Doc Sarah Lonsdale
@sarahjlonsdale.bsky.social
Mostly books, history & nature. Politics, 48%. Writer, Lecturer, History of journalism City University, London. New book, Wildly Different, about women and the wild is out in the wild!
Financial Times "Best Books" Summer 2025
Wrestling another one
Financial Times "Best Books" Summer 2025
Wrestling another one
Pinned
Women's History Month - Evelyn Cheesman - Manchester University Press
To mark Women’s History Month and the publication of her new book Wildly different, we asked historian Sarah Lonsdale to profile the five pioneering women she focuses on, bringing their fascinating st...
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
Who wants to read about the first woman keeper of insects at London Zoo, and how she cut her way out of a giant spider's web with her nail file? Evelyn Cheesman, the second of the five women in my book:
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2025/03...
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2025/03...
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
Teared up at this bit “an extraordinary, ordinary man whose decency and kindness on January 20 2023 prevented an atrocity in the maternity wing of a major British hospital”
Two men meet in the carpark of a Leeds hospital. They sit on a bench and start chatting. One of them has a bomb in their backpack and the other must talk them out of using it. A mindblowing and entirely true story that reads like a thriller. as.ft.com/r/13756c02-0...
‘It’s just a bomb’
[FREE TO READ] The true story of two strangers and an extraordinary act of courage
as.ft.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Teared up at this bit “an extraordinary, ordinary man whose decency and kindness on January 20 2023 prevented an atrocity in the maternity wing of a major British hospital”
Oslo street, December 1911 by Oskar Sohlberg.
December 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Oslo street, December 1911 by Oskar Sohlberg.
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
my last (probably final) copywriting client hired me because they weren’t happy with ChatGPT because “it didn’t sound human enough.” then they stopped using me because I “sounded too human”
When the AI boom began, copywriters were singled out as one of the jobs most vulnerable to AI. Now, three years later, I wanted to hear from workers on the frontlines of the industry, to hear what had actually taken place on the ground.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
"I was forced to use AI until the day I was laid off." Copywriters reveal how AI has decimated their industry
Copywriters were one of the first to have their jobs targeted by AI firms. These are their stories, three years into the AI era.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
my last (probably final) copywriting client hired me because they weren’t happy with ChatGPT because “it didn’t sound human enough.” then they stopped using me because I “sounded too human”
Even if those men including Branson and Gates were not actually doing criminal acts, the image of powerful men and underage girls or 'on the younger side' women at these parties is nauseating and goes to the heart of patriarchy and misogyny
Garcia: "Some of the other photos that we did not put out today are incredibly disturbing"
December 12, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Even if those men including Branson and Gates were not actually doing criminal acts, the image of powerful men and underage girls or 'on the younger side' women at these parties is nauseating and goes to the heart of patriarchy and misogyny
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
"Trumpian populism may be the story of our age but I'm increasingly convinced that we're underplaying the tech-authoritarian elephant in the room." My Swamp Notes newsletter. Free to read. as.ft.com/r/199e371f-8...
Big tech’s ‘elite victim complex’
[FREE TO READ] Acolytes of the broligarchs have a grip on key nodes of Washington’s power ministries
as.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
"Trumpian populism may be the story of our age but I'm increasingly convinced that we're underplaying the tech-authoritarian elephant in the room." My Swamp Notes newsletter. Free to read. as.ft.com/r/199e371f-8...
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
Read the latest in our Long Overdue project, an In Memoriam for C. L. R. James by Gerald Horne. 🗃️
In #AHAPerspectives, read a Long Overdue tribute to C. L. R. James, journalist and historian, who died in 1989. 🗃️
C. L. R. James (1901–89) – AHA
This Long Overdue tribute honors C. L. R. James, journalist and historian, who died in 1989.
www.historians.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Read the latest in our Long Overdue project, an In Memoriam for C. L. R. James by Gerald Horne. 🗃️
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
🎁 Give the gift that challenges inequality.
A Fawcett membership funds feminist change and connects people to action.
Order by 18 Dec for Christmas delivery👉 bit.ly/3KFCyIU
#GiftOfChange #NotAnotherPairOfSocks
A Fawcett membership funds feminist change and connects people to action.
Order by 18 Dec for Christmas delivery👉 bit.ly/3KFCyIU
#GiftOfChange #NotAnotherPairOfSocks
December 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
🎁 Give the gift that challenges inequality.
A Fawcett membership funds feminist change and connects people to action.
Order by 18 Dec for Christmas delivery👉 bit.ly/3KFCyIU
#GiftOfChange #NotAnotherPairOfSocks
A Fawcett membership funds feminist change and connects people to action.
Order by 18 Dec for Christmas delivery👉 bit.ly/3KFCyIU
#GiftOfChange #NotAnotherPairOfSocks
Fascinating little volume this, about the BBC during the Cold War, by Hugh Greene, former D-G and brother to the more famous Graham. Like his brother's themes, every decision is nuanced, every motivation questioned and every broadcast across the Iron Curtain a chance to encourage espionage.
December 11, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Fascinating little volume this, about the BBC during the Cold War, by Hugh Greene, former D-G and brother to the more famous Graham. Like his brother's themes, every decision is nuanced, every motivation questioned and every broadcast across the Iron Curtain a chance to encourage espionage.
Why are 99% of Christmas movies so terribly bad? Spoiler: Tinsel Town is awful
December 10, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Why are 99% of Christmas movies so terribly bad? Spoiler: Tinsel Town is awful
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
A perfect gift for any explorer, whether it's the streets of 1920s London, or the Northumbrian coast, or further afield. These brilliant books are all 40% OFF until December 23rd on our website.
@jakecampbell88.bsky.social
@tricksterprince.bsky.social
@sarahjlonsdale.bsky.social
#giftideas #booksky
@jakecampbell88.bsky.social
@tricksterprince.bsky.social
@sarahjlonsdale.bsky.social
#giftideas #booksky
December 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A perfect gift for any explorer, whether it's the streets of 1920s London, or the Northumbrian coast, or further afield. These brilliant books are all 40% OFF until December 23rd on our website.
@jakecampbell88.bsky.social
@tricksterprince.bsky.social
@sarahjlonsdale.bsky.social
#giftideas #booksky
@jakecampbell88.bsky.social
@tricksterprince.bsky.social
@sarahjlonsdale.bsky.social
#giftideas #booksky
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
"Last month marked the third time since 2008 that layoffs in November exceeded 70,000, with the other two times being in 2008 and 2022."
@paigemcglauflin.bsky.social reports.
www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025...
@paigemcglauflin.bsky.social reports.
www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025...
Employers seemingly disregard etiquette, laying off employees right before the holidays
The once common ritual fell out of fashion following the Great Recession, until this year.
www.hr-brew.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:24 PM
"Last month marked the third time since 2008 that layoffs in November exceeded 70,000, with the other two times being in 2008 and 2022."
@paigemcglauflin.bsky.social reports.
www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025...
@paigemcglauflin.bsky.social reports.
www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025...
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
In #winter 2018, Icelandic photographer Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir wanted to show her partner, who was away in the capital, how much it had snowed overnight at their home and posted a photo of herself on FB #womensart
December 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
In #winter 2018, Icelandic photographer Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir wanted to show her partner, who was away in the capital, how much it had snowed overnight at their home and posted a photo of herself on FB #womensart
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
My uncle broke ranks with my Methodist family & told me the Glyderau mountains of Dyffryn Ogwen are home to Gods, & Angels live in the rivers & trees on the valley floor
As a child I listened in awe to his stories of a life with Nature, & still have no reason to not believe him
As a child I listened in awe to his stories of a life with Nature, & still have no reason to not believe him
December 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
My uncle broke ranks with my Methodist family & told me the Glyderau mountains of Dyffryn Ogwen are home to Gods, & Angels live in the rivers & trees on the valley floor
As a child I listened in awe to his stories of a life with Nature, & still have no reason to not believe him
As a child I listened in awe to his stories of a life with Nature, & still have no reason to not believe him
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
I'm not saying I hire staff exclusively for their baking prowess, but I'm not saying I don't. (they are *delicious*)
December 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I'm not saying I hire staff exclusively for their baking prowess, but I'm not saying I don't. (they are *delicious*)
Even when the leaves have gone, there's so much life in the woods. Forests of moss, and lichen that stuns with its ingenuity to find life on dead twigs and old rocks. The colour and shape of that blue-green tree lichen is astoundingly beautiful
December 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Even when the leaves have gone, there's so much life in the woods. Forests of moss, and lichen that stuns with its ingenuity to find life on dead twigs and old rocks. The colour and shape of that blue-green tree lichen is astoundingly beautiful
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
“Russia wishes us harm and is working in a very organised way to inflict damage”
There’s been a lot of recent Russia-UK news - from spy submarines to the Salisbury inquiry.
So I asked someone who’s been tracking what’s going on why Russia has singled us out
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
There’s been a lot of recent Russia-UK news - from spy submarines to the Salisbury inquiry.
So I asked someone who’s been tracking what’s going on why Russia has singled us out
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
Russia has made Britain its number one enemy
Ex-Nato official John Lough on how the UK is being “singled out” for Russian aggression
www.newstatesman.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
“Russia wishes us harm and is working in a very organised way to inflict damage”
There’s been a lot of recent Russia-UK news - from spy submarines to the Salisbury inquiry.
So I asked someone who’s been tracking what’s going on why Russia has singled us out
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
There’s been a lot of recent Russia-UK news - from spy submarines to the Salisbury inquiry.
So I asked someone who’s been tracking what’s going on why Russia has singled us out
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
America's NatSec strategy is an expression of weakness, borne out in its record, 0 from 3, of trying to force a pro-Russian surrender on Ukraine. It has been Europe's strength that prevented this. Much remains to be done, but we should avoid the counsel of despair.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
America's Weakness, Europe's Strength
The 'new' national security strategy is the admission of defeat from a declining country
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:37 AM
America's NatSec strategy is an expression of weakness, borne out in its record, 0 from 3, of trying to force a pro-Russian surrender on Ukraine. It has been Europe's strength that prevented this. Much remains to be done, but we should avoid the counsel of despair.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
Reform isn't a party. It's a business that was set up to spread the lies & propaganda of Fagash & co. See also UKIP and Brexit. He's their leader and the reason they exist.
The pressure keeps mounting on Farage.
At what point does he become a liability to his party?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
At what point does he become a liability to his party?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage urged to ‘come clean’ over alleged election spending breaches in Clacton
Reform campaign accused by ex-councillor of falsely reporting expenses during Farage’s run to become MP last year
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Reform isn't a party. It's a business that was set up to spread the lies & propaganda of Fagash & co. See also UKIP and Brexit. He's their leader and the reason they exist.
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
The Trump Doctrine: Petulant Isolationism - my latest at Conflict & Democracy htsf.substack.com/p/the-trump-...
The Trump Doctrine: Petulant Isolationism
The US National Security Strategy is Trump's contribution to global chaos. Europe must unite or die...
htsf.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The Trump Doctrine: Petulant Isolationism - my latest at Conflict & Democracy htsf.substack.com/p/the-trump-...
My essay on things found in second hand books: you can now read a little bit online before you have to login/subscribe...but it's a lovely magazine and perfect to curl up with on a winter's evening:
Sarah Lonsdale | The Secret Life of Second-hand Books | Slightly Foxed share.google/Rohh31Etvvux...
Sarah Lonsdale | The Secret Life of Second-hand Books | Slightly Foxed share.google/Rohh31Etvvux...
December 5, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My essay on things found in second hand books: you can now read a little bit online before you have to login/subscribe...but it's a lovely magazine and perfect to curl up with on a winter's evening:
Sarah Lonsdale | The Secret Life of Second-hand Books | Slightly Foxed share.google/Rohh31Etvvux...
Sarah Lonsdale | The Secret Life of Second-hand Books | Slightly Foxed share.google/Rohh31Etvvux...
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
Iran’s record drought and cheap fuel have sparked an #airpollution crisis – but the real causes run much deeper
By @sanammahoozi.bsky.social et al
@theconversation.com
theconversation.com/irans-record...
By @sanammahoozi.bsky.social et al
@theconversation.com
theconversation.com/irans-record...
Iran’s record drought and cheap fuel have sparked an air pollution crisis – but the real causes run much deeper
Schools are closing and hospitals are admitting patients suffering from lung diseases as Tehran and other Iranian cities face a severe air pollution crisis.
theconversation.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Iran’s record drought and cheap fuel have sparked an #airpollution crisis – but the real causes run much deeper
By @sanammahoozi.bsky.social et al
@theconversation.com
theconversation.com/irans-record...
By @sanammahoozi.bsky.social et al
@theconversation.com
theconversation.com/irans-record...
Sky doing some amazing chromatic leaps, even as the colour seeps from the wintry land
December 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Sky doing some amazing chromatic leaps, even as the colour seeps from the wintry land
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
Starmer needs to find the courage to follow his arguments about the failures and costs of Brexit to their logical conclusion. His recent foreign policy speech fell short by continuing to gloss over hard truths, and pretend Britain can keep muddling through.
December 5, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Starmer needs to find the courage to follow his arguments about the failures and costs of Brexit to their logical conclusion. His recent foreign policy speech fell short by continuing to gloss over hard truths, and pretend Britain can keep muddling through.
Reposted by Doc Sarah Lonsdale
I can't get enough of this STUNNING image of spider silk (by Martin J. Ramirez, winner of the Royal Society Photography prize)
December 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
I can't get enough of this STUNNING image of spider silk (by Martin J. Ramirez, winner of the Royal Society Photography prize)
It may have been a freezing night under the bright full moon, but at Westwell Vineyard we had a ball. Thank you to everyone who braved the frost to hear about the inspirational women in Wildly Different. Particularly of Evelyn Cheesman who grew up in Westwell and whose love of nature was born here.
December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM
It may have been a freezing night under the bright full moon, but at Westwell Vineyard we had a ball. Thank you to everyone who braved the frost to hear about the inspirational women in Wildly Different. Particularly of Evelyn Cheesman who grew up in Westwell and whose love of nature was born here.