of Over-Diagnosis, offers insights from clinical practice to address today’s mental health challenges and propose fresh solutions. In conversation with broadcaster and presenter Bidisha.

This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval.


About the speakers:

Guy Leschziner is a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. In addition to many academic papers and books, he is author of The Nocturnal Brain – Nightmares, Neuroscience, The Secret World of Sleep, and The Man Who Tasted Words. He has presented three series on neuroscience for BBC Radio 4 and World Service.

Alastair Santhouse is a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at The Maudsley Hospital, London. He served as Vice Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry from 2013 to 2017, and in 2016, was elected President of the Psychiatry Section at the Royal Society of Medicine. His work explores the fascinating connection between mind and brain, with a focus on treating complex mental disorders.

Bidisha is a broadcaster, presenter and journalist for TV, radio, film and newspapers. She writes for the main UK broadsheets (currently as a critic and columnist for The Observer and The Guardian) and works heavily for BBC, ITN, CNN, Channel 5 and Sky News. Her fifth book, Asylum and Exile: Hidden Voices of London, is based on her outreach work in UK prisons, refugee charities and detention centres, and her most recent publication is the essay The Future of Serious Art.

Plan your visit

Getting here
Kings Place is situated just a few minutes’ walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, one of the most connected locations in London and now the biggest transport hub in Europe.

Our address is:
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG.

The Venue 
Our performance spaces are situated on the lower ground floor. Hall One, Hall Two and St Pancras are located in level -2, reached by stairs, escalator and lift from the ground floor entrance level.

Event Times 
Door times indicate auditorium entrance times only. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Kings Place seating areas, gallery-level art, canal-side terrace, café, restaurant and bar throughout the day and evening.

  • Our events begin promptly at the advertised start time. Typically, there is no support unless otherwise stated.
  • We recommend arriving in good time before the performance. The Hall doors will open 30 minutes before the performance to allow time to take your seats, or to choose a space for standing shows.
  • Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance where possible

Access

We aim to make your visit to Kings Place as comfortable as possible. For more information about the accessibility of Kings Place, including details about our Access Scheme, please visit this page.

If you would like to discuss your access requirements with a member of our team, please get in touch with the Box Office team at info@kingsplace.co.uk. 

 

Food & Drink

Rotunda Bar & Restaurant
Rotunda, situated on the ground floor of Kings Place, offers a unique dining and drinking experience alongside Regent’s Canal. The concert bar in the venue foyer will also be open for select events.

Green & Fortune Café
Recently re-furbished and now open with a new look, the Green & Fortune Café is open for selected concerts. Serving hot and cold food and drinks, including sandwiches, salads, soup, stew and a pie of the day, alongside a choice of cakes made by the on-site bakery team. See here for selected concert dates and standard opening hours.

Date:Wed 5 Mar
Start time:7pm (Doors: 6.30pm)
Venue:Hall Two
Price:£5.00-£16.00
+ 12.5% (£6 cap) Transaction fee.
+ £1 Building levy. More info
Availability:Tickets available
£5 Under 30s tickets at JBW
A limited number of £5 tickets for attendees aged under 30 are available for this show. To purchase an 'Under 30s' ticket, please choose the 'Under 30s' price type when selecting your ticket(s). If the option does not appear, this means all 'Under 30s' tickets have sold out. Please note that proof of age may be requested at the venue.
Unwaged tickets at JBW
Tickets at a special rate of 50% off are available to those in receipt of Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support or Job Seekers allowance. Please contact info@jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk to book a concession priced ticket.
SAVE 15% when you book 3+ JBW events
Discount automatically applied when 3+ events have been added to your online basket. This offer applies to all in-person paid events at Kings Place (not online, off-site or free events). Offer excludes Under 30s & Unwaged Tickets.

Browse more