Teri Kanefield
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terikanefield.bsky.social
Teri Kanefield
@terikanefield.bsky.social
Former appellate defender and UC Berkeley Law graduate. I’ve written more than a dozen books and published more than 50 pieces in major outlets including The Washington Post.

Website: www.terikanefield.com

Subscribe to my blog here: eepurl.com/h4xCMr
Reposted by Teri Kanefield
People, I'm BEGGING you:

If you are going to share that leaked 60 minutes segment, INCLUDE SOME COMMENTARY in your post that makes it necessary for readers to have access to the full video to understand the commentary. CBS has a deep black eye over this and the odds that they'll look to punish ppl
December 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Are there any librarians with time to read a piece of literary fiction?

I looked for a setting to make sure my DMs are open to anyone, but I can't find it.
December 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I learned that some people are using AI to generate a summary of the book I'm offering free 😆

I therefore decided to compete with AI by writing my own summary, which I am calling Over the Cliff Notes.

You can find them here: terikanefield.com/over-the-cli...

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December 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Reposted by Teri Kanefield
here's the YT playlist for this, if anyone wants a podcast listen version. www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
November 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Hey everyone, online ratings (Goodreads and retail sites) are helpful, so if you read it and feel inclined, I'd appreciate it.

If you download it from one of the online bookstores, I think you can leave a rating there.

Thanks!!
It’s finished.

It’s also not finished because, in the words of Paul Valéry, a piece of writing is never finished. Ultimately it is abandoned. That’s because writing is thinking, and we’re never finished with that.

Anyway, I figured out what to do with that long blog post . . .

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November 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
It’s finished.

It’s also not finished because, in the words of Paul Valéry, a piece of writing is never finished. Ultimately it is abandoned. That’s because writing is thinking, and we’re never finished with that.

Anyway, I figured out what to do with that long blog post . . .

1/
November 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My publisher never emails me on weekends, but . . . there was good news yesterday. ncte.org/awards/orbis...

Scroll down for the first honor book.

My editor said it's a big deal so I believe him.
Orbis Pictus Award (Nonfiction for Children)
ncte.org
November 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
You can find political messages in interesting places in California.

This painted rock was spotted along a trail in the coastal range.
November 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I finished that thing I've been writing. It looks like I've taken on some big questions.

The conclusions are what I’ve been trying to say for several years, but I believe now I've explained it better and with more context.

terikanefield.com/whyextremism...

For a blog post . . .

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Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen (and how to protect democracy in a divided world) - Teri Kanefield
Hello, and welcome. I plan to take on some big questions, including: Why do some people spiral into extremism? Why does democracy seem perpetually on the brink? Why are we so divided? What can we do t...
terikanefield.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Part II of this thing I’m working on is ready.

Part I was called “Here’s Why Intolerance and Extremism happen.” It was about demagogues and artists (and more).

In Part II, I quote the lyrics to three songs . . .

terikanefield.com/heres-why/

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Here's Why - Teri Kanefield
* * * Welcome! If you’ve already read Part I, click here to skip to Part II.  * * * Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national indepe...
terikanefield.com
September 13, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Okay, whew. I've been writing. Some light summer beach reading . . . NOT

I begin by going over familiar territory: The authoritarian personality, what the neuroscientists tell us about our political differences.
I need this because the new stuff requires context, so please stick with me. . .

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August 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Popping into say sorry I've been MIA so long.

A combination of traveling, family commitments, and getting involved in what you might call a local political issue has taken my time.

But I am working on a piece of writing that feels ambitious. I will share it when it's ready.
August 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Hi, everyone,

I am traveling so I haven’t been posting (or writing) much.

Here is a first for me: The New York Times Book Review did a full review on my latest book.

Here is a gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/04/b...

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Making the Bill of Rights Relevant to Young Readers
www.nytimes.com
July 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Teri Kanefield
I started reading when the ebook dropped at midnight; it's excellent. I learned a lot just reading the prologue. I love how @terikanefield.bsky.social uses court cases to show how the amendments have been interpreted and reinterpreted over the years.
#BillOfRights #UShistory #books #law
(Trying again because of typo. . .)

Hello Bluesky Peeps.

I have a birth announcement.

(Yeah, I know it's corny, but I've been creating birth announcements for each book, beginning with my firstborn novel in 2001. Back then I didn't have photoshop.)

And now, a moment of reflection . . .

1/
May 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
(Trying again because of typo. . .)

Hello Bluesky Peeps.

I have a birth announcement.

(Yeah, I know it's corny, but I've been creating birth announcements for each book, beginning with my firstborn novel in 2001. Back then I didn't have photoshop.)

And now, a moment of reflection . . .

1/
May 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
In honor of the special occasion, I have a blog post ready: All About the Tenth Amendment.

(No, really, it IS all about the Tenth Amendment)

The history of the Tenth Amendment explains (almost) everything happening in American politics and government today.

terikanefield.com/its-all-abou...
It's All About the Tenth Amendment - Teri Kanefield
No, really, it is. The history of the Tenth Amendment explains [almost] everything happening in politics and government today. But before I get to the [scintillating] topic of the Tenth Amendment, I h...
terikanefield.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
After working all morning to get the blog post done, I needed a break. My favorite 3 year old challenged me to a game of hide and seek.

Where CAN he be?

(I'm sure his eyes are closed, which naturally makes it harder for me to see him.)
April 27, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I have a blog post ready.

It's here: terikanefield.com/your-brain-o...

When the Guardian, the Telegraph, and @jenmercieca.bsky.social recommended The Ideological Brain by Leor Zmigrod, I figured I should get a copy and read it.

So I did.

I'll start with a 2 picture summary of the book ⤵️

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April 26, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I just realized it's April 23.

That means it's the anniversary of the Farmville, Virginia Motion High School student strike.

What? You don't know about that?

Well, in 1951, Barbara Johns was fed up with the deplorable conditions in her segregated school, so she organized a strike.

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April 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
So I saw Wicked, Part I.

Anyone else like it?

It was so woke. And it was about democracy and fascism.

(Or maybe if you spend e enough time thinking about democracy and fascism, everything is about democracy and fascism. Or maybe everything IS about democracy and fascism🤔 )

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April 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Teri Kanefield
This is fascinating.
March 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Teri Kanefield
“Modern critics of democracy describe it this way: Majority rule is the equivalent of two wolves and a sheep voting on the dinner menu.”

Author @terikanefield.bsky.social traces the appeal of monarchy throughout history ⬇️:

terikanefield.com/part-5-do-th...
Part 5: Do the People Want a King? - Teri Kanefield
To gain perspective on today’s politics, I have set out on a journey. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but I’m thinking something like “Make Political Philosophy Cool Again.” Here’s where we’ve been ...
terikanefield.com
March 16, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Oh, and some news.

My upcoming book is a Junior Library Guild selection. I haven't received my certificate or the gold sticker that goes on the books, but I've been assured they are on their way.

And the first trade review (Kirkus) was quite positive:
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
REBELS, ROBBERS, AND RADICALS | Kirkus Reviews
A compelling exploration of the Bill of Rights that weaves together landmark cases, historical narratives, and reflections on the paradoxes of liberty.
www.kirkusreviews.com
March 15, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Hello Bluesky Peeps: I have a new blog post ready called "Do the People Want a King?"

Usually I write a short intro but it seems to me a blog post called "Do the People Want a King" needs no further introduction.

terikanefield.com/part-5-do-th...
Part 5: Do the People Want a King? - Teri Kanefield
To gain perspective on today’s politics, I have set out on a journey. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but I’m thinking something like “Make Political Philosophy Cool Again.” Here’s where we’ve been ...
terikanefield.com
March 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM