Daniel J. Clark is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public Humanities at Oakland University. This interview is based on his new book, Listening to Workers: Oral Histories of Metro Detroit Autoworkers in the 1950s (University of […]
Archives for September 2024
A colleague asked ChatGPT to “summarize John Fea’s critique of evangelical Christians who support Donald Trump for president”
One of my colleagues in the Messiah University English Department asked ChatGPT to summarize my critique of evangelical Christians who support Donald Trump for president. Here’s its response: John Fea, a historian and author, has been a vocal critic of […]
Evangelicals respond to last night’s Harris-Trump debate
What a crazy night. Kamala Harris was relentless. To use boxing metaphors, Trump was on the ropes the entire night. Harris connected with relentless jabs and right hooks. The former president was on his heels through the entire debate. On […]
Harris won the debate, but will it matter?
That’s the question.
Taylor Swift, the “childless cat lady,” endorses Kamala Harris
Taylor has mobilized the Swifties. The election is over. 🙂 Trump has already responded.
Christianity Today magazine publishes a “Christian case for public schooling.” Conservative evangelicals go nuts.
Christianity Today theology editor Stefani McDade recently made a compelling and nuanced case for public schools. Here is a taste: Our daughter is just a toddler, so she’s not in school yet, and it’s possible something in the next few […]
“A dream of life”
REVIEW: The Realm of the Dog
In Paul Luikart’s stories, raw strength and immense depth work side-by-side
Trump, tariffs, and daycare
Donald Trump’s appearance at the Economic Club of New York has been getting a lot of attention. The Washington Post reports: Former president Donald Trump gave a confusing answer Thursday when asked about making child care more affordable, suggesting the […]
The Author’s Corner with Abigail G. Mullen
Abigail G. Mullen is Assistant Professor of Naval History and Digital Methods at the United States Naval Academy. This interview is based on her new book, To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800–1805 […]
The Author’s Corner with Paul D. Brinkman
Paul D. Brinkman is Head of the Environmental Humanities Research Lab and Curator of Special Collections at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Adjunct Associate Professor of History at North Carolina State University. This interview is based on […]
Is Trump a tyrant?
It depends what you mean by tyrant. Over at Engelsberg Ideas, historian Edmund Stewart brings some necessary context. Here is a taste: Trump is clearly not a tyrant yet. Will he become one? American institutions are stronger than many of […]
REVIEW: Where Is Freedom in This Book?
Timothy Snyder’s thin take on freedom reflects larger, more troubling deficits
Secular academia’s hostility to professors
While higher tier institutions may have a problem with conservatives, lower-tier state universities have a problem with faculty.
Is contemporary (fiction) writing getting worse?
Tyson Duffy’s essay on why fiction is getting worse is a worthwhile read.
The Author’s Corner with Hettie V. Williams
Hettie V. Williams is Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and Director of the William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture. This interview is based on her new book, The Georgia of the North: […]
Tolstoy, Melville, Wright: Morons
Evangelicals should thank Wright and be at peace with him.
LONG FORM: Whose Culture? Which Solidarity?
Further reflections on James Davison Hunter’s ‘Democracy and Solidarity’
Election Day is 56 days away. What are evangelicals saying?
Let’s check in on the current state of evangelicals and politics: National Public radio is talking about “Evangelicals for Harris.” Ralph Reed remains all in: So is Reed’s Faith & Freedom Coalition: A glimpse into the Latino evangelicals who attend […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Should we abolish grades at American universities? There are only two Shakers left. “Our dopamine-driven brains drive us to choose cheap distraction over entertainment and art” Elizabeth Catte reviews three […]