Russell participated in many broadcasts over the BBC , particularly '' The Brains Trust '' and the Third Programme , on various topical and philosophical subjects . By this time Russell was world-famous outside academic circles , frequently the subject or author of magazine and newspaper articles , and was called upon to offer opinions on a wide variety of subjects , even mundane ones . En route to one of his lectures in Trondheim , Russell was one of 24 survivors ( among a total of 43 passengers ) of an aeroplane crash in Hommelvik in October 1948 . He said he owed his life to smoking since the people who drowned were in the non-smoking part of the plane . '' A History of Western Philosophy '' ( 1945 ) became a best-seller and provided Russell with a steady income for the remainder of his life
aeroplane crash in Hommelvik
Bukken Bruse disaster
Bertrand Russell