Have you ever considered a career in publishing? Do you want to find out more about what working in the industry could look like, and how to get into it? Then join us in Manchester on the 17th April! Book: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-courses/careers-publishing-manchester

This is an outstanding and unexpectedly moving piece about Napalm Death’s infamous 1.3-second masterpiece:

Also me:

Oh so now copyright matters.

‘Why was Christopher Steele’s dossier so shoddy, and why did it command such influence? Steele’s own apparent lack of expertise may be relevant here. He makes much of his linguistic prowess, yet he has a shakier grasp of Russian than he claims.’ Vadim Nikitin: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Bill's Climate Catch-up #8 Subscribe to read this week's paid content in my #CoolEarth newsletter Lots of free stuff too 🙂

I read this this morning and thought it really outstanding

This was excellent

The finest take down of the institution of monarchy and "class" and the grasping, greedy, venal, entitled, and very stupid people it enables that you will read today or any day. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

'About 10,000 writers have contributed to Don’t Steal This Book, in which the only content is a list of their names. Copies of the work are being distributed to attenders at the London book fair on Tuesday'. 1/2

Ian Huntley has died after being attacked in prison. There’s questions to ask but right now, let the media focus on his victims: 10 year old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, and their parents and siblings who must still endure a lifetime of grief. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Very cool to see the cover revealed today for @keithkahnharris.bsky.social’s THE BEAUTIFUL DEATH OF OZZY OSBOURNE: HOW METAL TEACHES US TO LIVE, a book I commissioned last year when in-house at HarperNorth. It’s an exhilarating read for both Ozzy- and Sabbath-heads, and the metal-curious:

Mood

A new independent LGBTQ+ publisher named PANSY has been launched by novelist Matt Cain and businessman Harry Glasstone 👇 #BookSky

I guess Starmer is trying his version of that famous election-winning line of Churchill’s, about a Labour government needing ‘some kind of Gestapo’ once they’re in power

Publication day tomorrow: 'These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' (HarperNorth).

"John Prescott would be loving this"

Never in a million years did I ever fathom when I resurrected the Epstein story in 2018 that it would lead to first arrest of a British Royal in four centuries. Not since King Charles I was arrested in 1647. open.substack.com/pub/jkbjourn...

I'm very excited to reveal the cover of my forthcoming book 'The Beautiful Death of Ozzy Osbourne' AND a big discount for pre-orders with Waterstones. Be quick as it's only available until the end of this Friday. Order here - www.waterstones.com/campaign/feb...

This is a - characteristically from Laleh Khalili - brilliant piece:

Shout out to comrade @stuhennigan.bsky.social whose debut novel KESHED is published today. You need this book in your life. Oh yes you do.

𝖕𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖊 𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖓𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊

For my take on where we are headed, based upon looking back at a changing climate across the 4.6 billion-year geological record, you might like to take a look at my forthcoming book Out May 21st

Very soon I will be ✨available for work✨ If you’re interested in who I am and what it is I do/have done then here’s a little introduction thread about myself and my work.

The Times interview with Peter Mandelson is a masterclass in lack of self-awareness, but this quote about what it is precisely that makes very rich people so appealing to him is especially revealing.

Move aside Mondo Duplantis

I finished The North Road by @robcowen.bsky.social today - it was absolutely astonishing and very moving. Also excellently read by Rob too. Hard recommend!

Got me a new coworker. While we’re in the gutter he looks to the stars.

Got me a new coworker

Help us make hope normal again. Join the Green Party now.

"The climate doesn’t recognise pragmatism. If we want to effect meaningful change, we act as the climate science demands. Anything less is a waste of time" 123 days to go @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @matthewtodd.bsky.social @rogerhallam.com @juststopoil.bsky.social @scientistsforxr.earth

We’re looking for someone to join the @hopenothate.org.uk research team for 3 months to work on our anti-Reform team. Have a look! hopenothate.org.uk/about-us/car...

7️⃣ On the seventh day of Christmas Folk on Foot gave to me: Kerry Andrew a-swimming in the Brockwell Lido Listen to the episode: t.co/OSQavzUo80

My resolution for the New Year is to attack and dethrone God.

All the books I finished in 2025: (asterisks = re-reads) 1. Austerlitz - WG Sebald* 2. Mongrel - Hanako Footman (audio) 3. Out of the Darkness - Frank Trentmann 4. All the Beauty in the World - Patrick Bringley 5. The Emigrants - WG Sebald*

Thinking about anyone who is struggling at this time of year, including those who are grieving, remembering time past. These days, stretched out like they are, can feel particularly jarring (I remember it well) which chimes with this piece I wrote for Xmas 2021. Posting now for anyone who needs it:

oomf who is a librarian had to take down the David Walliams poster at work today and said it felt like pulling down the big Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad in 2003

Really pleased to be helping bring @keithkahnharris.bsky.social’s extremely cool and very heavy book - my second commission from my time at HarperNorth over the summer - to the world! 🤟

Shame on everyone who made this happen. Also, Woodcraft Folk forever.

Hard to read this and not feel a flare of righteous fury at the absolute cruelty that underpins the anti-trans movement. Just diabolical to force a tiny number of girls and young women out because you've let your twitter algorithm convince you they're dangerous. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

This is lovely: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/d...

From Stoppard’s Arcadia:

Really sorry to hear this. Studying and watching Arcadia with Rufus Sewell at the National in the early nineties was the first time I saw a non-Shakespeare play live and it was formative. I much recommend Hermione Lee's fairly recent biog of him, too.

Depressingly well-made point.

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

I wrote about the anti-vax conference that was taking place at my hotel during the Texas Book Festival. lithub.com/amid-the-mah...

Trans rights are human rights and if you think otherwise you can fuck off, cos i don't wanna know ya. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈💜💜💜💜

Me at the LRB blog on the atrocious refugee policy of Mahmood and Starmer