Collin G Brooke
@cgbrooke.bsky.social
This is the heavy, heavy monster sound of a rhetoric professor in upstate NY.
https://linktr.ee/cgbrooke
https://cgbrooke.substack.com/
https://linktr.ee/cgbrooke
https://cgbrooke.substack.com/
Is it hyperbolic of me to say that “Artificial intelligence provides the hardware on which the software of totalitarianism runs most efficiently and effectively”? Maybe so, but July 4th put me in a mood.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/indistingu...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/indistingu...
Indistinguishable
baby steps towards our brave new world
cgbrooke.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Is it hyperbolic of me to say that “Artificial intelligence provides the hardware on which the software of totalitarianism runs most efficiently and effectively”? Maybe so, but July 4th put me in a mood.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/indistingu...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/indistingu...
The final(ish) chapter in my series on digital asymmetry, featuring ghost artists, phantom friends, and the platformization of the human psyche (that last with a major h/t to @lmsacasas.bsky.social )
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/asymmetry-...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/asymmetry-...
Asymmetry (Part 6)
Ensloppification
cgbrooke.substack.com
June 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The final(ish) chapter in my series on digital asymmetry, featuring ghost artists, phantom friends, and the platformization of the human psyche (that last with a major h/t to @lmsacasas.bsky.social )
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/asymmetry-...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/asymmetry-...
I was shocked to realize that it's been 25 years since Gladwell's Tipping Point. I'd been meaning to read his update/retrospect for a while, so I finally did and wrote about it a bit.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/side-effects
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/side-effects
Side Effects
Malcolm Gladwell, Revenge of the Tipping Point
cgbrooke.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I was shocked to realize that it's been 25 years since Gladwell's Tipping Point. I'd been meaning to read his update/retrospect for a while, so I finally did and wrote about it a bit.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/side-effects
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/side-effects
I wrote a bit about Vauhini Vara’s Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age. I definitely recommend it, although not without some friction.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/communion
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/communion
Communion?
Vauhini Vara, Searches: Selfhood in a Digital Age
cgbrooke.substack.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I wrote a bit about Vauhini Vara’s Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age. I definitely recommend it, although not without some friction.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/communion
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/communion
I take the long way around to a quick discussion of Bracket City, which I'm still obsessed with.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/nesting
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/nesting
Nesting
A backwards post about the new puzzle in my life
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I take the long way around to a quick discussion of Bracket City, which I'm still obsessed with.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/nesting
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/nesting
Spent some time this week reading and writing (more) about friction, specifically in the context of Ai.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/stronger-t...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/stronger-t...
Stronger than Friction?
against artificial intelligence
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Spent some time this week reading and writing (more) about friction, specifically in the context of Ai.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/stronger-t...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/stronger-t...
Part-review, part-reflection on Ray Nayler's latest, Where the Axe is Buried. Tried to stay spoiler-free, so I write mostly about the resonances I found with Orwell, Ai, etc. But it's a great book--Nayler's quickly becoming a fave.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/2084
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/2084
2084
Ray Nayler, Where the Axe is Buried
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 25, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Part-review, part-reflection on Ray Nayler's latest, Where the Axe is Buried. Tried to stay spoiler-free, so I write mostly about the resonances I found with Orwell, Ai, etc. But it's a great book--Nayler's quickly becoming a fave.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/2084
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/2084
TIL about Bracket City, a word game over at the Atlantic, and I'm more than a little obsessed with it.
www.theatlantic.com/games/bracke...
www.theatlantic.com/games/bracke...
Bracket City
The Atlantic covers news, politics, culture, technology, health, and more, through its articles, podcasts, videos, and flagship magazine.
www.theatlantic.com
May 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
TIL about Bracket City, a word game over at the Atlantic, and I'm more than a little obsessed with it.
www.theatlantic.com/games/bracke...
www.theatlantic.com/games/bracke...
"I’m still searching for the words that will set my soul apart, but I’m sure they’re just around the corner."
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/summertime
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/summertime
Summertime
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 11, 2025 at 4:15 AM
"I’m still searching for the words that will set my soul apart, but I’m sure they’re just around the corner."
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/summertime
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/summertime
It felt like it was time for a little change... cgbrooke.substack.com/p/unpacking-...
Unpacking my library
Notes on a name change
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 8:37 PM
It felt like it was time for a little change... cgbrooke.substack.com/p/unpacking-...
After an unfortunately light spring semester, I'm trying to rev up my writing schedule for the summer. This week, a couple of book reviews: Klein and Thompson's Abundance (cgbrooke.substack.com/p/a-bun-dance), and Wynn-Williams' Careless People (cgbrooke.substack.com/p/dirty-rott...)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Sarah Wynn-Williams, Careless People
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 3, 2025 at 8:29 PM
After an unfortunately light spring semester, I'm trying to rev up my writing schedule for the summer. This week, a couple of book reviews: Klein and Thompson's Abundance (cgbrooke.substack.com/p/a-bun-dance), and Wynn-Williams' Careless People (cgbrooke.substack.com/p/dirty-rott...)
Wrote a few words on the passing of Jim Leach, who was a family friend and my Representative growing up. He exemplified much of what's missing from contemporary politics. RIP
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/james-leac...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/james-leac...
James Leach (1942-2024)
I don’t think I’ve shared this story here just yet, although some of you who read my writing have no doubt heard a version.
cgbrooke.substack.com
December 17, 2024 at 4:29 AM
Wrote a few words on the passing of Jim Leach, who was a family friend and my Representative growing up. He exemplified much of what's missing from contemporary politics. RIP
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/james-leac...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/james-leac...
Some thoughts about Ai tonewashing, and the impact that it has on our ability to trust one another.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/pretty-lit...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/pretty-lit...
Pretty Little Language Models
Tonewashing and its discontents
cgbrooke.substack.com
December 13, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Some thoughts about Ai tonewashing, and the impact that it has on our ability to trust one another.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/pretty-lit...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/pretty-lit...
A quick review of Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland, which I really enjoyed.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/beautyland
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/beautyland
Beautyland
Recommendation engine, activate
cgbrooke.substack.com
December 11, 2024 at 6:10 PM
A quick review of Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland, which I really enjoyed.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/beautyland
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/beautyland
I haven't had a lot of writing time over the past couple of weeks, but what time I've had has gone to this (sorta rambling) post, about the vanishing role of productive disagreement, a trend (imho) worth reversing.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/disagreeab...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/disagreeab...
Disagreeability
On the vanishing benefit of the doubt
cgbrooke.substack.com
December 9, 2024 at 9:18 PM
I haven't had a lot of writing time over the past couple of weeks, but what time I've had has gone to this (sorta rambling) post, about the vanishing role of productive disagreement, a trend (imho) worth reversing.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/disagreeab...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/disagreeab...
In other, more personal news, my new glasses (which my ophth called "cheaters") arrived today, allowing me to see both screen and bookshelf equally well (for the first time in 2-3 years, bc cataracts) 🤓
November 16, 2024 at 12:47 AM
In other, more personal news, my new glasses (which my ophth called "cheaters") arrived today, allowing me to see both screen and bookshelf equally well (for the first time in 2-3 years, bc cataracts) 🤓
I know that it's a little redundant to share this on Bluesky itself, but I found myself doing some gentle evangelizing today, so it was what was on my mind during my writing group.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/should-i-s...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/should-i-s...
Should I stay or should I go?
Darling, you got to let me know
cgbrooke.substack.com
November 16, 2024 at 12:33 AM
I know that it's a little redundant to share this on Bluesky itself, but I found myself doing some gentle evangelizing today, so it was what was on my mind during my writing group.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/should-i-s...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/should-i-s...
As the Legion of Doom is currently assembling, I found myself wondering why the Superfriends are so incompetent when it comes to media...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/whats-afoo...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/whats-afoo...
What's afoot in the DCU?
asking better questions in the Democrat Cinematic Universe
cgbrooke.substack.com
November 14, 2024 at 11:10 PM
As the Legion of Doom is currently assembling, I found myself wondering why the Superfriends are so incompetent when it comes to media...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/whats-afoo...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/whats-afoo...
I've been seeing a small cloudburst of new follows as folks move over to the Sky. Welcome, and thanks! I haven't really posted much here--most of my writing these days is taking place on my Substack (cgbrooke.substack.com). But I'll start sharing entries more often, and try to be more present.
Commonplace Brooke | Collin Brooke | Substack
notes towards a larger project on rhetoric, technology, and democracy. Click to read Commonplace Brooke, by Collin Brooke, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
cgbrooke.substack.com
November 12, 2024 at 3:07 AM
I've been seeing a small cloudburst of new follows as folks move over to the Sky. Welcome, and thanks! I haven't really posted much here--most of my writing these days is taking place on my Substack (cgbrooke.substack.com). But I'll start sharing entries more often, and try to be more present.
Haven't been around here much, but I've been writing. Today marks my 100th post on Substack:
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/centenary
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/centenary
Centenary
Wherein I hit triple digits
cgbrooke.substack.com
May 19, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Haven't been around here much, but I've been writing. Today marks my 100th post on Substack:
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/centenary
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/centenary
In the hopes of being more public about what I'm reading, I posted a review of Dannagal Young's new book Wrong. TLDR: 👍
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/wrong
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/wrong
February 26, 2024 at 7:17 PM
In the hopes of being more public about what I'm reading, I posted a review of Dannagal Young's new book Wrong. TLDR: 👍
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/wrong
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/wrong
The palate cleansing continues. Today's episode reflects on the newfound (to me) ritual of the writing group.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/ritual
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/ritual
Ritual
a love letter to writing groups
cgbrooke.substack.com
February 4, 2024 at 6:39 PM
The palate cleansing continues. Today's episode reflects on the newfound (to me) ritual of the writing group.
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/ritual
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/ritual
Today was a day to cleanse the palate, after last week's long multi-episode digression about scale. Here's a short piece on the idea of "love languages"
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/snowclones...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/snowclones...
Snowclones are my love language
In cyberspace, everyone can hear you meme
cgbrooke.substack.com
February 3, 2024 at 2:01 AM
Today was a day to cleanse the palate, after last week's long multi-episode digression about scale. Here's a short piece on the idea of "love languages"
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/snowclones...
cgbrooke.substack.com/p/snowclones...
“Humanist critique just keeps snapping at the world as if the whole point of being and thinking is to catch it in a lie” (💯s, p42).
Heard KS and LB perform this at ATC in 2015, and tweeted it straightaway. Erasing my memory tweet by tweet, I'm finding some things harder than others to part with.
Heard KS and LB perform this at ATC in 2015, and tweeted it straightaway. Erasing my memory tweet by tweet, I'm finding some things harder than others to part with.
December 20, 2023 at 6:13 AM
“Humanist critique just keeps snapping at the world as if the whole point of being and thinking is to catch it in a lie” (💯s, p42).
Heard KS and LB perform this at ATC in 2015, and tweeted it straightaway. Erasing my memory tweet by tweet, I'm finding some things harder than others to part with.
Heard KS and LB perform this at ATC in 2015, and tweeted it straightaway. Erasing my memory tweet by tweet, I'm finding some things harder than others to part with.