Scotland is seeking to become a world leader in renewable energy, while the arguments continue to rage about oil, 'cleaner coal' and nuclear power. How do we provide fuel for the world without destroying it in the process, and can Scotland really be a key player? In this event - part our popular debates and environment strand in 2010 - our panel discuss the options. Featuring former MSP and Professor of Social Change at Queen Margaret University, Susan Deacon; Dr Benny Peiser, Director of The Global Warming Policy Foundation; Duncan McLaren and chair Ruth Wishart.

The celebrated Fay Weldon and the superb Fatima Bhutto captivated Book Festival audiences in this 2010 event chaired by Ruth Padel. Despite their widely different backgrounds, both Fay Weldon and Fatima Bhutto share the way in which a parent’s loss affected their understanding of the world.

On Monday 16 August, a gentleman came to the Information Desk to return his earpiece unused. "I didn't need it", he explained; "I've just been to the Simon Callow event!" Sure enough, beloved actor Simon Callow filled our RBS Main Theatre with his legendary eloquence in a sold out event you now have a chance to listen to here on the website.

Legendary writer Jeanette Winterson inspired her audience with tremendous charm on 16 August, speaking movingly of happiness and the pursuit thereof. This brilliant event was full of intelligent questions from the audience and great energy from Winterson herself. When she attended her photocall, the Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit writer proceeded to throw oranges at the photographers!

We welcomed Britain's Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to the Book Festival in 2010 for three remarkable events. In this beautifully-received event she read new work from The Bees which will be published in 2011, and was joined by chair Don Paterson and musician John Sampson.

Christos Tsiolkas flew all the way to Edinburgh from his home in Australia to open the 2010 Edinburgh International Book Festival in fine literary style. In a sold-out event chaired by Steven Gale, he discussed his much talked-about best-selling novel The Slap to a spellbound audience.

Chatting to chair Al Senter, the inimitable Nicholas Parsons showed that the oldest gameshow host ever still retains his famous ability to entertain. A sold out event packed with fans, the British legend discussed life in the public eye to an enthusiastic audience.

On 15 August droves of enthusiastic fans were treated to a visit from American teen novel master John Green. In a stroke of genius he arranged a meet-up beforehand for the Edinburgh-based fans in his audience...! The result: an unbeatably friendly and funny atmosphere. This energetic sold out event, chaired by Keith Gray, inspired an enormous and eclectic signing queue too; John Green has a huge online presence and his Book Festival event attracted fans from literally around the world.

The remarkable author of the Booker-winning Cloud Atlas sold out the Book Festival's biggest venue many weeks in advance. Talking to chair Steven Gale, he delighted festival audiences with his warmth and humour, offering a fascinating insight into how he goes about writing his complex fiction and creating the inventive structure of his work. Without doubt a must-listen event...

In a surprise Book Festival event announced after the 2010 programme went to print, A S Byatt charmed her substantial audience to the full. Chaired by writer and literary critic Stuart Kelly, this was an engaging and appealing event of intriguing questions and even more intriguing answe

A 2010 Book Festival event that will be talked about for some time to come. Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, delivered a thought-provoking event with the words of a real insider. As chair Ruth Wishart said, "Joseph Stiglitz has analysed more financial crisises than George Osborne has had hot dinners!". During the event, Stiglitz's audience - which included Labour MP Diane Abbott - was party to a group of protestors who gatecrashed the venue; one of them even came on stage and started speaking. The liberal Stiglitz tolerated the protest in a beautifully light-hearted manner, and the audience soon insisted that the protestors leave. An exciting moment in an exciting event!

A chance to hear the author of the book-turned-into-big-screen-hit How to Train your Dragon in her fantastic and wildly popular 2010 kids' event, ideal for ages 8 - 12. The adored writer provided some very silly drawings, chatted about her big hit, and more.

We are delighted to offer you a chance to listen to celebrated Irish poet Seamus Heaney in his fantastic and extremely popular event with us in 2010. Chatting to chair Robyn Marsack, Seamus Heaney discussed his newest collection, Human Chain.

August 2010 saw writer Andrew O'Hagan bring to the Book Festival an unforgettable tale of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and a dog called Maf. Listen to O’Hagan in this audio recording of his special live event in Charlotte Square gardens, where he was joined by chair Diana Hope and actors Ian McDiarmid, Andrew Hawley and Suzanne Bertish to perform scenes from the novel.

Another chance to listen to two writers who have produced riveting, heartbreaking and sometimes shocking accounts of father-son relationships. An interesting, intelligent and compelling event, chaired by Hannah McGill, well worth revisiting.

Listen to two unique writers as they look at love and trauma through a child's eyes. Emma Donogue's Room and Fiona Shaw's Tell it to the Bees are two remarkable works, discussed in depth in this event chaired by Pru Rowlandson.

In this event Joyce Carol Oates joined chair Jackie McGlone to discuss her two books published in 2010, both of which, in very different ways, involve young people coming to terms with their own sexuality. A tempting chance to listen to this significant literary voice.

Join Philippe Sands QC in his 2010 Book Festival event to learn why he believes the policy of abuse at Guantanamo Bay originated with Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and George W Bush. An absorbing event, chaired by Kate Allen.

In this event crime writing extraordinaire Reggie Nadelson discussed the ventures of her brilliantly believable detective, with Edinburgh’s own favourite crime writer, Ian Rankin. The charismatic pair are well worth a listen – and another listen after that.

Listen to this audio recording to join the audience of Roddy Doyle's fantastic 2010 Book Festival children’s event, ideal for ages 7+ and families. Brilliant and hilarious, the madcap misadventures of Rover and the Mack family are unmissable.