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
Website: www.terikanefield.com
Subscribe to my blog here: eepurl.com/h4xCMr
I promise I will! I was going to wait until I have the epub. It's a revised and improved version of my last long blog post.
November 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I promise I will! I was going to wait until I have the epub. It's a revised and improved version of my last long blog post.
I keep tinkering with it, so typos creep in. Please ignore them.
I am persuaded that my keyboard is haunted.
I am persuaded that my keyboard is haunted.
October 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
I keep tinkering with it, so typos creep in. Please ignore them.
I am persuaded that my keyboard is haunted.
I am persuaded that my keyboard is haunted.
I meant to tag @jenmercieca.bsky.social, whose work I also mention in this very long blog post.
October 8, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I meant to tag @jenmercieca.bsky.social, whose work I also mention in this very long blog post.
3/ Anyway, I hope someone finds it interesting and helpful.
October 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
3/ Anyway, I hope someone finds it interesting and helpful.
I agree. I tried to make a compelling case for just that.
October 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I agree. I tried to make a compelling case for just that.
. . . it's sort of long.
I asked it: “What do you want to be?”
It hasn’t answered yet, so for now, it’s a blog post.
terikanefield.com/whyextremism...
I draw on the work of lots of scholars, including @karenstenner.bsky.social, @dannagal.bsky.social, and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social
2/
I asked it: “What do you want to be?”
It hasn’t answered yet, so for now, it’s a blog post.
terikanefield.com/whyextremism...
I draw on the work of lots of scholars, including @karenstenner.bsky.social, @dannagal.bsky.social, and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social
2/
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 2:36 PM
. . . it's sort of long.
I asked it: “What do you want to be?”
It hasn’t answered yet, so for now, it’s a blog post.
terikanefield.com/whyextremism...
I draw on the work of lots of scholars, including @karenstenner.bsky.social, @dannagal.bsky.social, and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social
2/
I asked it: “What do you want to be?”
It hasn’t answered yet, so for now, it’s a blog post.
terikanefield.com/whyextremism...
I draw on the work of lots of scholars, including @karenstenner.bsky.social, @dannagal.bsky.social, and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social
2/
I tell my readers I publish on Sunday morning, but, well, I'm the type who always worked ahead of deadlines 🤓
September 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I tell my readers I publish on Sunday morning, but, well, I'm the type who always worked ahead of deadlines 🤓
It’s about (almost) everything.
I'm trying to pull together the ideas I’ve been working out over the past several years.
One section relies on @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book, How the South Won the Civil War.
3/
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
I'm trying to pull together the ideas I’ve been working out over the past several years.
One section relies on @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book, How the South Won the Civil War.
3/
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
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 11:07 PM
It’s about (almost) everything.
I'm trying to pull together the ideas I’ve been working out over the past several years.
One section relies on @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book, How the South Won the Civil War.
3/
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
I'm trying to pull together the ideas I’ve been working out over the past several years.
One section relies on @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book, How the South Won the Civil War.
3/
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
In Part II, I offer the lyrics to three songs,
-Sam the Sham’s “Lil Red Riding Hood”
-Roger and Hammerstein’s “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught,” and
-“Those were the Days.”
Can you guess what it's about?
No? So I'll tell you. . .
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
2/
-Sam the Sham’s “Lil Red Riding Hood”
-Roger and Hammerstein’s “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught,” and
-“Those were the Days.”
Can you guess what it's about?
No? So I'll tell you. . .
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
2/
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
In Part II, I offer the lyrics to three songs,
-Sam the Sham’s “Lil Red Riding Hood”
-Roger and Hammerstein’s “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught,” and
-“Those were the Days.”
Can you guess what it's about?
No? So I'll tell you. . .
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
2/
-Sam the Sham’s “Lil Red Riding Hood”
-Roger and Hammerstein’s “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught,” and
-“Those were the Days.”
Can you guess what it's about?
No? So I'll tell you. . .
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
2/
Thanks for this comment. I did write a paragraph on the psychology of many demagogues. I thought it would fit in later (I am planning 3 more sections) but it might end up going back here.
I'm leaning toward including it in Section III. We will see.
I'm leaning toward including it in Section III. We will see.
September 12, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Thanks for this comment. I did write a paragraph on the psychology of many demagogues. I thought it would fit in later (I am planning 3 more sections) but it might end up going back here.
I'm leaning toward including it in Section III. We will see.
I'm leaning toward including it in Section III. We will see.
I think he's saying something more subtle, and now he says "there is no free will" because he felt he was too subtle before.
It think he's saying that at each moment, our behavior comes from what came before, but there is constant flux so we are not predetermined.
It think he's saying that at each moment, our behavior comes from what came before, but there is constant flux so we are not predetermined.
August 31, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I think he's saying something more subtle, and now he says "there is no free will" because he felt he was too subtle before.
It think he's saying that at each moment, our behavior comes from what came before, but there is constant flux so we are not predetermined.
It think he's saying that at each moment, our behavior comes from what came before, but there is constant flux so we are not predetermined.
I guess I had no choice in the matter 😅 My library search function was beyond my control .
August 31, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I guess I had no choice in the matter 😅 My library search function was beyond my control .
I just discovered Sapolsky. Here is how. I wrote the sentence, "What sets us apart from other species is our ability to think in metaphor." Then being an appellate lawyer, I thought, "I'd better find some authority for that sentence."
So I started poking around, found his work, and started reading.
So I started poking around, found his work, and started reading.
August 31, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I just discovered Sapolsky. Here is how. I wrote the sentence, "What sets us apart from other species is our ability to think in metaphor." Then being an appellate lawyer, I thought, "I'd better find some authority for that sentence."
So I started poking around, found his work, and started reading.
So I started poking around, found his work, and started reading.
Isn't it a heart-wrenching story?
I picked out the line I always loved. (I won't spoil it!)
I picked out the line I always loved. (I won't spoil it!)
August 30, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Isn't it a heart-wrenching story?
I picked out the line I always loved. (I won't spoil it!)
I picked out the line I always loved. (I won't spoil it!)
I'm writing about everything. I'll explain in a few weeks :)
August 30, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I'm writing about everything. I'll explain in a few weeks :)
that was funny!!!
August 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
that was funny!!!
Forgot one: Robert Sapolsky
August 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Forgot one: Robert Sapolsky
Also I cited from:
The Manticore by Robertson Davies
The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Yes, I did. I quoted from The Little Princess.
5/
(Was this #5? I lost track. Time for a break!!!)
The Manticore by Robertson Davies
The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Yes, I did. I quoted from The Little Princess.
5/
(Was this #5? I lost track. Time for a break!!!)
August 30, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Also I cited from:
The Manticore by Robertson Davies
The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Yes, I did. I quoted from The Little Princess.
5/
(Was this #5? I lost track. Time for a break!!!)
The Manticore by Robertson Davies
The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Yes, I did. I quoted from The Little Princess.
5/
(Was this #5? I lost track. Time for a break!!!)
Ledroit, Stephanie
Levitsky, Steven
Packenham, Robert
Ratliff, William
Russell, Bertrand
Tierney, Michael
Wilde, Oscar
Yalom, Irvin D.
Ziblatt, Daniel
I told you I covered a lot of ground !!!
4/
Levitsky, Steven
Packenham, Robert
Ratliff, William
Russell, Bertrand
Tierney, Michael
Wilde, Oscar
Yalom, Irvin D.
Ziblatt, Daniel
I told you I covered a lot of ground !!!
4/
August 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Ledroit, Stephanie
Levitsky, Steven
Packenham, Robert
Ratliff, William
Russell, Bertrand
Tierney, Michael
Wilde, Oscar
Yalom, Irvin D.
Ziblatt, Daniel
I told you I covered a lot of ground !!!
4/
Levitsky, Steven
Packenham, Robert
Ratliff, William
Russell, Bertrand
Tierney, Michael
Wilde, Oscar
Yalom, Irvin D.
Ziblatt, Daniel
I told you I covered a lot of ground !!!
4/
The link: terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Other scholars mentioned, critiqued, or cited:
Adorno, Theodor
Arendt, Hannah
Chinoy, Sahil
Coleridge, Samuel
Doestoevsky, Fydor
Frenkel-Brunswik, Else
Haidt, Jonathan @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social
Hand, Learned
Kanai, Ryota
Merritt, Eli
3/
Other scholars mentioned, critiqued, or cited:
Adorno, Theodor
Arendt, Hannah
Chinoy, Sahil
Coleridge, Samuel
Doestoevsky, Fydor
Frenkel-Brunswik, Else
Haidt, Jonathan @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social
Hand, Learned
Kanai, Ryota
Merritt, Eli
3/
- Teri Kanefield
Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national independence festivities and a reunion for my husband and his siblings. I learned that an ...
terikanefield.com
August 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The link: terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Other scholars mentioned, critiqued, or cited:
Adorno, Theodor
Arendt, Hannah
Chinoy, Sahil
Coleridge, Samuel
Doestoevsky, Fydor
Frenkel-Brunswik, Else
Haidt, Jonathan @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social
Hand, Learned
Kanai, Ryota
Merritt, Eli
3/
Other scholars mentioned, critiqued, or cited:
Adorno, Theodor
Arendt, Hannah
Chinoy, Sahil
Coleridge, Samuel
Doestoevsky, Fydor
Frenkel-Brunswik, Else
Haidt, Jonathan @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social
Hand, Learned
Kanai, Ryota
Merritt, Eli
3/
I add new research, new conclusions, and venture into new territory including existence pain and the role of the artist.
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Special thanks to @karenstenner.bsky.social and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social who helped me understand how to pull this all together.
2/
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Special thanks to @karenstenner.bsky.social and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social who helped me understand how to pull this all together.
2/
- Teri Kanefield
Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national independence festivities and a reunion for my husband and his siblings. I learned that an ...
terikanefield.com
August 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I add new research, new conclusions, and venture into new territory including existence pain and the role of the artist.
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Special thanks to @karenstenner.bsky.social and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social who helped me understand how to pull this all together.
2/
terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Special thanks to @karenstenner.bsky.social and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social who helped me understand how to pull this all together.
2/