“Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”

Today is the anniversary of the British evacuating New York City after the end of the Revolutionary War. Here's how I learned about it: the piece that introduced me to the terrific work of @bencarp.bsky.social

‘When Claude Bellièvre visited the Vatican Library around 1514, he copied down a papal edict: readers must not quarrel, make noise or “cross the desks [to which books were chained] and tear them up with their feet”.’ Anthony Grafton on Renaissance libraries: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

That any of us have to care about the messy breakup of these two massive narcissists — and that they both individually wield such massive power — is an indictment of our political system and further proves the poisonous influence of Big Money on our democracy.

So my phone started blowing up last night because guess who's on the banned book list at the naval academy? Yours truly. Go support an author today and buy a book off of this this list... Doesn't even have to be mine. Gift link coming

Former president Barack Obama called on universities and law firms to stand up to intimidation from President Donald Trump’s administration and urged Americans to prepare to “possibly sacrifice” in support of democratic values.

The History Books Purged From the Naval Academy's Library 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Rev250 podcast on Leslie’s Retreat released today. Thank you to Bob Allison for hosting, Jonathan Lane for producing, and Jonathan Streff for joining me. www.youtube.com/live/LbcJMri...

Yes! Show historical action rather than tell facts. Use rich details. My students are writing essays now. Love Rediker’s 10 tips!

Used this in class today for an example of both good engaging historical research and writing. It was a hit!

Here is a fascinating article by Fara Dabhoiwala in the LRB about the 18c Afro-Jamaica polymath Francis Williams (c, 1690-c. 1770). Brilliant detective work on the level of Carlo Ginsburg. And it has a Benjamin Lay connection! www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

The best definition of neoliberalism I’ve read is in this article about Wolfgang Streeck, a German sociologist and theorist of capitalism, who points out why democracy is failing around the world right now as it conflicts with the needs of capital. 🎁 www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/o...

Terrific discussion about the big picture post election: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...