John Warner
@biblioracle.bsky.social
Writer, speaker, consultant. Chicago Tribune columnist, blogging at Inside Higher Ed. Coming soon, More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI. Previously: Why They Can't Write and The Writer's Practice. biblioracle.substack.com
"extortion" or "the price of doing business" which is also extortion. Unbelievable.
The mindless "bothsidism" of the coverage of the authoritarian rampage through our civil society. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
"extortion" or "the price of doing business" which is also extortion. Unbelievable.
To some extent I read books for a living and I've hardly scratched these lists of the must read/notable books. Maybe this is good (lots of good books). Maybe it's troubling (impossible to find readers for all the good books).
I've read 5 of Time's 100 must read books, with 2 more that I'll likely get to. time.com/collections/...
The 100 Must-Read Books of 2025
Discover the novels, memoirs, biographies, and more that entertained and enlightened us
time.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
To some extent I read books for a living and I've hardly scratched these lists of the must read/notable books. Maybe this is good (lots of good books). Maybe it's troubling (impossible to find readers for all the good books).
I've read 5 of Time's 100 must read books, with 2 more that I'll likely get to. time.com/collections/...
The 100 Must-Read Books of 2025
Discover the novels, memoirs, biographies, and more that entertained and enlightened us
time.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I've read 5 of Time's 100 must read books, with 2 more that I'll likely get to. time.com/collections/...
This is very encouraging testimony and jibes entirely with what I've observed traveling and speaking about More Than Words. 1. Students want to learn. 2. They can be suspicious about school as a place for learning. 3. Making class and experiences more human works. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
I’m a Professor. A.I. Has Changed My Classroom, but Not for the Worse.
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
This is very encouraging testimony and jibes entirely with what I've observed traveling and speaking about More Than Words. 1. Students want to learn. 2. They can be suspicious about school as a place for learning. 3. Making class and experiences more human works. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by John Warner
Mind-blowing post detailing how xAI is not only building a massive new fossil fuelled power station for the second data centre to power X's Grok, it is doing it across state lines to avoid regulation
Remind me again how it's all fine bc a single query is small...
semianalysis.com/2025/09/16/x...
Remind me again how it's all fine bc a single query is small...
semianalysis.com/2025/09/16/x...
September 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Mind-blowing post detailing how xAI is not only building a massive new fossil fuelled power station for the second data centre to power X's Grok, it is doing it across state lines to avoid regulation
Remind me again how it's all fine bc a single query is small...
semianalysis.com/2025/09/16/x...
Remind me again how it's all fine bc a single query is small...
semianalysis.com/2025/09/16/x...
There are lines we should not cross, no matter what sort of future promise anyone believes when it comes to AI. This one could not be clearer.
Feeling queasy now I've learned that Google is not only now offering Gemini ambassador certificates to teachers but also awarding students and *children* to be corporate AI mascots. Coercive normalization of commercialized digital education. blog.google/outreach-ini...
November 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
There are lines we should not cross, no matter what sort of future promise anyone believes when it comes to AI. This one could not be clearer.
Reposted by John Warner
"The high-income admissions advantage at Ivy-Plus colleges is driven by....(1) preferences for children of alumni, (2) weight placed on non-academic credentials, and (3) athletic recruitment" which are "uncorrelated or negatively correlated with post-college outcomes" unlike SAT/ACT scores
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Diversifying Society’s Leaders? The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges,” by Chetty (@Oppinsights), Deming, and Friedman: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Diversifying Society’s Leaders? The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges*
Abstract. We use anonymized admissions data from several colleges linked to income tax records and SAT and ACT test scores to study the determinants and ca
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:29 PM
"The high-income admissions advantage at Ivy-Plus colleges is driven by....(1) preferences for children of alumni, (2) weight placed on non-academic credentials, and (3) athletic recruitment" which are "uncorrelated or negatively correlated with post-college outcomes" unlike SAT/ACT scores
At some point the Cheers theme ("where everyone knows your name") started running though my head while at the NCTE convention. It was a bit strange, to be honest, but also really nice. biblioracle.substack.com/p/getting-re...
Getting Recognized at the NCTE Convention
My "celebrity for a day" experience.
biblioracle.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:40 PM
At some point the Cheers theme ("where everyone knows your name") started running though my head while at the NCTE convention. It was a bit strange, to be honest, but also really nice. biblioracle.substack.com/p/getting-re...
Reposted by John Warner
Amazing talk from @biblioracle.bsky.social #NCTE25 3 pages of notes and counting. . . This book is a necessary read for all ELA teachers!
November 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Amazing talk from @biblioracle.bsky.social #NCTE25 3 pages of notes and counting. . . This book is a necessary read for all ELA teachers!
Reposted by John Warner
Biggest shocker at my talk today, which is consistent with my other talks and media stuff, is that the acceptance rate for men and women are different at highly selective institutions. Men have a much higher acceptance rate because most colleges are scared to go beyond a 60/40 ratio.
November 20, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Biggest shocker at my talk today, which is consistent with my other talks and media stuff, is that the acceptance rate for men and women are different at highly selective institutions. Men have a much higher acceptance rate because most colleges are scared to go beyond a 60/40 ratio.
Reposted by John Warner
The long list has landed.
Get ready for the 2026 Tournament of Books, presented by @fieldnotesbrand.bsky.social, with the 70 most Rooster-worthy novels of the year! www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-year-in-...
Get ready for the 2026 Tournament of Books, presented by @fieldnotesbrand.bsky.social, with the 70 most Rooster-worthy novels of the year! www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-year-in-...
The 2026 Long List — The Tournament of Books
Literary bloodsport approaches! As we narrow down our shortlist of Tournament competitors, here are the 70 works of fiction in consideration from this year.
www.tournamentofbooks.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The long list has landed.
Get ready for the 2026 Tournament of Books, presented by @fieldnotesbrand.bsky.social, with the 70 most Rooster-worthy novels of the year! www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-year-in-...
Get ready for the 2026 Tournament of Books, presented by @fieldnotesbrand.bsky.social, with the 70 most Rooster-worthy novels of the year! www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-year-in-...
Reposted by John Warner
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Acquired Tastes: A Call for Submissions
For younger writers, ages 15-21
audacity.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Reposted by John Warner
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but AP exams won’t fix the literacy crisis either.
November 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but AP exams won’t fix the literacy crisis either.
Reposted by John Warner
The “canceled people” database listing victims of cancel culture, which includes oft-repeated cases such as Bret Weinstein (Evergreen State College) and James Damore (Google), has a little over 200 entries across 18 years.
canceledpeople.org
canceledpeople.org
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The “canceled people” database listing victims of cancel culture, which includes oft-repeated cases such as Bret Weinstein (Evergreen State College) and James Damore (Google), has a little over 200 entries across 18 years.
canceledpeople.org
canceledpeople.org
Reposted by John Warner
Discussion on here this morning about 1)whether Gemini is good at "creative writing" and 2)a study showing people preferred AI imitations of writers to the writers themselves. I come back to my trusty all-purpose question: What problem are we solving when we outsource "creative writing"?
November 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Discussion on here this morning about 1)whether Gemini is good at "creative writing" and 2)a study showing people preferred AI imitations of writers to the writers themselves. I come back to my trusty all-purpose question: What problem are we solving when we outsource "creative writing"?
I fundamentally do not understand why anyone is interested in these parlor tricks. It's outperformed nothing because recombining word patterns into a text isn't writing. Writing is born out of human experiences filtered through a unique sensibility. Only Han Kang can make more Han Kang.
Put writing high quality literary text on the list of things that AIs used to not be able to do but now can do
With fine-tuning, now outperforming MFA-trained expert writers at emulating award-winning authors when rated blindly by MFA-trained experts papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
With fine-tuning, now outperforming MFA-trained expert writers at emulating award-winning authors when rated blindly by MFA-trained experts papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I fundamentally do not understand why anyone is interested in these parlor tricks. It's outperformed nothing because recombining word patterns into a text isn't writing. Writing is born out of human experiences filtered through a unique sensibility. Only Han Kang can make more Han Kang.
Reposted by John Warner
i’m sorry
but i noticed something for @mcsweeneys.net
and the resemblance is uncanny
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/who...
but i noticed something for @mcsweeneys.net
and the resemblance is uncanny
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/who...
Who Said It: The Hell Priest Pinhead or Olivia Nuzzi?
“Olivia Nuzz did it all for love. The former political journalist has written a combustive portrait of America, President Trump, and the scandal wi...
www.mcsweeneys.net
November 19, 2025 at 12:43 AM
i’m sorry
but i noticed something for @mcsweeneys.net
and the resemblance is uncanny
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/who...
but i noticed something for @mcsweeneys.net
and the resemblance is uncanny
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/who...
Reposted by John Warner
NARRATOR: Roth quite clearly did not name call & we need our leaders to stop granting <every bad faith premise> of the far right authoritarians' lawless assault on higher education before we push back.
November 18, 2025 at 10:10 PM
NARRATOR: Roth quite clearly did not name call & we need our leaders to stop granting <every bad faith premise> of the far right authoritarians' lawless assault on higher education before we push back.
Reposted by John Warner
As a former public school teacher & current public school parent, I want our schools to be able to do more with more.
That's why I'm fighting back with Iowa CCI's Public School Strong campaign and working between now and Dec. 5th to raise $500 to support this important work headed into 2026. 👇
That's why I'm fighting back with Iowa CCI's Public School Strong campaign and working between now and Dec. 5th to raise $500 to support this important work headed into 2026. 👇
Help Nick raise $500 for thriving Iowa public schools! | Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement PowerBase
How can you help? Donate here!
iowacci.ourpowerbase.net
November 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
As a former public school teacher & current public school parent, I want our schools to be able to do more with more.
That's why I'm fighting back with Iowa CCI's Public School Strong campaign and working between now and Dec. 5th to raise $500 to support this important work headed into 2026. 👇
That's why I'm fighting back with Iowa CCI's Public School Strong campaign and working between now and Dec. 5th to raise $500 to support this important work headed into 2026. 👇
I'm being made to understand that grades don't "mean anything anymore" but I'm hoping someone can point me to the time when they were meaningful.
November 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I'm being made to understand that grades don't "mean anything anymore" but I'm hoping someone can point me to the time when they were meaningful.
I don't know what Harvard students are like, but my college self would start booing at the start of his lecture.
Larry Summers tells @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social
he’s stepping back from all public commitments in light of his messages with Epstein, saying he is “deeply ashamed” and hopes “to rebuild trust and repair relationships.”
He will continue teaching.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
he’s stepping back from all public commitments in light of his messages with Epstein, saying he is “deeply ashamed” and hopes “to rebuild trust and repair relationships.”
He will continue teaching.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I don't know what Harvard students are like, but my college self would start booing at the start of his lecture.
Something I'm thinking about saying at my NCTE talk later this week: We should focus on teaching writing, not automation-assisted document production.
November 17, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Something I'm thinking about saying at my NCTE talk later this week: We should focus on teaching writing, not automation-assisted document production.
Really pleased to be added to this panel at this week's NCTE conference alongside @vauhinivara.bsky.social talking about the future of teaching English in a world with AI. s1.goeshow.com/ncte/annual/...
November 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Really pleased to be added to this panel at this week's NCTE conference alongside @vauhinivara.bsky.social talking about the future of teaching English in a world with AI. s1.goeshow.com/ncte/annual/...
The fault lines are deep and apparent. Rod Dreher who is very tight with Vance has been outspoken against the groyperfication, while calling Vance the literal "future" of the Republican Party. These things cannot be reconciled.
i think vance is only interesting inasmuch as he extremely unprincipled and thus a good guide to where the GOP is going (gift link)
Opinion | JD Vance Is Idling at the Edges of American Politics
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The fault lines are deep and apparent. Rod Dreher who is very tight with Vance has been outspoken against the groyperfication, while calling Vance the literal "future" of the Republican Party. These things cannot be reconciled.
Reposted by John Warner
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org