One of the chief virtues of the book is that it’s nearly the only remaining form of media that isn’t constantly being interrupted by ads. Between the covers is the last place on earth where no one is trying to sell you shit, a place where you can still be a human being rather than a mark.

Scholars who do historical research, eat your Wheaties (or whatever else fuels you). In the year of the nation's 250th birthday, there will be all sorts of nonsense that we will counter-program with actual history.

Next week #ParkChat gets of to a strong start to 2026 as we welcome the return of @adamsowards.net as our guest host. Remember there is not a chat tonight. @naturetechfam.bsky.social and I are looking forward to next week’s presentation. Happy New Year to all!

🧵 from a former student of mine. Worth reading fully. Sometimes the cliche is true: I learn a lot from students.

Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵 Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...

Most of my interviews/profiles have been behind a paywall. Not this time! Have a look at a real champion of the humanities, Rick Ardinger. www.adamsowards.net/a-lover-and-...

one thing that doesn’t get enough coverage or comment with regards to this administration is it how much it hates the actually existing united states

I joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in urging President Trump to approve an expedited Emergency Declaration for the devastating storms and severe flooding hitting WA communities. Our letter:

Good to have @99pi.org give corner crossing this kind of attention. #publiclands 99percentinvisible.org/episode/650-...

In light of proposals to jettison national park units, I used my weekly essay to explore how the National Park Service diversified but united its holdings over time. www.adamsowards.net/e-pluribus-u...

I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.

My weekly essay has Thanksgiving themes, I think. Spend a few minutes with E. B. White.

I pulled E. B. White off the shelf this week and rediscovered his 1942 essay, "A Week in November." 'Tis the season, so I wrote about it and how war helped him think about responsibilities. As usual, White made me think and nod in recognition. www.adamsowards.net/common-groun...

New Masters in Public Environmental Humanities starts Fall 2026 in Stavanger. Registration for students from outside of EU is open now, with deadline Nov 30. So jump on it! Need more info? We have an online session coming up Friday, Nov 21. See 👇 www.uis.no/en/studies/t... #envhum #environment

After three weeks on the road and some disruption to my weekly writings, I'm back on track and trying to process some of what I saw. Here's this week's Taking Bearings essay, reflecting on quiet moments and what's really at the center. www.adamsowards.net/at-the-cente...

1/n Radical hypothesis: If you're a reporter or even a columnist (umbrella 'journalist' camp), generally *least* useful thing you can do with your time and platform is tell political parties what their "messaging" should be. -Reporters have the privilege of seeing things other people can't ...

Redwood National and State Parks offer a little bit of everything. Although it was sunny all day, everything was damp!

Point Reyes National Seashore is pretty special. I only got a taste but look forward to another trip (not during a shutdown).

I have found Yosemite to be jaw-dropping, a scale that has to be experienced to be understood.

Kings Canyon National Park this afternoon, touched with autumn.

Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park. Yesterday, a weekend, it was swamped. And clouds were thick enough I couldn't see the top. This morning, I arrived at the top, after 350 steps, to have it entirely to myself.

Found my way to Sequoia National Park today. Quite a place!

Although weekend busy, Pinnacles National Park has been worth exploring.

Rock art (look for the bighorn sheep) in the Mojave National Preserve and Joshua's Trees in their namesake park. It was the last desert day.

From Death Valley badlands to the Mojave National Preserve today. Forming a greater appreciation for the Mojave.

Manzanar on the way to Death Valley today. Two types of inhumanity. (That's probably not fair to the Mojave.)

A glimpse of Half Dome and a stroll through Tuolumne Meadows made for a good day.

Good national monuments today, Lava Beds and Tule Lake. Captain Jack's Stronghold from the Modoc War and what remains of the concentration camp, appropriately behind barbed wire.

Field research again. Crater Lake and Lava Beds today. Hard at work, I promise.

This land is your land. You own it. Never forget it. Always protect it. Public lands are a public good.

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

This commentary by @nslaughtergraham.bsky.social published with @poynterinstitute.bsky.social is really thoughtful on the importance of history to journalism. www.poynter.org/commentary/2...

Join SmokeLong for a mysterious month between November and December we’ve christened Promptember! We’ll be meeting several times a week online with live write-in and open mic events at various times to suit participants around this spinning globe, 100% free. www.smokelong.com/ready-for-pr...

On this Monday morning, I found the thoughts of @nijhuism.bsky.social about conservation now to be useful. Maybe you will too. conservationworks.substack.com/p/what-to-do...

NEW: ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the Trump administration’s cuts to an aid program.

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

Some reflections on Wounded Knee in my weekly essay. www.adamsowards.net/a-time-for-s...

So many reasons to study history. One is so we know where we actually live, rather than some fantastical idea of where we live.

Everyone who follows me can do something to support federal workers and the people and places they serve and protect. Please discover what that is and then do it. #ShutdownStories

Why are farmers in the United States "facing very difficult times," Secretary Rollins?

In 2019, I visited Capitol Reef National Park. I'm glad to see it remains stunning in 2025.

Bryce Canyon National Park in morning light is outstanding.

For my newsletter I wrote about the history behind the Roadless Rule. Today is the final day for public comments! Go make your voice heard.

First time in Zion. Beautiful (but crowded).

Then, along came a desert bighorn sheep.

I'm on the road, but the newsletter must go on. This week, my essay is about First Impressions. www.adamsowards.net/first-impres...

Always Grand.

I expected to like Hovenweep National Monument but not as much as I did. Wonderful morning hike.

In addition to being my guest on @writingwestward.bsky.social, @adamsowards.net interviewed me for Taking Bearings. Access to the full interview requires a (very reasonably priced) subscription. Come for the history talk, stay for the embarrassing 1994 photo. www.adamsowards.net/developing-e...

Mesa Verde sparks the historical imagination like few places.