Samuel Miller McDonald
@smillermcdonald.bsky.social
Author of PROGRESS, HarperCollins/Macmillan '25~
DPhil from Oxford Geography & Brasenose College~
Work in the Nation, Guardian, New Republic, Current Affairs, Boston Review+
DPhil from Oxford Geography & Brasenose College~
Work in the Nation, Guardian, New Republic, Current Affairs, Boston Review+
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Check out our new insect decline paper. By analysing 36 yrs of German ground beetle distribution data, we show:
- ~80% of species have declined, with significant declines for >50%.
- The decline was similar across species traits and threatened status.
doi.org/10.1111/ddi.... @consbiog.bsky.social
- ~80% of species have declined, with significant declines for >50%.
- The decline was similar across species traits and threatened status.
doi.org/10.1111/ddi.... @consbiog.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Check out our new insect decline paper. By analysing 36 yrs of German ground beetle distribution data, we show:
- ~80% of species have declined, with significant declines for >50%.
- The decline was similar across species traits and threatened status.
doi.org/10.1111/ddi.... @consbiog.bsky.social
- ~80% of species have declined, with significant declines for >50%.
- The decline was similar across species traits and threatened status.
doi.org/10.1111/ddi.... @consbiog.bsky.social
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
In a strange alliance, right wing traditionalists, tech professionals, and an abominable billionaire are pushing a pronatalist agenda on Americans, while cutting the very programs that help parents and children.
This, and more in our Quarterly Mag.
⬇️
populationconnection.org/magazine/sep...
This, and more in our Quarterly Mag.
⬇️
populationconnection.org/magazine/sep...
November 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
In a strange alliance, right wing traditionalists, tech professionals, and an abominable billionaire are pushing a pronatalist agenda on Americans, while cutting the very programs that help parents and children.
This, and more in our Quarterly Mag.
⬇️
populationconnection.org/magazine/sep...
This, and more in our Quarterly Mag.
⬇️
populationconnection.org/magazine/sep...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
lovely to visit Toppings bookshop in Edinburgh today for @smillermcdonald.bsky.social to sign copies of his book Progress - a street over from where we used to live and the final edits were completed
October 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
lovely to visit Toppings bookshop in Edinburgh today for @smillermcdonald.bsky.social to sign copies of his book Progress - a street over from where we used to live and the final edits were completed
“There is an idealism to this book that refreshes readers jaded by the claims of 'techno-futurism' and the aspirations of oligarchs. You read this book and want to love the earth rather than reach for stars.”
Delighted to have this Kirkus Review on PROGRESS
Delighted to have this Kirkus Review on PROGRESS
October 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“There is an idealism to this book that refreshes readers jaded by the claims of 'techno-futurism' and the aspirations of oligarchs. You read this book and want to love the earth rather than reach for stars.”
Delighted to have this Kirkus Review on PROGRESS
Delighted to have this Kirkus Review on PROGRESS
“Geographer McDonald debuts with a sweeping reappraisal of the notion of historical progress. … The result is a provocative interrogation of the very foundations of modern society.”
Very honored for PROGRESS to receive a starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social
Very honored for PROGRESS to receive a starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social
Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It by Samuel Miller McDonald
Geographer McDonald debuts with a sweeping reappraisal of the notion of historical progress. He examines frequently cited eviden...
www.publishersweekly.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
“Geographer McDonald debuts with a sweeping reappraisal of the notion of historical progress. … The result is a provocative interrogation of the very foundations of modern society.”
Very honored for PROGRESS to receive a starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social
Very honored for PROGRESS to receive a starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
“Tax the rich out of existence, and suddenly there are no more psychopathic oligarchs trying to kill us, no more brutally unfair distribution of resources, no more mafia boss-style politicians rigging the system.” @smillermcdonald.bsky.social www.currentaffairs.org/news/dirty-l...
Dirty Lies About Clean Energy
Building “alternative” energy infrastructure isn’t enough. To avert climate disaster, fossil fuels need to be restricted, and energy consumption overall needs to fall.
www.currentaffairs.org
June 13, 2025 at 4:21 PM
“Tax the rich out of existence, and suddenly there are no more psychopathic oligarchs trying to kill us, no more brutally unfair distribution of resources, no more mafia boss-style politicians rigging the system.” @smillermcdonald.bsky.social www.currentaffairs.org/news/dirty-l...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
The human population is currently so massive, so out of balance with the rest of life on Earth, so pathologically “abundant” that it would take decades or centuries of decline to put a noticeable dent in it—unless, that is, there is some external force which leads to mass death.
Wrote about why panic over human birth rates falling is not just delusional but evil www.currentaffairs.org/news/there-a...
There Are Many Threats to Humanity. A Low Birth Rate Isn’t One of Them.
Commentators across the political spectrum claim that humanity faces imminent collapse due to a “fertility crisis.” Is this mass delusion or cynical propaganda?
www.currentaffairs.org
July 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The human population is currently so massive, so out of balance with the rest of life on Earth, so pathologically “abundant” that it would take decades or centuries of decline to put a noticeable dent in it—unless, that is, there is some external force which leads to mass death.
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
THIS. Read and share. Need more straight talk like this about the truths behind pushing panic over birth rates.
Wrote about why panic over human birth rates falling is not just delusional but evil www.currentaffairs.org/news/there-a...
There Are Many Threats to Humanity. A Low Birth Rate Isn’t One of Them.
Commentators across the political spectrum claim that humanity faces imminent collapse due to a “fertility crisis.” Is this mass delusion or cynical propaganda?
www.currentaffairs.org
July 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
THIS. Read and share. Need more straight talk like this about the truths behind pushing panic over birth rates.
What role has the idea of progress played in building civilization and its gifts, as well as dispossessing, enslaving, or even eradicating billions of people and animals over the last 5,000 years?
This interview with @popnbalance.bsky.social gives a good overview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij2X...
This interview with @popnbalance.bsky.social gives a good overview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij2X...
Progress: Humanity’s Worst Idea
YouTube video by OVERSHOOT | Shrink Toward Abundance
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:57 AM
What role has the idea of progress played in building civilization and its gifts, as well as dispossessing, enslaving, or even eradicating billions of people and animals over the last 5,000 years?
This interview with @popnbalance.bsky.social gives a good overview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij2X...
This interview with @popnbalance.bsky.social gives a good overview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij2X...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
'If you have a sense that things aren't getting better, or you're interested in how progress myths have shaped societies for the last 5,000 years, grab this book!'
Today is publication day for my book! @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social You can get your hands on it at most bookstores in the UK, or online at any of the vendors listed here: harpercollins.co.uk/products/pro...
August 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM
'If you have a sense that things aren't getting better, or you're interested in how progress myths have shaped societies for the last 5,000 years, grab this book!'
Today is publication day for my book! @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social You can get your hands on it at most bookstores in the UK, or online at any of the vendors listed here: harpercollins.co.uk/products/pro...
August 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Today is publication day for my book! @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social You can get your hands on it at most bookstores in the UK, or online at any of the vendors listed here: harpercollins.co.uk/products/pro...
Had a great launch the other day in Oxford. Very grateful to @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social for organizing it, and to my sweet friends and kind colleagues who came to celebrate! Five days until (UK) publication. Let's get out and explode the powerful myths imperiling our futures
August 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Had a great launch the other day in Oxford. Very grateful to @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social for organizing it, and to my sweet friends and kind colleagues who came to celebrate! Five days until (UK) publication. Let's get out and explode the powerful myths imperiling our futures
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
I’ve been intrigued by the prospect of a history of the idea of progress ever since I heard @smillermcdonald.bsky.social was writing it, and I was very pleased to be invited to the launch in Oxford last night.
August 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I’ve been intrigued by the prospect of a history of the idea of progress ever since I heard @smillermcdonald.bsky.social was writing it, and I was very pleased to be invited to the launch in Oxford last night.
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
“The world is inside us, now. What are we going to do about it?” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/o...
Opinion | You Are Contaminated
www.nytimes.com
August 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
“The world is inside us, now. What are we going to do about it?” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/o...
Now even prouder to be a longtime loyal Little Caesars partisan #pizzapizza
I AM SHRIEKING 💀🤣
Forget the statue at City Hall, this guy is the *real* Spirit of Detroit. 🫡
Forget the statue at City Hall, this guy is the *real* Spirit of Detroit. 🫡
July 22, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Now even prouder to be a longtime loyal Little Caesars partisan #pizzapizza
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Excited to have a short provocations piece, 'Against Entanglement', in the first issue of American Gothic Studies.
In a time of pandemics, militant land grabs, and extinctions, the Gothic uses tales of zombie infections and nuked landscapes to show us the dark side of being entangled with others.
In a time of pandemics, militant land grabs, and extinctions, the Gothic uses tales of zombie infections and nuked landscapes to show us the dark side of being entangled with others.
The debut issue of American Gothic Studies has now been published! To access, join The Society for the Study of the American Gothic at www.americangothicsociety.com. Free article from this issue at scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/ags/art....
July 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Excited to have a short provocations piece, 'Against Entanglement', in the first issue of American Gothic Studies.
In a time of pandemics, militant land grabs, and extinctions, the Gothic uses tales of zombie infections and nuked landscapes to show us the dark side of being entangled with others.
In a time of pandemics, militant land grabs, and extinctions, the Gothic uses tales of zombie infections and nuked landscapes to show us the dark side of being entangled with others.
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
The fertility panic is an elite fixation that is rooted in a human supremacist worldview and a deep fear of slowing growth. In this episode of OVERSHOOT, Samuel Miller exposes how our parasitic relationship with Earth lies at the core of ecological overshoot www.populationbalance.org/podcast/samu...
July 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The fertility panic is an elite fixation that is rooted in a human supremacist worldview and a deep fear of slowing growth. In this episode of OVERSHOOT, Samuel Miller exposes how our parasitic relationship with Earth lies at the core of ecological overshoot www.populationbalance.org/podcast/samu...
I had a great conversation with Nandita Bajaj and Alan Weisman on the OVERSHOOT podcast about why fixation on growth and increasing birthrates is fundamentally authoritarian and anti-life (and also about conviviality, solidarity, and more). Have a listen! www.populationbalance.org/podcast/samu...
The Elite’s Fixation with Low Birth Rates — Population Balance
From center-left Ezra Klein to right-wing Matt Walsh, the fertility panic is an elite fixation that is rooted in a human supremacist worldview and a deep fear of slowing growth. Samuel Miller McDonald...
www.populationbalance.org
July 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I had a great conversation with Nandita Bajaj and Alan Weisman on the OVERSHOOT podcast about why fixation on growth and increasing birthrates is fundamentally authoritarian and anti-life (and also about conviviality, solidarity, and more). Have a listen! www.populationbalance.org/podcast/samu...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Sam has a fantastic movie-trailer voice.
So excited for PROGRESS to come out next month!
So excited for PROGRESS to come out next month!
The idea of progress helped build the world's first civilizations ~5,000 years ago. It is now driving global civilizational collapse.
My book tells the history of this process. You can now preorder it at:
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prog... for August 14 (in the UK)
My book tells the history of this process. You can now preorder it at:
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prog... for August 14 (in the UK)
July 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Sam has a fantastic movie-trailer voice.
So excited for PROGRESS to come out next month!
So excited for PROGRESS to come out next month!
The idea of progress helped build the world's first civilizations ~5,000 years ago. It is now driving global civilizational collapse.
My book tells the history of this process. You can now preorder it at:
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prog... for August 14 (in the UK)
My book tells the history of this process. You can now preorder it at:
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prog... for August 14 (in the UK)
July 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The idea of progress helped build the world's first civilizations ~5,000 years ago. It is now driving global civilizational collapse.
My book tells the history of this process. You can now preorder it at:
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prog... for August 14 (in the UK)
My book tells the history of this process. You can now preorder it at:
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prog... for August 14 (in the UK)
Weird duet last night
June 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Weird duet last night
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
To bomb Iran the US deployed 7 B2 bombers, each of which cost $2.1B to build. They used 14 huge “bunker busters,” a model that cost $500 million to develop.
The US invested ~ $15 billion in this attack—almost 50% more than it invested in affordable housing construction this year.
The US invested ~ $15 billion in this attack—almost 50% more than it invested in affordable housing construction this year.
June 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
To bomb Iran the US deployed 7 B2 bombers, each of which cost $2.1B to build. They used 14 huge “bunker busters,” a model that cost $500 million to develop.
The US invested ~ $15 billion in this attack—almost 50% more than it invested in affordable housing construction this year.
The US invested ~ $15 billion in this attack—almost 50% more than it invested in affordable housing construction this year.
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Why have I tabled a motion against the continued funding of Drax to burn US trees, to be heard on Monday in #HouseofLords?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ancient trees are shipped to the UK, then burned – using billions in ‘green’ subsidies. Stop this madness now | Dale Vince
The evidence against the Drax power station is damning, yet the government wants to continue its massive public funding, says campaigner Dale Vince
www.theguardian.com
June 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Why have I tabled a motion against the continued funding of Drax to burn US trees, to be heard on Monday in #HouseofLords?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
We have every reason to believe that new sources of “clean energy” will go toward powering AI, crypto, and other superfluous sources of consumption, rather than to making energy widely available or reducing fossil energy use for more necessary consumption. www.currentaffairs.org/news/dirty-l...
Dirty Lies About Clean Energy
Building “alternative” energy infrastructure isn’t enough. To avert climate disaster, fossil fuels need to be restricted, and energy consumption overall needs to fall.
www.currentaffairs.org
June 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
We have every reason to believe that new sources of “clean energy” will go toward powering AI, crypto, and other superfluous sources of consumption, rather than to making energy widely available or reducing fossil energy use for more necessary consumption. www.currentaffairs.org/news/dirty-l...