Simon Kuper
@simonkuper.bsky.social
Financial Times columnist, and author of books including Chums, Good Chaps, Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century, Soccernomics and out in late 2025, World Cup Fever. British and now French too, lives in Paris with wife and kids.
Reposted by Simon Kuper
😂 This level of self-control has to be taught.
December 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
😂 This level of self-control has to be taught.
Reposted by Simon Kuper
Good interview in the paper, this. I think Sadiq is right: London 'needs' to be less successful than it is for a bunch of political arguments here in the UK to work, hence the fictions being invented about it:
Populists attack London because it is ‘progressive and successful’, says Sadiq Khan
Rightwing attacks on one of the world’s most visited cities at odds with reality, says mayor
www.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Good interview in the paper, this. I think Sadiq is right: London 'needs' to be less successful than it is for a bunch of political arguments here in the UK to work, hence the fictions being invented about it:
Reposted by Simon Kuper
Nieuw hier op Bluesky.
Ik ben betrokken bij hulp aan Oekraïne via Stichting Diel / Vrienden van Oekraïne.
Deze winter leveren we generatoren aan legerhospitalen en eenheden waar stroomuitval levens raakt.
Meer over de actie:
🔗 vvodiel.nl/winteractie-...
Ik ben betrokken bij hulp aan Oekraïne via Stichting Diel / Vrienden van Oekraïne.
Deze winter leveren we generatoren aan legerhospitalen en eenheden waar stroomuitval levens raakt.
Meer over de actie:
🔗 vvodiel.nl/winteractie-...
December 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Nieuw hier op Bluesky.
Ik ben betrokken bij hulp aan Oekraïne via Stichting Diel / Vrienden van Oekraïne.
Deze winter leveren we generatoren aan legerhospitalen en eenheden waar stroomuitval levens raakt.
Meer over de actie:
🔗 vvodiel.nl/winteractie-...
Ik ben betrokken bij hulp aan Oekraïne via Stichting Diel / Vrienden van Oekraïne.
Deze winter leveren we generatoren aan legerhospitalen en eenheden waar stroomuitval levens raakt.
Meer over de actie:
🔗 vvodiel.nl/winteractie-...
Reposted by Simon Kuper
This is a really good piece about the status of our immigration debate. Hits the nail on the head.
European states need immigrants but don't want them. How to square that circle? Posture against immigrants while taking in more than ever before but treating them as a permanent second-class serving caste with few rights. Me @financialtimes.com on European kafala as.ft.com/r/7e2026f8-5...
Europe’s second-class citizens
[FREE TO READ] Countries that looked down on the Gulf’s ‘kafala’ system are edging closer to creating their own
as.ft.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:45 AM
This is a really good piece about the status of our immigration debate. Hits the nail on the head.
Reposted by Simon Kuper
The doom and gloom about London is ridiculous and harmful. Team FT is Team London - as.ft.com/r/19d3d36d-e...
Don’t believe the fake gloom about London
[FREE TO READ] The UK capital is subject to more than its fair share of misinformation
as.ft.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The doom and gloom about London is ridiculous and harmful. Team FT is Team London - as.ft.com/r/19d3d36d-e...
Why the suburbs of Paris are the world's biggest hotbed of football talent. Beautiful short film by Copa 90, with brief appearance by me www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wM...
Inside The Banlieues | Paris' Hotbed Of Talent
YouTube video by COPA90
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Why the suburbs of Paris are the world's biggest hotbed of football talent. Beautiful short film by Copa 90, with brief appearance by me www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wM...
Reposted by Simon Kuper
Very pleased to see this paper published
December 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Very pleased to see this paper published
European states need immigrants but don't want them. How to square that circle? Posture against immigrants while taking in more than ever before but treating them as a permanent second-class serving caste with few rights. Me @financialtimes.com on European kafala as.ft.com/r/7e2026f8-5...
Europe’s second-class citizens
[FREE TO READ] Countries that looked down on the Gulf’s ‘kafala’ system are edging closer to creating their own
as.ft.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
European states need immigrants but don't want them. How to square that circle? Posture against immigrants while taking in more than ever before but treating them as a permanent second-class serving caste with few rights. Me @financialtimes.com on European kafala as.ft.com/r/7e2026f8-5...
Cindy Pom has made a brilliant video telling the story of British-Dutch KGB double agent George Blake and his escape from Wormwood Scrubs prison, with bits from me talking about my book on Blake (called Spies Lies and Exile in the US, and The Happy Traitor in UK) www.youtube.com/watch?v=r23C...
The Prison Escape That Humiliated MI6
YouTube video by Newsthink
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Cindy Pom has made a brilliant video telling the story of British-Dutch KGB double agent George Blake and his escape from Wormwood Scrubs prison, with bits from me talking about my book on Blake (called Spies Lies and Exile in the US, and The Happy Traitor in UK) www.youtube.com/watch?v=r23C...
Reposted by Simon Kuper
The English can opine away about other countries and their histories, but boy, must the BBC have sunk deep to ask someone from another country to give his perspective.
Some English are so arrogant they don't even seem to notice it.
Some English are so arrogant they don't even seem to notice it.
Given the way things work in the BBC, it comes as no surprise that a Dutchman has been chosen to lecture us on modern British history.
✍️ Lawrence Goldman
✍️ Lawrence Goldman
The Reith lectures are a new low in BBC history
Given the way things work in the BBC, it comes as no surprise that a Dutchman has been chosen to lecture us on modern British history
www.spectator.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The English can opine away about other countries and their histories, but boy, must the BBC have sunk deep to ask someone from another country to give his perspective.
Some English are so arrogant they don't even seem to notice it.
Some English are so arrogant they don't even seem to notice it.
For anyone interested in how cities are changing: I spoke to the Challenger Cities podcast about my memoir of modern Paris, Impossible City. About the good, the bad, and the almighty anarchy that is Parisian cycling challengercities.substack.com/p/challenger...
Challenger Cities EP55: Impossible City - Paris in the 21st Century with Simon Kuper
Listen now | Beyond postcard Paris lies a city of charlatans, supercharged suburbs, and astonishing state capacity. Simon Kuper's new(ish) book is the ideal guide to the current superstar poster child...
challengercities.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
For anyone interested in how cities are changing: I spoke to the Challenger Cities podcast about my memoir of modern Paris, Impossible City. About the good, the bad, and the almighty anarchy that is Parisian cycling challengercities.substack.com/p/challenger...
The Jesus chatbot. How AI accelerates the trend of religions disintegrating from "faith communities" into solitary pursuits. Group religions don't die - they morph into identitarian movements, like Trump's evangelicals, Russian orthodox church etc. Me @FT as.ft.com/r/46e73092-9...
Who needs a priest when you have a chatbot?
[FREE TO READ] The morphing of religion from communal activity into private pursuit goes one step further
as.ft.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The Jesus chatbot. How AI accelerates the trend of religions disintegrating from "faith communities" into solitary pursuits. Group religions don't die - they morph into identitarian movements, like Trump's evangelicals, Russian orthodox church etc. Me @FT as.ft.com/r/46e73092-9...
Ik sprak de sportboekenpodcast Oranje Blauw Flitsen over mijn nieuwe boek, De wereld aan mijn voeten - over mijn ervaringen op alle WKs sinds 1990. Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1aW6...
en
iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/a...
en
iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/a...
Aflevering 5: Simon Kuper - De wereld aan mijn voeten
open.spotify.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Ik sprak de sportboekenpodcast Oranje Blauw Flitsen over mijn nieuwe boek, De wereld aan mijn voeten - over mijn ervaringen op alle WKs sinds 1990. Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1aW6...
en
iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/a...
en
iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/a...
Reposted by Simon Kuper
Renewed free to read link. as.ft.com/r/2706dddc-f...
December 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Renewed free to read link. as.ft.com/r/2706dddc-f...
The bizarre story of the Louvre heist, which has done its bit to cheer up the French public. And why do these things keep happening in France? Me for @TandCmag, including a revisiting of Picasso's sideline in stolen Louvre stuff www.townandcountrymag.com/society/mone...
French Robbers: "We'll Always Have Paris"
One Paris resident searches the history books for clues to why robbers love the City of Light.
www.townandcountrymag.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The bizarre story of the Louvre heist, which has done its bit to cheer up the French public. And why do these things keep happening in France? Me for @TandCmag, including a revisiting of Picasso's sideline in stolen Louvre stuff www.townandcountrymag.com/society/mone...
Reposted by Simon Kuper
Not at all surprising that @gideonrachman.bsky.social nails it in his reading of the NSS here.
"The Trump administration view of 'western civilisation' is based on race, Christianity and nationalism. The European version is a liberal view founded on democracy, human rights and the rule of law ..."
"The Trump administration view of 'western civilisation' is based on race, Christianity and nationalism. The European version is a liberal view founded on democracy, human rights and the rule of law ..."
December 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Not at all surprising that @gideonrachman.bsky.social nails it in his reading of the NSS here.
"The Trump administration view of 'western civilisation' is based on race, Christianity and nationalism. The European version is a liberal view founded on democracy, human rights and the rule of law ..."
"The Trump administration view of 'western civilisation' is based on race, Christianity and nationalism. The European version is a liberal view founded on democracy, human rights and the rule of law ..."
Reposted by Simon Kuper
Italia ’90 wasn’t just a World Cup, it was a national mood. The summer when Gazza wept, England stumbled heroically, and football suddenly looked… different. This week @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social is joined by @simonkuper.bsky.social, author of World Cup Fever, to discuss 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
December 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Italia ’90 wasn’t just a World Cup, it was a national mood. The summer when Gazza wept, England stumbled heroically, and football suddenly looked… different. This week @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social is joined by @simonkuper.bsky.social, author of World Cup Fever, to discuss 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
Reposted by Simon Kuper
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year
Almost a quarter of a million more children around the world are projected to die in 2025 than in 2024.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
The World Cup is the perfect travel opportunity. Me @FinancialTimes, drawing on my own 9 World Cups- walking the battlefield at Stalingrad with England fans, nearly cracking up in the Japanese provinces etc. All based on my new book World Cup Fever. Featuring some brilliant pics on.ft.com/4pFEJLq
The joy of World Cup travel
[FREE TO READ] Next week’s draw for the 2026 World Cup will reveal who’s playing who and where. Simon Kuper — a veteran of nine tournaments — explains why the event is the perfect travel opportunity
on.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The World Cup is the perfect travel opportunity. Me @FinancialTimes, drawing on my own 9 World Cups- walking the battlefield at Stalingrad with England fans, nearly cracking up in the Japanese provinces etc. All based on my new book World Cup Fever. Featuring some brilliant pics on.ft.com/4pFEJLq
Reposted by Simon Kuper
🚨Attacks on immigrants, protests, rule of law: all is not well in the United States before the 2026 FIFA⚽️World Cup.
🗓️3 Dec, media briefing on-topic by @amnesty.org @hrw.org @rsf.org @sportrightsall.bsky.social NAACP.
✒️Reporters can DM me for invite, Zoom link, interview requests etc.
🗓️3 Dec, media briefing on-topic by @amnesty.org @hrw.org @rsf.org @sportrightsall.bsky.social NAACP.
✒️Reporters can DM me for invite, Zoom link, interview requests etc.
November 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
🚨Attacks on immigrants, protests, rule of law: all is not well in the United States before the 2026 FIFA⚽️World Cup.
🗓️3 Dec, media briefing on-topic by @amnesty.org @hrw.org @rsf.org @sportrightsall.bsky.social NAACP.
✒️Reporters can DM me for invite, Zoom link, interview requests etc.
🗓️3 Dec, media briefing on-topic by @amnesty.org @hrw.org @rsf.org @sportrightsall.bsky.social NAACP.
✒️Reporters can DM me for invite, Zoom link, interview requests etc.
One effect of our age of the rich: the flattery industry is booming. Call them luxury hotel concierges, personal trainers, Trump cabinet members, Musk "loyalists", wealth managers etc, but the essential job is flatterer. Me
@financialtimes.com on how the industry works on.ft.com/43SIvbR
@financialtimes.com on how the industry works on.ft.com/43SIvbR
How flattery became a big, beautiful industry
[FREE TO READ] Never before have there been so many rich people to be boosted
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
One effect of our age of the rich: the flattery industry is booming. Call them luxury hotel concierges, personal trainers, Trump cabinet members, Musk "loyalists", wealth managers etc, but the essential job is flatterer. Me
@financialtimes.com on how the industry works on.ft.com/43SIvbR
@financialtimes.com on how the industry works on.ft.com/43SIvbR
Reposted by Simon Kuper
What a fun surprise to pick up a @financialtimes.com article just out of interest in the subject (rich people & their boundless appetite for flattery) only to find my own research cited a few times!
Thanks, @simonkuper.bsky.social! Check out my thread below on "competitive depravity" among elites.
Thanks, @simonkuper.bsky.social! Check out my thread below on "competitive depravity" among elites.
November 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
What a fun surprise to pick up a @financialtimes.com article just out of interest in the subject (rich people & their boundless appetite for flattery) only to find my own research cited a few times!
Thanks, @simonkuper.bsky.social! Check out my thread below on "competitive depravity" among elites.
Thanks, @simonkuper.bsky.social! Check out my thread below on "competitive depravity" among elites.
Reposted by Simon Kuper
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Very rich blog post by Catherine, which includes me banging on about my writing ideology: don't write a word until you've made a complete plan of what you're going to say
Respecting the marble means respecting the grain.
Writing is the same. Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s a sign that you need a skeleton.
Link: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/feeling-st...
Big thanks to @simonkuper.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social for sharing their thoughts
/end
Writing is the same. Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s a sign that you need a skeleton.
Link: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/feeling-st...
Big thanks to @simonkuper.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social for sharing their thoughts
/end
Feeling Stuck? Start With the Skeleton
Why the Hardest Part of Writing Happens Before the First Sentence
catherineeunicedevries.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Very rich blog post by Catherine, which includes me banging on about my writing ideology: don't write a word until you've made a complete plan of what you're going to say