Dr Luke Young
lukeyoungw.bsky.social
Dr Luke Young
@lukeyoungw.bsky.social
Scholar and writer, working in Higher Education Welfare. Currently turning my PhD Thesis into a book: On Liberal Democracy and the Temperaments of the 20th Century Essay. Trying.

"Ideally, one should be able to pay attention to everything." - Sontag
Reposted by Dr Luke Young
Historians speak of "gutting" books - getting the gist, knowing where the facts they need will be, later on, like a squirrel memorizing acorn coordinates. But there is also reading to understand the author's project, which is a little different than grappling with every bit of the book.
December 22, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Dr Luke Young
I think the big change here is from students living in halls of residence, where there were bars, facilities and opportunities to meet many other people, to flats as the predominant model of student living accommodation, where they may only interact with 5 or 6 others. Almost half highlight design.
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Dr Luke Young
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Labour is ineluctably stuck in an electioneering mindset because its only remaining belief is that it should be in power. It has no idea what to do with that power other than keep trying to ensure it holds on to it in the future.
That every TV spot and discussion I have seen about the NHS has been about 'winning the next election' not 'so what, exactly, are we spending this money on and is that a good idea?' again shapes which MPs get rewarded and also forces smart MPs to sound stupid when they speak in public.
October 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Dr Luke Young
A long time ago I worked at a bookshop where the password to everything, and I really do mean everything, was the name of the bookshop and the letters '1,2,3,4,5'. These people had a photocopy of my passport!
September 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
introduce local book clubs and adult literature classes across all towns and villages, free at the point of use!
What subjects did Britons enjoy at school?

English: 70% enjoyed
History: 66%
Geography: 61%
Biology: 58%
Food tech: 54%
Art: 51%
D+T: 50%
Maths: 49%
PE: 47%
Chemistry: 45%
Music: 44%
Languages: 43%
Physics: 39%
IT: 37%
RE: 32%
Drama: 29%

yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
September 7, 2025 at 6:19 PM
My outie spends all his time sleeping.
March 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM