Continuing my intermittent theme of the effect of language, this is an interview with Jonathan Miller in which he reflects on the book that would shape his worldview for the next forty years, philosopher JL Austin’s How to Do Things with Words. ‘ “For me, reading How To Do Things With Words is like having
a very, very good Swiss army knife with lots of blades and
scissors and things for getting pebbles out of hooves. Armed
with this, you can unpick an otherwise impenetrable problem.”

Austin’s breakthrough has had far-reaching effects on
post-1960s anthropology, child psychology and the legal
system. Miller applies his mentor’s teaching “at least daily, and
to every aspect of life” and finds it particularly illuminating
working in the theatre. ‘ The Times