Reposted by L. Kedzie
I had a very, very classical education for a combination of weird reasons and it has made every wildly incorrect right-wing belief about “western culture” like a constant ice pick to my brain.
March 31, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I had a very, very classical education for a combination of weird reasons and it has made every wildly incorrect right-wing belief about “western culture” like a constant ice pick to my brain.
Reposted by L. Kedzie
I know I'm only seeing the edges of this conversation, but it strikes me that there are folks who see particular stories engaging with "Omelas" as criticism aimed at ULK, where I have always assumed those stories were (often fiercely) critical of *readers* of Omelas.
March 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I know I'm only seeing the edges of this conversation, but it strikes me that there are folks who see particular stories engaging with "Omelas" as criticism aimed at ULK, where I have always assumed those stories were (often fiercely) critical of *readers* of Omelas.
Reposted by L. Kedzie
Favorite sight yesterday was the kid reading a library book in the Haunted Mansion line. I have been that kid.
March 23, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Favorite sight yesterday was the kid reading a library book in the Haunted Mansion line. I have been that kid.
One of my favorite book recommendations is Harold Platt's Sinking Chicago. Outside of retelling the entirety of Chicago history as a war against water, it smacks a big asterisk on the Great Lakes as climate haven.
March 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
One of my favorite book recommendations is Harold Platt's Sinking Chicago. Outside of retelling the entirety of Chicago history as a war against water, it smacks a big asterisk on the Great Lakes as climate haven.
My site's motto remains 'because history does not repeat' on this sort of thing. What you thought was new is old; what you thought as old is new, and facts are policy, not prophecy.
Some of you have terrible Tiffany Problem brain and do not realize it. You justify your perverse attachment to kitsch with appeals to a world that only existed in the fantasy novels you like.
March 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
My site's motto remains 'because history does not repeat' on this sort of thing. What you thought was new is old; what you thought as old is new, and facts are policy, not prophecy.
I am not saying do not read banned books. I am saying that 'read banned books' has unintended consequences of fostering second-opinion bias.
March 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I am not saying do not read banned books. I am saying that 'read banned books' has unintended consequences of fostering second-opinion bias.
Reposted by L. Kedzie
My opinion on book piracy has always been that it is, as far as things go, a venial sin, but I wish people wouldn't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining about it.
March 20, 2025 at 4:21 PM
My opinion on book piracy has always been that it is, as far as things go, a venial sin, but I wish people wouldn't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining about it.
Finished Threads of Empire. Book of the year contender with like only one pun, while they spring unbidden each time I try and write about it.
Despite it all, I am grateful to live in a time where I get to see these sorts of histories that engage the indelible complexity of the past.
Despite it all, I am grateful to live in a time where I get to see these sorts of histories that engage the indelible complexity of the past.
March 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Finished Threads of Empire. Book of the year contender with like only one pun, while they spring unbidden each time I try and write about it.
Despite it all, I am grateful to live in a time where I get to see these sorts of histories that engage the indelible complexity of the past.
Despite it all, I am grateful to live in a time where I get to see these sorts of histories that engage the indelible complexity of the past.
One one hand, sunk cost fallacy is real.
On the other, there is little light between this and 'books shouldn't be political.'
On the other, there is little light between this and 'books shouldn't be political.'
You shouldn’t finish every book you start.
Abandoning a book is not an admission of failure—it’s a sign of wisdom. You’ve decided to let go of sunk costs.
The purpose of reading is to be entertained and informed. If a book doesn't bring joy or insight, it’s time to move on.
Abandoning a book is not an admission of failure—it’s a sign of wisdom. You’ve decided to let go of sunk costs.
The purpose of reading is to be entertained and informed. If a book doesn't bring joy or insight, it’s time to move on.
March 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
One one hand, sunk cost fallacy is real.
On the other, there is little light between this and 'books shouldn't be political.'
On the other, there is little light between this and 'books shouldn't be political.'
Retail reviews out for The Franklin Stove, Waste Wars, Unreliable, and American Poison.
Apparently I am in my environmentalism by other means phase.
Apparently I am in my environmentalism by other means phase.
March 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Retail reviews out for The Franklin Stove, Waste Wars, Unreliable, and American Poison.
Apparently I am in my environmentalism by other means phase.
Apparently I am in my environmentalism by other means phase.
Reposted by L. Kedzie
But for real — I feel talking about your mental health struggles publicly should be normalized. Obviously the really deep stuff should stay with your therapist, but venting is something we all need. Especially in grossly uncertain times.
Transition is still the best thing I've done for my health.
Transition is still the best thing I've done for my health.
March 15, 2025 at 3:32 AM
But for real — I feel talking about your mental health struggles publicly should be normalized. Obviously the really deep stuff should stay with your therapist, but venting is something we all need. Especially in grossly uncertain times.
Transition is still the best thing I've done for my health.
Transition is still the best thing I've done for my health.
Returning to Threads of Empire in order to have a cleaner read of More Everything (and since it shares a publisher with Human Empire to be all 'it's not you, it's me').
This class of material history is swiftly achieving favorite status.
This class of material history is swiftly achieving favorite status.
March 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Returning to Threads of Empire in order to have a cleaner read of More Everything (and since it shares a publisher with Human Empire to be all 'it's not you, it's me').
This class of material history is swiftly achieving favorite status.
This class of material history is swiftly achieving favorite status.
I visited /that/ Barnes & Noble. Notes:
*The shelf layout is labyrinthine and confusing. Which is awesome, actually. Impressive that you can feel lost in the stacks in a block-wide, two-story room.
*The shelf layout is labyrinthine and confusing. Which is awesome, actually. Impressive that you can feel lost in the stacks in a block-wide, two-story room.
March 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I visited /that/ Barnes & Noble. Notes:
*The shelf layout is labyrinthine and confusing. Which is awesome, actually. Impressive that you can feel lost in the stacks in a block-wide, two-story room.
*The shelf layout is labyrinthine and confusing. Which is awesome, actually. Impressive that you can feel lost in the stacks in a block-wide, two-story room.
Finished Decline and Fall of the Human Empire. Never thought I'd read a eugenics Pickme, but I guess Radical Moderate opinion columnists come from somewhere.
Moving More Everything Forever to next to read, for contrast.
Moving More Everything Forever to next to read, for contrast.
March 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Finished Decline and Fall of the Human Empire. Never thought I'd read a eugenics Pickme, but I guess Radical Moderate opinion columnists come from somewhere.
Moving More Everything Forever to next to read, for contrast.
Moving More Everything Forever to next to read, for contrast.
It is tres Bluesky is for the replies on this (frankly awesome and sold out) thing to be predominated with replies about how they are doing it wrong and need to Do Better.
March 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
It is tres Bluesky is for the replies on this (frankly awesome and sold out) thing to be predominated with replies about how they are doing it wrong and need to Do Better.
Started reading The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire and I gotta tell you, this is positioned to be the weirdest book that I have read in a while.
March 13, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Started reading The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire and I gotta tell you, this is positioned to be the weirdest book that I have read in a while.
Reposted by L. Kedzie
I think the decline of literacy is real, but using booktok to demonstrate it is like weeping over the death of cinema and citing pornhub comments
March 12, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I think the decline of literacy is real, but using booktok to demonstrate it is like weeping over the death of cinema and citing pornhub comments
Finished The Year Science Changed.
Nobody tell the current U.S. administration about the Antarctic Treaty.
Nobody tell the current U.S. administration about the Antarctic Treaty.
March 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Finished The Year Science Changed.
Nobody tell the current U.S. administration about the Antarctic Treaty.
Nobody tell the current U.S. administration about the Antarctic Treaty.
My hot take is that the hot take that audiobooks are not reading is rare enough to be non-existent. It has been made, I am sure, but I have never encountered it in the wild, contra the assertion that audiobooks are reading, which I come across daily.
March 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
My hot take is that the hot take that audiobooks are not reading is rare enough to be non-existent. It has been made, I am sure, but I have never encountered it in the wild, contra the assertion that audiobooks are reading, which I come across daily.
I stumbled onto a podcast dedicated to ACOTAR lore, once.
I came away convinced that it is a hoax, booktok's version of a snipe hunt or Brandon Sanderson, a sort of hazing ritual that has accomplished Golden Dawn-levels of complexity.
I came away convinced that it is a hoax, booktok's version of a snipe hunt or Brandon Sanderson, a sort of hazing ritual that has accomplished Golden Dawn-levels of complexity.
March 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I stumbled onto a podcast dedicated to ACOTAR lore, once.
I came away convinced that it is a hoax, booktok's version of a snipe hunt or Brandon Sanderson, a sort of hazing ritual that has accomplished Golden Dawn-levels of complexity.
I came away convinced that it is a hoax, booktok's version of a snipe hunt or Brandon Sanderson, a sort of hazing ritual that has accomplished Golden Dawn-levels of complexity.
OK, #booksky, explain to me the preference for Storygraph over Goodreads that is not about The Big A.
It prioritizes metrics and stats, both yours and the books', over words and discussion. Even the nominal amount that Goodreads does. Is it just the quarter star thing? Are others that competitive?
It prioritizes metrics and stats, both yours and the books', over words and discussion. Even the nominal amount that Goodreads does. Is it just the quarter star thing? Are others that competitive?
March 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
OK, #booksky, explain to me the preference for Storygraph over Goodreads that is not about The Big A.
It prioritizes metrics and stats, both yours and the books', over words and discussion. Even the nominal amount that Goodreads does. Is it just the quarter star thing? Are others that competitive?
It prioritizes metrics and stats, both yours and the books', over words and discussion. Even the nominal amount that Goodreads does. Is it just the quarter star thing? Are others that competitive?
Finished The Airborne Mafia. An incredible, deep, vertical cut of organizational history to show the importance of sub-culture towards broader mission, but unintentionally comedic in its occlusion of any other fact: the written version of "other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?".
March 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Finished The Airborne Mafia. An incredible, deep, vertical cut of organizational history to show the importance of sub-culture towards broader mission, but unintentionally comedic in its occlusion of any other fact: the written version of "other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?".