I read the article in Time about King Trump reading King Solomon & I dug up Chronicles 2, 7, the text he read, & went on to read para 8. Thanks to AI I found out about the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, & Jebusites. Guess what, all these neighbours were enemies. They must “pay tribute”.

@judeinlondon.com has a good piece here: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/fe... I like her stress on values. I think socialists shd speak to the emotions underpinning empathy, compassion, equality, solidarity, love and joy, simultaneously addressing the material realities that undermine those values.

If you love novels, especially novels that tell you about life in London (a unique place) do buy Ferdy Dennis’s latest novel #ConcreteDreams from the excellent @peepaltreepress.bsky.social Here’s my review on the brilliant site @writersmosaic.bsky.social writersmosaic.org.uk/reviews/conc...

I do the occasional post on Substack. Since I’m trying to drum up some followers I’m putting it up here, too …

@kiaabdullah.bsky.social great hearing & meeting you in Bradford today! Great interview w Barbara Kingsolver in yesterday’s Guardian magazine, BTW. Her Congo book is The Poisonwood Bible.

I think this is called venting: I waited 7 minutes to pick up @LeedsBeckettUniversity students in its Rose Bowl carpet. The project visit went well. Then I got a parking fine from CPP who must run the car park for the university. I’d been away for a fortnight so it cost me £100. Ouch.

Rock Against Racism! The most important youth movement this country has seen. Great film & great coverage in LOP …

In an hour, I'm on Radio 4's Saturday Live, talking about my new book Maybe I'm Amazed - about my autistic son James, and how much music connects us - and the whole of humanity

Would love to see you here in Big Flame’s original city on Wednesday evening (the book will be discounted to £20!)

Lively, enlightening discussion followed our talks about our book about #BigFlame (MerlinPress2024) at the excellent #MayDayRooms archive in London. Thanks for hosting us!

I’m a Caryl Phillips’ superfan & his new novel has had some negative reviews: I really do think it’s well worth your time. (This photo, TBH, is misleading.) … writersmosaic.org.uk/reviews/anot...

Superb cafe/restaurant in #VictoriaIsland #Lagos #crustandcream — aircon & coffee much needed on this hot day

What a treat to hear #CarylPhilips read from his brilliant new novel #AnotherManOnTheStreet & provide eloquent answers to #profJohnMcLeod ‘s stimulating questions at #TheLeedsLibrary tonight

Just had an inspiring PM & evening event @wcmlibrary.bsky.social in #Salford, England. Their young ppl are doing amazing work of their #BigFlame archive, & Old Flames united later w new Flames (partly to promote our book abt BF pub by @merlinpress.bsky.social

It’s 50 years since I was arrested with 11 black youth during the “Bonfire Night Uprising” in Chapeltown, Leeds. I spoke about this at the excellent Black Power at the Grassroots symposium at Manchester Uni on Friday. I’ve posted my short talk here. www.maxfarrar.org.uk/writing/the-...

This book about #BigFlame won’t sell itself, so I’m a (temporary) marketeer. Here’s something about a lovely meeting we did at #CaracolBooks in #Norwich — among those of 25 to 75 years of age, the flame still burns labourhub.org.uk/2025/01/20/t... Thanks, #LabourHub

So, this is Christmas, and what'd have you done, asked John & Yoko; War is Over, they hoped . . . and I posted this (about Xmas) on Substack, advertising our book at the same time, cos I'm a marketeer just like everyone else. open.substack.com/pub/maxfarra...

Whoop! Super pleased to see our #BigFlame book included in this most excellent of festive lefty reading lists compiled by the imaginative, irreverent and most excellent lefty @mark-perryman.bsky.social: labourhub.org.uk/2024/12/20/t...

If you live in the north of England & libertarian socialism is an interest of yours (I can feel attention dropping) check out this event on 6/2/25 about #BigFlame bit.ly406B9jkO

If you’re into books about politics & culture well to the left of centre, & you’re thinking what buy for yr friends, may I suggest my co-authored book BIG FLAME, new movements, new politics (Merlin Press) and/or SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER (Hansib Publications) ?

Ok, with zero followers, let me start the way I mean to go on:: tonight I’m at the launch of a book about genuinely progressive political praxis in the 1970s — please ask your library to buy it!