J. Rey Lee
@jreylee.bsky.social
Boardgamer, writer, teacher, girl dad, recovering academic.
Unsettling Catan: lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
The Looking Glance: lookingglance.com
Unsettling Catan: lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
The Looking Glance: lookingglance.com
NPI does fantastic work! They were a major influence on Unsettling Catan, as I talk about in my latest design diary.
#boardgames
#boardgames
November 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM
NPI does fantastic work! They were a major influence on Unsettling Catan, as I talk about in my latest design diary.
#boardgames
#boardgames
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
The first book in the Tabletop Games series is now available! Start reading "Unsettling Catan" by J. Rey Lee at doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
November 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The first book in the Tabletop Games series is now available! Start reading "Unsettling Catan" by J. Rey Lee at doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
Hey all, you can read Unsettling Catan: Detached Design in Eurogames free online right now!
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan
Read Online Buy Paperback* Buy Audiobook Description Coverage *30% off with code UMWEB30 Audiobook Preview Description Most revolutions don’t start with nineteen cardboard hexagons, but Klaus Teube…
lookingglance.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Hey all, you can read Unsettling Catan: Detached Design in Eurogames free online right now!
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan releases on Monday, so I sat down with Danielle from @uofmpress.bsky.social to do a Q&A on the book.
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
Q&A with Author J. Rey Lee
press.umich.edu
October 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Unsettling Catan releases on Monday, so I sat down with Danielle from @uofmpress.bsky.social to do a Q&A on the book.
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
Happy Essen Spiel to those who celebrate! 🎉
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
October 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Happy Essen Spiel to those who celebrate! 🎉
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
Disappointed but not surprised academia.edu wants to peddle AI slop reviews of my book.
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
October 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Disappointed but not surprised academia.edu wants to peddle AI slop reviews of my book.
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
So proud of @uofmichigan.bsky.social for investing in Open Access publishing!
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
Support OA
Support OA
press.umich.edu
October 21, 2025 at 6:36 AM
So proud of @uofmichigan.bsky.social for investing in Open Access publishing!
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
This is why Dan is good at what he does: when he says "Writing is thinking for me," he means it. Instead of churning out content to fit a formula, he just engages with games and sees where it goes.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
I had an utterly lovely time chatting with Alex of Talking Shelf Space about... well, a bunch of stuff. My origins in the hobby, how I started writing my site, how I got to be such a nerd. Give it a look! talkingshelfspace.com/origin-story...
Origin Story: Space Biff – An Interview With Board Game Critic Dan Thurot - Talking Shelf Space
When I started writing about board games, it was in part because of my dissatisfaction of the review landscape at the time. There were on one side a whole lot of YouTubers hyping up crowd-funding proj...
talkingshelfspace.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:28 AM
This is why Dan is good at what he does: when he says "Writing is thinking for me," he means it. Instead of churning out content to fit a formula, he just engages with games and sees where it goes.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
Glad to see the Tabletop Games series at @uofmpress.bsky.social take off with @jreylee.bsky.social's book on Catan.
Clear, unambiguous writing on abstraction and gaming with regard to colonial themes.
Clear, unambiguous writing on abstraction and gaming with regard to colonial themes.
October 11, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Glad to see the Tabletop Games series at @uofmpress.bsky.social take off with @jreylee.bsky.social's book on Catan.
Clear, unambiguous writing on abstraction and gaming with regard to colonial themes.
Clear, unambiguous writing on abstraction and gaming with regard to colonial themes.
Took a minute, but I finally cracked triple digits!
#boardgames #railroadink @horribleguild.bsky.social
#boardgames #railroadink @horribleguild.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Took a minute, but I finally cracked triple digits!
#boardgames #railroadink @horribleguild.bsky.social
#boardgames #railroadink @horribleguild.bsky.social
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
these thoughts have been rattling around in my brain for about a year and i finally had some time to scribble them down. some thoughts on how games might emulate the act of 'doing' history
jenyth.com/2025/01/03/h...
jenyth.com/2025/01/03/h...
Historical interpretation as non-linear narrative
How games can reflect history as a discipline, not just historical facts.
jenyth.com
January 4, 2025 at 12:17 PM
these thoughts have been rattling around in my brain for about a year and i finally had some time to scribble them down. some thoughts on how games might emulate the act of 'doing' history
jenyth.com/2025/01/03/h...
jenyth.com/2025/01/03/h...
Can cultural criticism convince cardboard consumers to challenge colonialism and capitalism in Catan?
Find out in my newest design diary. CU there!
#boardgames @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @nopunincluded.com @stonemaiergames.com
Find out in my newest design diary. CU there!
#boardgames @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @nopunincluded.com @stonemaiergames.com
Design Diary 3: The ‘C’ Words
Controversy. Love it or hate it, it’s become inescapable. These days, it’s not just a handful of hot-button issues—almost any topic can become polarizing in a heartbeat. Clearly, …
lookingglance.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Can cultural criticism convince cardboard consumers to challenge colonialism and capitalism in Catan?
Find out in my newest design diary. CU there!
#boardgames @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @nopunincluded.com @stonemaiergames.com
Find out in my newest design diary. CU there!
#boardgames @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @nopunincluded.com @stonemaiergames.com
Preorders for the Unsettling Catan audiobook are now live!
My narration honestly isn't going to knock anyone's socks off, but at least it's human. 🚫🤖🚫
You can listen to the preview for a sneak peek and the rest will release alongside the print and ebook versions in November.
#boardgames #catan
My narration honestly isn't going to knock anyone's socks off, but at least it's human. 🚫🤖🚫
You can listen to the preview for a sneak peek and the rest will release alongside the print and ebook versions in November.
#boardgames #catan
Unsettling Catan Audiobook (PREORDER)
NOTE: This is a PREORDER so the download link will only provide the preview audio until the book officially releases in November 2025. After that, the full audiobook will be available.This audiobook v...
payhip.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Preorders for the Unsettling Catan audiobook are now live!
My narration honestly isn't going to knock anyone's socks off, but at least it's human. 🚫🤖🚫
You can listen to the preview for a sneak peek and the rest will release alongside the print and ebook versions in November.
#boardgames #catan
My narration honestly isn't going to knock anyone's socks off, but at least it's human. 🚫🤖🚫
You can listen to the preview for a sneak peek and the rest will release alongside the print and ebook versions in November.
#boardgames #catan
Deconstructing the language of boardgaming? The very definition of fun!
For today's article, I'm just griping about why "fun" is a bad word for critics. spacebiff.com/2025/09/30/a...
Anti-Fun
There’s one word I try to never use when writing about board games. The F-word. No, not that one. “Fun.” There it is. My critical curse word. Today I want to talk about why “fun” isn’t an especiall…
spacebiff.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Deconstructing the language of boardgaming? The very definition of fun!
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
🎲 From UMP's exciting new 'Tabletop Games' series, 'Unsettling Catan' traces how Catan sparked the eurogame boom while questioning how its “peaceful” design masks power, conflict, & imperialist themes in play.
bit.ly/47Wj6k6
@uofmpress.bsky.social
@livunipress.bsky.social
bit.ly/47Wj6k6
@uofmpress.bsky.social
@livunipress.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
🎲 From UMP's exciting new 'Tabletop Games' series, 'Unsettling Catan' traces how Catan sparked the eurogame boom while questioning how its “peaceful” design masks power, conflict, & imperialist themes in play.
bit.ly/47Wj6k6
@uofmpress.bsky.social
@livunipress.bsky.social
bit.ly/47Wj6k6
@uofmpress.bsky.social
@livunipress.bsky.social
Just finished recording the audiobook for Unsettling Catan 🎤
There was definitely a learning curve but I had fun with it!
If editing goes smoothly, this should be released alongside the print and ebook editions in November.
#boardgames
There was definitely a learning curve but I had fun with it!
If editing goes smoothly, this should be released alongside the print and ebook editions in November.
#boardgames
September 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Just finished recording the audiobook for Unsettling Catan 🎤
There was definitely a learning curve but I had fun with it!
If editing goes smoothly, this should be released alongside the print and ebook editions in November.
#boardgames
There was definitely a learning curve but I had fun with it!
If editing goes smoothly, this should be released alongside the print and ebook editions in November.
#boardgames
Just got my advance copy!
Unsettling Catan releases Nov. 4
lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
#boardgames @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan releases Nov. 4
lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
#boardgames @uofmpress.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Just got my advance copy!
Unsettling Catan releases Nov. 4
lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
#boardgames @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan releases Nov. 4
lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
#boardgames @uofmpress.bsky.social
“I, Scientist,” my second post-pandemic Pandemic boardgame reflection is now up at The Looking Glance.
I’ve now been at it for half a year, which I believe counts as a decade in non-2025 years! 🎉
#boardgames #standupforscience #pandemic @mattleacock.bsky.social
I’ve now been at it for half a year, which I believe counts as a decade in non-2025 years! 🎉
#boardgames #standupforscience #pandemic @mattleacock.bsky.social
I, Scientist
Who doesn’t love a good science montage? There’s nothing quite like scientists with furrowed brows hunching over microscopes, deftly operating futuristic machines, and holding up test t…
lookingglance.com
September 1, 2025 at 9:40 PM
“I, Scientist,” my second post-pandemic Pandemic boardgame reflection is now up at The Looking Glance.
I’ve now been at it for half a year, which I believe counts as a decade in non-2025 years! 🎉
#boardgames #standupforscience #pandemic @mattleacock.bsky.social
I’ve now been at it for half a year, which I believe counts as a decade in non-2025 years! 🎉
#boardgames #standupforscience #pandemic @mattleacock.bsky.social
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
"If your books were uploaded to LibGen/fed into the LLMs, add your name to the potential class action lawsuit by tomorrow." Details:
LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)
LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
August 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
"If your books were uploaded to LibGen/fed into the LLMs, add your name to the potential class action lawsuit by tomorrow." Details:
LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)
LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)
I also have mixed feelings about the Devir and CGE wins.
I’m thrilled these boycotts brought about swift, concrete changes. But activism alone can’t create the future we want. Boycotts are too reactive, fleeting, and pragmatic to change the culture responsible for these situations.
🧵(1/3)
I’m thrilled these boycotts brought about swift, concrete changes. But activism alone can’t create the future we want. Boycotts are too reactive, fleeting, and pragmatic to change the culture responsible for these situations.
🧵(1/3)
August 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I also have mixed feelings about the Devir and CGE wins.
I’m thrilled these boycotts brought about swift, concrete changes. But activism alone can’t create the future we want. Boycotts are too reactive, fleeting, and pragmatic to change the culture responsible for these situations.
🧵(1/3)
I’m thrilled these boycotts brought about swift, concrete changes. But activism alone can’t create the future we want. Boycotts are too reactive, fleeting, and pragmatic to change the culture responsible for these situations.
🧵(1/3)
This is so unsubtle that I'd guess they're going to try to call it parody.
But parody isn't offensiveness with a joking tone. Parody has an incisive, critical soul. It punches up instead of down.
Without doing any of that work, it's just plain offensive.
(1/2)
But parody isn't offensiveness with a joking tone. Parody has an incisive, critical soul. It punches up instead of down.
Without doing any of that work, it's just plain offensive.
(1/2)
Get out of here with this racist crap.
Devir went ahead and stepped in their own piss. Please go support Jeremy and let Devir know your disappointment and dissatisfaction.
But on top of that—there’s MANY reviewers who received the game prior to Gen Con failed to notice or mention this crap.
Devir went ahead and stepped in their own piss. Please go support Jeremy and let Devir know your disappointment and dissatisfaction.
But on top of that—there’s MANY reviewers who received the game prior to Gen Con failed to notice or mention this crap.
Just some Ole Racist "history crap" | Ace of Spades
I will copy a statement I receive on any platform that is from the publisher)
First I am not a race baiter or need attention. I'm a black man that recognizes history can be betrayed in educational fo...
boardgamegeek.com
August 8, 2025 at 1:23 AM
This is so unsubtle that I'd guess they're going to try to call it parody.
But parody isn't offensiveness with a joking tone. Parody has an incisive, critical soul. It punches up instead of down.
Without doing any of that work, it's just plain offensive.
(1/2)
But parody isn't offensiveness with a joking tone. Parody has an incisive, critical soul. It punches up instead of down.
Without doing any of that work, it's just plain offensive.
(1/2)
Liz is so easy to talk to! I had a lot of fun and the time flew by!
She probably also lulled me into rambling and saying something strange, but them's the breaks. 🤷♂️
She probably also lulled me into rambling and saying something strange, but them's the breaks. 🤷♂️
This week on the pod, @jreylee.bsky.social stops by to discuss his new book, Unsettling Catan, which is the inaugural title in an accessible yet academic series about board games. youtu.be/HRddjBkWcGo
Beyond Solitaire Podcast 202: J. Rey Lee on Unsettling Catan
YouTube video by Beyond Solitaire
youtu.be
August 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Liz is so easy to talk to! I had a lot of fun and the time flew by!
She probably also lulled me into rambling and saying something strange, but them's the breaks. 🤷♂️
She probably also lulled me into rambling and saying something strange, but them's the breaks. 🤷♂️
My 2nd design diary for Unsettling Catan is live on BGG and lookingglance.com.
I talk about why and how I chose six more recent eurogames to compare with Catan. Number 4 will shock you!
Image credit to @semicoop.bsky.social
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
I talk about why and how I chose six more recent eurogames to compare with Catan. Number 4 will shock you!
Image credit to @semicoop.bsky.social
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Design Diary: Exemplifying Eurogames
Catan is hardly an exemplary eurogame. I don’t mean that it’s bad. Catan is a classic, solid design that’s still beloved for good reason. What I mean is that Catan is a bad exampl…
lookingglance.com
August 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
My 2nd design diary for Unsettling Catan is live on BGG and lookingglance.com.
I talk about why and how I chose six more recent eurogames to compare with Catan. Number 4 will shock you!
Image credit to @semicoop.bsky.social
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
I talk about why and how I chose six more recent eurogames to compare with Catan. Number 4 will shock you!
Image credit to @semicoop.bsky.social
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
When I talk about #boardgames not being immersive, that's relative to media designed for total absorption. This comic just wouldn't work for boardgames.
*Panels from a chapter in "The I Wonder Bookstore" by Shinsuke Yoshitake, maybe my fav children's book author (though this one's for grown-ups).
*Panels from a chapter in "The I Wonder Bookstore" by Shinsuke Yoshitake, maybe my fav children's book author (though this one's for grown-ups).
July 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
When I talk about #boardgames not being immersive, that's relative to media designed for total absorption. This comic just wouldn't work for boardgames.
*Panels from a chapter in "The I Wonder Bookstore" by Shinsuke Yoshitake, maybe my fav children's book author (though this one's for grown-ups).
*Panels from a chapter in "The I Wonder Bookstore" by Shinsuke Yoshitake, maybe my fav children's book author (though this one's for grown-ups).
If you love semantic arguments as much as I do, check out my new series on the language of #boardgames!
This post kicks things off by looking at what naming and defining "boardgames" says about how we think and treat them.
btw, the Captcha is fake so don't bother clicking it.
This post kicks things off by looking at what naming and defining "boardgames" says about how we think and treat them.
btw, the Captcha is fake so don't bother clicking it.
#boardgames
Before we begin, please prove you’re a human by identifying which squares contain motorcycles. If you named the three images in the right-hand column, congratulations! You haven’t quite proved yo…
lookingglance.com
July 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
If you love semantic arguments as much as I do, check out my new series on the language of #boardgames!
This post kicks things off by looking at what naming and defining "boardgames" says about how we think and treat them.
btw, the Captcha is fake so don't bother clicking it.
This post kicks things off by looking at what naming and defining "boardgames" says about how we think and treat them.
btw, the Captcha is fake so don't bother clicking it.