Hello. I’m a writer, radio broadcaster and GP based in London. I’m currently working on a nonfiction book, ANIMA, about the idea of the soul from anthropological, scientific and historical perspectives, to be published by Picador (UK) and Pantheon (US).
I am represented by the wonderful Tracy Bohan at The Wylie Agency. For a list of my writing and broadcasting to date, please see my work page. You can follow me on Twitter: @fjrrl
If you’d like to listen to my radio programmes, below are links to episodes of my favourite project of all so far: Savage To Self. I wrote and presented this major ten-part series for BBC Radio 4 charting the evolution of anthropology and its impact on wider society. Have a listen. I hope you enjoy it.
Episode 1: Anthropology is born
Episode 2: The Colonial Encounter
Episode 3: Culture Goes Plural
Episode 4: Participating And Observing
Episode 5: Coming Of Age
Episode 6: Anthropology Goes To War
Episode 7: Anthropology In Crisis
Episode 8: Anthropology Gets Practical
Episode 9: We Are All Anthropologists Now
Episode 10: Anthropology Faces The Future
Dr Farrah Jarral 
I find it fascinating, not boring. I heard your chutzpahdik talk on 4 this evening and loved every word. Thanks, and well done! I’m hoping that if you’re ever in or near Liverpool you’ll check out my beloved Liverpool Jazz Club. We’re cheeky. Best, David x http://liverpooljazzclub.com
Interesting talk on Cheekiness. I understand the same from a ludic perspective. Looking forward to the 2015 session.
Just heard your final Radio 4 Savage to Self broadcast – ravishing, thank you!
Just listened to the whole 10 episodes of Savage to Self. What a brilliant insight into the subject of anthropology. Looking forward to more.
Thank you Farrah. I’ve only listened to one episode so far – anthropology gets practical – but I know I’ll enjoy the others as much I did that one. I loved the interview with Jim Yong Kim. He, Arthur Kleinman and Paul Farmer are exemplary role models. Please keep up the good work, Cheers!
“From Savage to Self” is a wonderful series, and I have ‘favourited’ it on BBC iPlayer, listened several times over to the episodes, and absorbed more each time, with much pleasure. I am a freelance knowledge broker in healthcare, with a background in nursing, and prior to that, studies and research in Pacific history and anthropology. Like you, I have considerable affection and admiration for Margaret Mead, who for all her faults was a remarkable person, a pioneer in so many fields of activity and ideas. She’s not ‘fashionable’ these days, but we have much to learn still from her. Overall, I would like to thank and congratulate you for the fine breadth and depth to your series, and the engaging style in which you communicated. I have two regrets: firstly, that the programmes will only be available for a year or so, and secondly that as yet there is neither a transcript, book or CD available. If there were to be such media, I would head the queue to buy.
Just watched _Osama bin Everywhere_ (2008) funny and moving. On C4 on demand. Thanks for the anthropology radio series too
Farrah. I have just sat down and listened to every single podcast. Thank you so much, they were so interesting and so well put together. What an amazing opportunity for you! After listening to your podcasts, you’ve inspired me to study Anthropology- I’ll be applying for September 2018! Thank you a million x
A much needed discourse and lucidly presented. I think a person of your background, expertise along with a super curious mind and bundles of creative initiative has so much more to offer the world.
As an activist/researcher in AJK (otherwise described as Pakistani administered Kashmir) I think your input (particularly from an anthropological point of view) to understanding the ‘collective’ mindset here can positively contribute to navigating this region out of a static colonial structure, which is severely under-reported in global media and academia.
Having listened to much of what you’ve produced thus far, there is a lot that one would wish to discuss with you – if for nothing else but intellectual nourishment – given the finite time available to us as human beings, our value to society totally depends on the choices we make. I sincerely hope you choose to give a thought to AJK.
I’m finding your work fascinating. I have become an avid listener. However, “Cicero used it metaphorically to describe an accusation rebounding onto he who pointed the finger.” Onto he?
I just read your article in the Guardian about Paleo diets. While I believe there are some misconceptions among those who follow the concept, I think there is a principle associated with the concept that is sound. The natural selection pressure from diet has shaped who we are for tens of thousands of years. Lactose tolerance is an example. The trending of Paleo recognizes that food quality today is not as good as is presented. Having spent a career in specialty crops agriculture research, I am very familiar with the problem. I believe, if properly applied, the Paleo principle helps address the problem of quality in today’s food industry. I personally work hard at eating a much more native diet and I believe I benefit greatly from it. I question what your article is advancing to the reader. Surely you recognize that many of today’s health problems descend from poor diets, a result of poor quality food. I’d ask you to reconsider your position and promote the good in the Paleo principle. We should eat the food we have evolved to eat in it’s best form.