Lidice lives on in memory, the surprising patterns hidden in 17 million library loans, Prague approves plan paving way for massive number of new flats

The destruction of Lidice in 1942 remains a haunting symbol of Nazi brutality, with a new memorial concert set to honor its victims. Yet the episode also reveals a surprising depth of insight from 17 million library loans in Prague, uncovering patterns in reading habits across age, gender, and season. Data journalist Michal Kasparek’s analysis shows that boys and girls borrow books at equal rates only between ages 6 and 10—thanks to school library trips—before a widening gap emerges, with women reading far more than men by age 35. Reading tastes converge at 18 due to state exams, then diverge sharply, only to reunite at 30 as both men and women borrow children’s books. The data also reveals that library cards are often shared within households, and that readers gravitate toward self-improvement in January, detective novels before summer, and biblical stories before Christmas. Meanwhile, a new national platform, ProVistup, aims to break the cycle of recidivism by connecting former prisoners with housing, jobs, addiction treatment, and counseling—addressing the fact that up to 70% return to prison due to systemic gaps in support. The episode closes with a powerful call for listeners to share their own stories, marking Radio Prague International’s 90th anniversary with a collective narrative of resilience and connection.