Albert J. Churella is Professor of History at Kennesaw State University. This interview is based on his new book, The Pennsylvania Railroad: The Long Decline, 1933–1968 (Indiana University Press, 2024). JF: What led you to write The Pennsylvania Railroad? AC: Most of […]
technology
The Author’s Corner with Aaron W. Marrs
Aaron W. Marrs is on the staff of the Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State. This interview is based on his new book, The American Transportation Revolution: A Social and Cultural History (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024). […]
The good failures of unplugging: seven months later
Tech resistance and unplugging isn’t about superhumans doing perfectly that at which ordinary people fail; it’s about ordinary people dusting themselves off repeatedly and trying again, because the goal of a more humane life is worth pursuing.
A writer’s memento mori: on the death of a laptop
The death of a computer elicits all the feels–and awkward questions.
A paper manifesto
It is time to go back to paper!
The Author’s Corner with R. Douglas Hurt
R. Douglas Hurt is Professor of History at Purdue University. This interview is based on his new book, Agriculture in the Midwest, 1815–1900 (University of Nebraska Press, 2023). JF: What led you to write Agriculture in the Midwest, 1815-1900? DH: […]
Ban phones in classrooms
After twenty-five years in the college history classroom, it is hard to argue with Jonathan Haidt’s recent piece at The Atlantic. A taste: Think about how hard it is for you to stay on task and sustain a train of […]
Stanley Hauerwas on the Christian church: “My sense is that God is making us leaner.”
Longtime readers of this blog will know that I am a big fan of John Inazu’s work, especially his book Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference. Until I read this interview at Inazu’s Substack, I did not realize […]
Capitalism is “siphoning our attention for profit”
Over at Current Affairs, Nathan Robinson interviews Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention. Robinson writes: Johann Hari has written multiple bestselling nonfiction books including Chasing the Scream, Lost Connections, and most recently Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention. All […]