The Wonder show is about the people, places and events that shape our daily lives. Often those events are entirely out of our control, our destiny is shaped not only by our own actions and often inaction but also those of others and of circumstance.

This idea is shaped beautifully by Mark Twain in an essay that he wrote, called “The turning point of my life”.

For today’s show, I am going to read that essay taken from a collection of Mark Twain’s essays by Samuel Clemens (who of course is better known as "Mark Twain!"), called “What is Man? – and other essays”. The collection is on the public domain and available for free via Project Gutenberg.

To leave a message or ask a question about this or any of the content, visit www.injustoneday.com/sayhello

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In Northern India there lies a city, believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and the spiritual home of India.

Thousands flock here each day, to bathe in the waters of the Ganges, to cremate their loved ones, to pray in their many temples and/or to commune and to learn.

This city has a strong heritage in music, literature, arts and craft, the most cherished being the art of silk weaving, known the world over for the beautiful and prized Banarasi sarees.

It is also a city of legends, with myths and tales of curiosity across its narrow alleyways and in its many ruins.

It is a vibrant city of contrasts, a much loved and revered Holy city, a commercial city, a seat of learning and all wrapped up in its daily bustle, noise and pollution; it is a land of silk and dreams.

This is the story of Varanasi.

For more information, links and sources visit www.injustoneday.com/varanasi.

To leave a comment, ask a question or provide feedback, visit www.injustoneday.com/sayhello

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California, the sunshine state of America, was gleaming for another reason back in 1848.

On a farm in Sacramento, near the town of Caloma in January 1848, whilst working on John Sutter’s ranch, building a saw mill, John Marshall found gold.

The two men tried to keep the find quiet, but word soon got out and before long people were coming from all around in search of fame and fortune.

The Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of people to the area from all over the world and with it the need for supplies, tools and workwear.

One man, recognizing the business potential this brought, arrived from New York to San Francisco to set up a branch of the family wholesale dry goods and garment business. His business grew quickly as did his reputation for quality.

Then one day an opportunity arose that he could not refuse, that opportunity was to change his life and the lives of many others and would start a 150 year success story that continues to thrive to this day.

This is the story of Levi's Jeans.

For the show notes links and sources for this episode visit injustoneday.com/levis.

Thanks for being here.

The beginning of the 16th century was a time of exploration, of discovery and of curiosity.

Columbus had recently discovered the New World, Europe was expanding rapidly with trade routes being opened up with the East. These brought a wealth of exotic spices, plants and animals back from places such as India and China, to satisfy curiosity but also to display wealth and stature.

Any self-respecting gentleman, nobleman or King wanted to display his wealth with a show of the unusual, the exotic and often the macabre.

The natural world was becoming a focus of scientific and cultural interest as these explorers and travellers were returning with examples and illustrations of new species.

One man recognised that his was a time of opportunity, of curiosity and wonder and he capitalised on it.

To this day one of his creations, despite its inaccuracies lives in the annals of science and of art as a true masterpiece.

This is the story of Durer’s Rhinoceros.

Thanks for listening

For more information, links and sources please head over to www.injustoneday.com/rhino

Finally, I would like to hear from you, if you have any things you are curious about and would like to hear about on the show then you can let me know at www.injustoneday.com/getintouch/sayhello

There are some instructions on how you can do that there or you can email me at [email protected].

But until next time, thanks for being here and Have a great day.

Lying off the Northwest Coast of Scotland is a group of Islands known collectively as the Hebrides. They are Harris and Lewis, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Barra.

These ancient and remote islands are as mysterious as they are beautiful, with the competing forces of the strong Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, nature is unforgiving.

Yet, this brings with it unique opportunities and habitats for birds, mammals, marine animals and fauna not seen elsewhere.

The Isle of Lewis, is 680 sq miles and is the northern most Island, it has a population of approx. 19000 people the majority of whom are concentrated in the town of Stornaway.

It was previously inhabited by the Picts was under Norse rule from the 9th century when the Vikings settled there. Following the Treaty of Perth in 1266 Lewis and the other Islands became part of Scotland once again. The Isle of Lewis

Almost 6 centuries later, on a day in April 1831, a farmer was out grazing his cattle when one of his animals unearthed what would become one of the most important archaeological and historically important finds to this day.

This is the story of the Lewis Chessmen.

For more information, links and sources visit www.injustoneday.com/chessmen.

Welcome to Season 3 of the Wonder Show!

A new year and a new season – it feels great to be back.

The feedback I’ve had to the first two seasons has been great and I appreciate all the good wishes you’ve given me, thank you.

I have so many great tales of wonder and of curiosity to share with you and so I’ve decided that from Season 3, I’ll be extending the Season from 8 to 12 weeks, so you will have a total of 12 episodes per season to enjoy. 

For more information visit www.injustoneday.com

You can pick up the next season of Wonder from all your usual places on Wednesday 31 January 2018.

Oh, and the Wonder Show has been accepted by Spotify now too which is great news, so you can find it there.

See you next week.

Until then have a great day

In 1912, a London bookseller, acquired a manuscript as part of a much larger collection of rare books. Nothing unusual there but this collection was different and so was this manuscript. At the time, he didn’t know what he had in his possession.

This manuscript had not been seen for over 200 years. After he unearthed it, it became a text of enormous interest to scientists, historians, academics and the public alike because it is quite simply a mystery.

Elements of its history have been painstakingly pieced together but the true purpose of the book, its origin and its meaning have confounded all who have studied it.

This is the story of the Voynich manuscript. 

For more information visit www.injustoneday.com/manuscript.

Keep in touch via social media or email [email protected]

On a wall in Milan, Italy there sits a work of art that has survived, despite man and nature’s best efforts to destroy it, for over 600 years.

It has been studied, analysed in microscopic detail, restored, bombed and marvelled at.

Some say that with so many restorations over the years, what remains is now only 40% of the original work of the artist yet it still mesmerises us.

This masterpiece has stood the test of time and reflects the true wonder of the artist, a polymath who had an innate curiosity of the world, of us and how we work.

This is the story of Leonardo Da Vinci and his painting of The Last Supper.

For more information visit www.injustoneday.com/thelastsupper

There are few places on Earth that showcase the extraordinary beauty and diversity of life as in the Amazon. It is simply unique.

The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and river system and spans across eight countries and one overseas territory, through Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana/ France.

It contains one-tenth of the world’s known species; the latest estimates are 40,000 plant species, 1600 species of tree, 3,000 freshwater fish species, 1600 bird species, 1000 amphibians, 400+ mammals and more than 370 types of reptiles. This of course doesn’t take account of the myriad of insects and invertebrates that live there.

It is one of Earth's last refuges for animals such as jaguars, harpy eagles and pink dolphins.

A recent report by WWF confirmed that scientists are discovering an average of one new species in the Amazon every other day.

Also, more than 30 million people, including 350 indigenous groups live in the Amazon and depend upon it for their shelter, food, agriculture and livelihoods.

The Amazon rainforest and river provide such a unique and vital ecosystem that benefits us all, it is quite breath-taking and heart-breaking in equal measure.

Today I want to tell one of the many stories of the Amazon, about an area along the vast Amazon River, how it is like nothing else anywhere on Earth and why it matters.

Let’s find out more.

For more information visit www.injustoneday.com/boilingriver

Our understanding of our world and how it came to be would be much less if it were not for the very many great scientists, historians and explorers who have endured much in the name of scientific and educational advancement over the centuries.

One such person was a woman who lived in the 19th century on the South Coast of England.  

She was poorly educated, mostly self-taught and from a working-class background but her discoveries would help to create a new branch of science which would advance our understanding of what came before us.

She was very definitely ahead of her time.

This is the story of Mary Anning, also known as the greatest fossil hunter.

Let’s find out more.  

For more information visit www.injustoneday.com/thefossilhunter                      

In Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, Long John Silver's parrot, Captain Flint would say with great rapidity, as the novel tells us, 

"Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" till you wondered that it was not out of breath, or till John threw his handkerchief over the cage. "

This classic story has captivated generations of adults and children alike. It has also linked the coins (and parrots) to fictional depictions of pirates, to this day.

So, whilst great pirate stories have forever linked “pieces of eight” with their owners and their seafaring bounty where does the term come from and what were they for?

That is a tale of wonder. Let’s find out.

For more information links and sources visit www.injustoneday.com/piecesofeight

Thanks for listening!