David Lay Williams
@laywilliams.bsky.social
Political theorist at DePaul and author of The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx (Princeton, 2024). Essays in NY Times, Washington Post, Time, Bloomberg, etc. Jazz Guitar, New York Mets.
Pinned
The Greatest of All Plagues
How the great political thinkers have persistently warned against the dangers of economic inequality
press.princeton.edu
After a decade's labor, it is finally book-release day for "The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx." I'm both relieved and excited to see this day arrive. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Look what just arrived, @lkatfield.bsky.social! Looking forward to diving in!
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Look what just arrived, @lkatfield.bsky.social! Looking forward to diving in!
Reposted by David Lay Williams
I feel silly publicizing a book in these times BUT my book describes how constitutional structures allowed the accumulation of generational wealth + rights for settlers and white people. These are the same advantages MAGA is trying to preserve today. Pre-order page:
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I feel silly publicizing a book in these times BUT my book describes how constitutional structures allowed the accumulation of generational wealth + rights for settlers and white people. These are the same advantages MAGA is trying to preserve today. Pre-order page:
Reposted by David Lay Williams
Today at 4pm! Join @libankerdc.bsky.social, Tim Shenk, Matthew Dallek and I to discuss FURIOUS MINDS at GW's Elliott School.
@illsp.bsky.social @princetonupress.bsky.social
Register here:
lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qjdn8...
@illsp.bsky.social @princetonupress.bsky.social
Register here:
lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qjdn8...
Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, Book Launch and Roundtable
Donald Trump is not a big thinker, but his 2016 presidential victory presented a grand opportunity for people who are, and it set off a radicalization and reconfiguration of the American conservative ...
lp.constantcontactpages.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today at 4pm! Join @libankerdc.bsky.social, Tim Shenk, Matthew Dallek and I to discuss FURIOUS MINDS at GW's Elliott School.
@illsp.bsky.social @princetonupress.bsky.social
Register here:
lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qjdn8...
@illsp.bsky.social @princetonupress.bsky.social
Register here:
lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qjdn8...
Reposted by David Lay Williams
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Who needs real friends so long as we have AI? (At the Davis L Station in Evanston.)
November 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Who needs real friends so long as we have AI? (At the Davis L Station in Evanston.)
We’ve tried extreme inequality, but why not try hyper-, super-, turbo-extreme inequality? What could go wrong?
Musk Wins $1 Trillion Pay Package, Creating Split Screen on Wealth in America
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM
We’ve tried extreme inequality, but why not try hyper-, super-, turbo-extreme inequality? What could go wrong?
Reposted by David Lay Williams
I fully believe in the corporate death penalty and believe we would be a better world if OpenAI lost its corporate charter and was forcibly dissolved.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
ChatGPT encouraged college graduate to commit suicide, family claims in lawsuit against OpenAI | CNN
A 23-year-old man killed himself in Texas after ChatGPT ‘goaded’ him to commit suicide, his family says in a lawsuit.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I fully believe in the corporate death penalty and believe we would be a better world if OpenAI lost its corporate charter and was forcibly dissolved.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by David Lay Williams
#BREAKING U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in Chicago is entering a preliminary injunction governing the use of force against protesters and journalists.
Ellis, apparently wrapping up, is quoting George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others.
November 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
#BREAKING U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in Chicago is entering a preliminary injunction governing the use of force against protesters and journalists.
Reposted by David Lay Williams
The #1 lesson from yesterday’s blowout:
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
November 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The #1 lesson from yesterday’s blowout:
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Very happy college memories.
The Legend of Pico de Gallo - TCU Magazine
TCU philosophy professors formed Pico de Gallo, trading lectures for late-night gigs and raising money for campus causes.
magazine.tcu.edu
November 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Very happy college memories.
Reposted by David Lay Williams
Looking forward to this discussion on the History of Thought on Economic Inequality today - around the superb books by @brankomilan.bsky.social and @laywilliams.bsky.social !
Register below.
Register below.
Super excited for this @stoneeconucl.bsky.social event next Tuesday! With @brankomilan.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social. On-line and open registration.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Stone Centre Dialogue on Inequality in the History of Economic and Political Thought. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining...
A Panel Conversation, featuring Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams.
As inequality has grown, so has interest in its roots and implications. This online event will explore the intellectual histor...
ucl.zoom.us
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Looking forward to this discussion on the History of Thought on Economic Inequality today - around the superb books by @brankomilan.bsky.social and @laywilliams.bsky.social !
Register below.
Register below.
Reposted by David Lay Williams
Tonight, we're discussing inequality in the history of economic and political thought at 6PM CET online in a ULC Stone Centre Webinar
Discussion is centered on recent books by Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams
Register here : ucl.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Discussion is centered on recent books by Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams
Register here : ucl.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
November 4, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Tonight, we're discussing inequality in the history of economic and political thought at 6PM CET online in a ULC Stone Centre Webinar
Discussion is centered on recent books by Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams
Register here : ucl.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Discussion is centered on recent books by Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams
Register here : ucl.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Tomorrow (Tuesday)!
Super excited for this @stoneeconucl.bsky.social event next Tuesday! With @brankomilan.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social. On-line and open registration.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Stone Centre Dialogue on Inequality in the History of Economic and Political Thought. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining...
A Panel Conversation, featuring Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams.
As inequality has grown, so has interest in its roots and implications. This online event will explore the intellectual histor...
ucl.zoom.us
November 4, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Tomorrow (Tuesday)!
Reposted by David Lay Williams
I was reading @johncassidysays.bsky.social
"Capitalism and its critics". Highly recommend. Very well written, easy to read, well-informed. Goes from Adam Smith to Piketty.
"Capitalism and its critics". Highly recommend. Very well written, easy to read, well-informed. Goes from Adam Smith to Piketty.
November 2, 2025 at 11:42 PM
I was reading @johncassidysays.bsky.social
"Capitalism and its critics". Highly recommend. Very well written, easy to read, well-informed. Goes from Adam Smith to Piketty.
"Capitalism and its critics". Highly recommend. Very well written, easy to read, well-informed. Goes from Adam Smith to Piketty.
Much like Alcibiades. (This account from Plutarch's Lives.)
November 1, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Much like Alcibiades. (This account from Plutarch's Lives.)
Still relevant.
Guest Letter: Class of 2029, don’t squander your education by using AI
Dear DePaul Class of 2029, I’m writing as a faculty member to congratulate you beginning your college career at DePaul. As I hope you will soon discover, your college years represent an extraordinary and unique opportunity to…
Dear DePaul Class of 2029, I’m writing as a faculty member to congratulate you beginning your college career at DePaul. As I hope you will soon discover, your college years represent an extraordinary and unique opportunity to…
Guest Letter: Class of 2029, don’t squander your education by using AI
Dear DePaul Class of 2029, I’m writing as a faculty member to congratulate you beginning your college career at DePaul. As I hope you will soon discover, your college years represent an extraordinary and unique opportunity to grow — emotionally, socially, spiritually and especially intellectually. You have never had so much freedom in your life to explore new and provocative ideas before — and likely never will again.
depauliaonline.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Still relevant.
Opinion | Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by David Lay Williams
Karoline Leavitt officially announced the "Launch of a large-scale investigation to find the people behind 'No Kings.'"
I've saved her some time.
I've saved her some time.
October 29, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Karoline Leavitt officially announced the "Launch of a large-scale investigation to find the people behind 'No Kings.'"
I've saved her some time.
I've saved her some time.
A student yesterday came up to me to share that she had taken my recommendation to attend the Lyric Opera of Chicago's performance of Medea! She loved it. Made my day!
Medea
Hell hath no fury like a sorceress scorned. Euripides' tragic tale of infidelity and revenge comes alive in this intense revival, directed by Sir David McVicar.
www.lyricopera.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A student yesterday came up to me to share that she had taken my recommendation to attend the Lyric Opera of Chicago's performance of Medea! She loved it. Made my day!
In my district.
FLAG: Progressive House candidate Kat Abughazaleh has been indicted on federal charges stemming from protests outside an ICE facility outside Chicago.
Abughazaleh called the charges "political prosecution" and a "gross attempt to silence dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment."
Abughazaleh called the charges "political prosecution" and a "gross attempt to silence dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment."
October 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
In my district.
Reposted by David Lay Williams
In this episode of the Dondena Decode podcast I have the honour of interviewing Nobel laureate James Robinson on the reasons why modern democracy is proving to be a fragile institution, on the importance of studying the past, on the consequences of getting a Nobel...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
Dondena Decode - Episode 5
open.spotify.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In this episode of the Dondena Decode podcast I have the honour of interviewing Nobel laureate James Robinson on the reasons why modern democracy is proving to be a fragile institution, on the importance of studying the past, on the consequences of getting a Nobel...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
Reposted by David Lay Williams
There's been good polling on what people know about inequality. (They think it's a LOT less than it is.)
This is over a decade old; I'd love to see an update
This is over a decade old; I'd love to see an update
INEQUALITY IN THE U.S.: IMAGINED VERSUS REALITY - Sociology Toolbox
The Society Pages (TSP) is an open-access social science project headquartered in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota
thesocietypages.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
There's been good polling on what people know about inequality. (They think it's a LOT less than it is.)
This is over a decade old; I'd love to see an update
This is over a decade old; I'd love to see an update
Super excited for this @stoneeconucl.bsky.social event next Tuesday! With @brankomilan.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social. On-line and open registration.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Stone Centre Dialogue on Inequality in the History of Economic and Political Thought. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining...
A Panel Conversation, featuring Branko Milanović and David Lay Williams.
As inequality has grown, so has interest in its roots and implications. This online event will explore the intellectual histor...
ucl.zoom.us
October 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Super excited for this @stoneeconucl.bsky.social event next Tuesday! With @brankomilan.bsky.social, @johncassidysays.bsky.social, @undercoverhist.bsky.social, @annastansbury.bsky.social. On-line and open registration.
This is how I'd feel if someone gave me a Yankees jersey.
Pope Leo is a longtime fan of the Chicago White Sox. Some people can’t seem to keep it straight.
Once Again: The Pope Likes That Other Chicago Team, Not the Cubs
Although he posed with a Cubs jersey on Monday, a gift from a religious leader also from Chicago, Pope Leo is a longtime fan of the Chicago White Sox. Some people can’t seem to keep it straight.
nyti.ms
October 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
This is how I'd feel if someone gave me a Yankees jersey.
Reposted by David Lay Williams
@alybatt.bsky.social has two UK events next week! Hear her discuss her book, Free Gifts, and her critique of capitalism's persistent failure to value nature.
4 Nov at 5:30 pm GMT at @blackwelloxford.bsky.social: hubs.ly/Q03QkpRl0
6 Nov at 7:00 pm GMT at Housmans Booksellers: hubs.ly/Q03Qkp_F0
4 Nov at 5:30 pm GMT at @blackwelloxford.bsky.social: hubs.ly/Q03QkpRl0
6 Nov at 7:00 pm GMT at Housmans Booksellers: hubs.ly/Q03Qkp_F0
October 28, 2025 at 11:01 AM
@alybatt.bsky.social has two UK events next week! Hear her discuss her book, Free Gifts, and her critique of capitalism's persistent failure to value nature.
4 Nov at 5:30 pm GMT at @blackwelloxford.bsky.social: hubs.ly/Q03QkpRl0
6 Nov at 7:00 pm GMT at Housmans Booksellers: hubs.ly/Q03Qkp_F0
4 Nov at 5:30 pm GMT at @blackwelloxford.bsky.social: hubs.ly/Q03QkpRl0
6 Nov at 7:00 pm GMT at Housmans Booksellers: hubs.ly/Q03Qkp_F0