John Reed Spiers
@johnrspiers.bsky.social
Existential Philosophy & Literature (Jean Améry, Lev Shestov, Benjamin Fondane, Vladimir Jankélévitch, Rachel Bespaloff...) | University of Glasgow
Pinned
Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits
This book provides an in-depth analysis of the influences and impact of philosopher, writer and public intellectual, Jean Améry.
link.springer.com
My book Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits was published by Palgrave Macmillan last week. I bring Améry into dialogue with Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus, Nietzsche, Shestov and Fondane. There's also some Schopenhauer, Dostoevsky and Proust thrown into the mix: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
"Guardemos cuidado de no engendrar hacia Weil, en nuestra fascinación, el tipo de idolatría que ella denunciaba en todas sus formas."
Opinión | "Lo mejor que podríamos hacer es olvidar a Simone Weil, a la más popular, y pensar sus conceptos e infortunios: retirarnos de ella como abdica el Dios en el que creía mientras renegaba de las corrupciones de la Iglesia". Por Elizabeth Duval social.elpais.com/_crsw11
¿Por qué nos empeñamos en recordar a Simone Weil justo ahora? | Opinión
Conviene preguntarse dónde y para quién exactamente Simone Weil alcanza en nuestro tiempo un gran grado de popularidad
social.elpais.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:23 AM
"Guardemos cuidado de no engendrar hacia Weil, en nuestra fascinación, el tipo de idolatría que ella denunciaba en todas sus formas."
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
RIP D'Angelo, the greatest singer since Marvin departed. Who took the grit & attitude of hip-hop & alchemized it into angelic voodoo. He condensed the human condition - sex, suffering, addiction, love, oppression - into pure transcendence. A comet emitting blinding light & soul.
October 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
RIP D'Angelo, the greatest singer since Marvin departed. Who took the grit & attitude of hip-hop & alchemized it into angelic voodoo. He condensed the human condition - sex, suffering, addiction, love, oppression - into pure transcendence. A comet emitting blinding light & soul.
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
I know there's a million worthy causes to fund but may I suggest this teacher in Maryland who wants to buy two Albert Camus novels for his AP students? Please and thank you?
www.donorschoose.org/project/2-no...
www.donorschoose.org/project/2-no...
2 Novels From Albert Camus, a project from Dr. Michael Buso
Help me give my students a physical copy of a book we will read in our AP Literature classroom. This will allow each student to read the novels of Albert Camus in printed form. Since his novels are...
www.donorschoose.org
October 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I know there's a million worthy causes to fund but may I suggest this teacher in Maryland who wants to buy two Albert Camus novels for his AP students? Please and thank you?
www.donorschoose.org/project/2-no...
www.donorschoose.org/project/2-no...
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Next weekend I’m running my first ever half-marathon (gulp!) and would love your support. I’m raising funds for Cancer Research UK, a cause that means a lot to me. If you can spare a few pennies to sponsor me, I’d be so grateful. 💛 fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/rias-ru...
Ria's running 21KM!
In Danny the Champion of the World, Roald Dahl wrote that “everyone deserves a dad who’s sparky.” I’ve been lucky enough to have exactly that!
Over the past few years, my wonderful dad has faced the ...
fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
October 6, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Next weekend I’m running my first ever half-marathon (gulp!) and would love your support. I’m raising funds for Cancer Research UK, a cause that means a lot to me. If you can spare a few pennies to sponsor me, I’d be so grateful. 💛 fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/rias-ru...
Benjamin Fondane (1898-1944) was murdered in Auschwitz on this day. Rachel Bespaloff in correspondence with Boris de Schloezer upon hearing the news:
“Mais je vous parle de tout sauf cette terrible fin de Fondane pour laquelle je ne trouve pas de paroles.
[1/4]
“Mais je vous parle de tout sauf cette terrible fin de Fondane pour laquelle je ne trouve pas de paroles.
[1/4]
October 2, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Benjamin Fondane (1898-1944) was murdered in Auschwitz on this day. Rachel Bespaloff in correspondence with Boris de Schloezer upon hearing the news:
“Mais je vous parle de tout sauf cette terrible fin de Fondane pour laquelle je ne trouve pas de paroles.
[1/4]
“Mais je vous parle de tout sauf cette terrible fin de Fondane pour laquelle je ne trouve pas de paroles.
[1/4]
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Interested in feminist approaches to age and mental health?
Join our new reading group starting October 28th where we will be discussing part 2 of Simone de Beauvoir's "Old Age".
Sign up and and see the schedule here: birminghamphenomenalnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/09/laun...
Join our new reading group starting October 28th where we will be discussing part 2 of Simone de Beauvoir's "Old Age".
Sign up and and see the schedule here: birminghamphenomenalnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/09/laun...
Launching: de Beauvoir Reading Group on "Old Age"
Network members Valeria Motta, Andrew Maile and Jodie Russell are excited to announce that start of a new reading group starting October 28t...
birminghamphenomenalnetwork.blogspot.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Interested in feminist approaches to age and mental health?
Join our new reading group starting October 28th where we will be discussing part 2 of Simone de Beauvoir's "Old Age".
Sign up and and see the schedule here: birminghamphenomenalnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/09/laun...
Join our new reading group starting October 28th where we will be discussing part 2 of Simone de Beauvoir's "Old Age".
Sign up and and see the schedule here: birminghamphenomenalnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/09/laun...
A really good podcast episode for all the Bonhoeffer heads out there.
Bonhoeffer found the soul of antifascism in a Black church in Harlem in 1930. He arrived loyal to the white Jesus of European empire, but left loving the Black Jesus of the oppressed. Then he joined a plot to kill Hitler.
www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-antifascist-christianity-bonhoeffer
www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-antifascist-christianity-bonhoeffer
Brief: Antifascist Christianity: Bonhoeffer (Pt 1) — Conspirituality
Matthew recounts the story of a young, hoity-toity soft-nationalist German theologian named Dietrich Bonhoeffer who discovered the radical soul of antifascism by hanging out in a Black Baptist church ...
www.conspirituality.net
September 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A really good podcast episode for all the Bonhoeffer heads out there.
The Riviera Hotel in Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth. Art déco built in 1937. No longer accepting bookings.
July 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The Riviera Hotel in Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth. Art déco built in 1937. No longer accepting bookings.
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
📣Calling all UK-based researchers, archivists, curators, librarians!📣The new @ehri-uk.bsky.social National Fellowship programme is now live! Deadline to apply: 23 July @wienerlibrary.bsky.social @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy @holocaustnorth.bsky.social www.ehri-uk.org/ehri-uk-fell...
EHRI-UK Fellowships | EHRI-UK
www.ehri-uk.org
July 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
📣Calling all UK-based researchers, archivists, curators, librarians!📣The new @ehri-uk.bsky.social National Fellowship programme is now live! Deadline to apply: 23 July @wienerlibrary.bsky.social @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy @holocaustnorth.bsky.social www.ehri-uk.org/ehri-uk-fell...
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
HEY PHILOSOPHERS INTERESTED IN DEATH AND DYING: The International Association for the Philosophy of Death and Dying is now on Bluesky! Follow us at @philosophyofdeath.bsky.social
June 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
HEY PHILOSOPHERS INTERESTED IN DEATH AND DYING: The International Association for the Philosophy of Death and Dying is now on Bluesky! Follow us at @philosophyofdeath.bsky.social
My book Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits was published by Palgrave Macmillan last week. I bring Améry into dialogue with Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus, Nietzsche, Shestov and Fondane. There's also some Schopenhauer, Dostoevsky and Proust thrown into the mix: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits
This book provides an in-depth analysis of the influences and impact of philosopher, writer and public intellectual, Jean Améry.
link.springer.com
June 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
My book Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits was published by Palgrave Macmillan last week. I bring Améry into dialogue with Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus, Nietzsche, Shestov and Fondane. There's also some Schopenhauer, Dostoevsky and Proust thrown into the mix: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
I wrote a book.
Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits by Dr John Reed Spiers has recently been published by Palgrave Macmillan: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Jean Améry and Existentialism’s Limits
This book provides an in-depth analysis of the influences and impact of philosopher, writer and public intellectual, Jean Améry.
link.springer.com
May 28, 2025 at 11:31 AM
I wrote a book.
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Sonia Sanchez. and then silence.
May 27, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Sonia Sanchez. and then silence.
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
My colleague @mgerver.bsky.social has created this open letter to Keir Starmer opposing the measures announced in last week's Immigration White Paper, on economic, political and moral grounds.
Open to all academics/researchers to sign.
molliegerver.weebly.com/petition.html
Open to all academics/researchers to sign.
molliegerver.weebly.com/petition.html
Petition
An Open Letter to Keir Starmer We, the undersigned, strongly advise against the proposed changes to the UK immigration system of May 12, 2025, and your associated rhetoric. We are UK-based academics.....
molliegerver.weebly.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
My colleague @mgerver.bsky.social has created this open letter to Keir Starmer opposing the measures announced in last week's Immigration White Paper, on economic, political and moral grounds.
Open to all academics/researchers to sign.
molliegerver.weebly.com/petition.html
Open to all academics/researchers to sign.
molliegerver.weebly.com/petition.html
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
This essay was especially important to me--an act of communing with two searing writers across time and space, death and generations. With special gratitude to @stanislavaseyev.bsky.social for being my--and Lev Shestov's--interlocutor even, and literally, from the trenches.
Some wisdom and history here from @marcishore.bsky.social and Kyiv.
libertiesjournal.com/articles/wit...
libertiesjournal.com/articles/wit...
With Shestov in Ukraine - Liberties
Dawn in Podil. The Jewish quarter of Kyiv from times past. March 21, 2024, sunrise and missiles over the Dnipro river — although it was impossible to see the sunrise from inside the bomb shelter. In a...
libertiesjournal.com
April 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
This essay was especially important to me--an act of communing with two searing writers across time and space, death and generations. With special gratitude to @stanislavaseyev.bsky.social for being my--and Lev Shestov's--interlocutor even, and literally, from the trenches.
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Just thinking aloud about good ole boys, elitism, and the usual American fascism. As usual. 😔
www.alinastefanescuwriter.com/blog/2025/4/19/the-relationality-of-american-fascism
www.alinastefanescuwriter.com/blog/2025/4/19/the-relationality-of-american-fascism
The relationality of American fascism. — alina Ştefănescu
Contempt. Contempt is the primary affect expressed by JD Vance. You can watch it crawl across his face during speeches and recent political profiles. Of all the peacocks in the MAGA pageant, he is th...
www.alinastefanescuwriter.com
April 19, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Just thinking aloud about good ole boys, elitism, and the usual American fascism. As usual. 😔
www.alinastefanescuwriter.com/blog/2025/4/19/the-relationality-of-american-fascism
www.alinastefanescuwriter.com/blog/2025/4/19/the-relationality-of-american-fascism
The Centre for Comparative Literature and Translation at UofG will feature Jennifer Croft and Antonia Lloyd-Jones, translators of Olga Tokarczuk's work, as part of their Writers and Their Translators series. It's also online and I can share info if you DM me.
events.bookitbee.com/school-of-mo...
events.bookitbee.com/school-of-mo...
Writer and Their Translators
Event showcasing two distinguished English translators
events.bookitbee.com
April 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The Centre for Comparative Literature and Translation at UofG will feature Jennifer Croft and Antonia Lloyd-Jones, translators of Olga Tokarczuk's work, as part of their Writers and Their Translators series. It's also online and I can share info if you DM me.
events.bookitbee.com/school-of-mo...
events.bookitbee.com/school-of-mo...
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Writers: repost a random piece you’re proud of.
Since I’ve got Marcus Aurelius on the brain: aeon.co/ideas/marcus...
Since I’ve got Marcus Aurelius on the brain: aeon.co/ideas/marcus...
April 10, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Writers: repost a random piece you’re proud of.
Since I’ve got Marcus Aurelius on the brain: aeon.co/ideas/marcus...
Since I’ve got Marcus Aurelius on the brain: aeon.co/ideas/marcus...
Rachel Bespaloff committed suicide on this day. Isabel Jacobs on Bespaloff for Aeon: aeon.co/essays/for-r...
For Rachel Bespaloff, philosophy was a sensual activity | Aeon Essays
For Rachel Bespaloff, philosophy was a sensual activity shaped by the rhythm of history, embodied in an instant of freedom
aeon.co
April 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Rachel Bespaloff committed suicide on this day. Isabel Jacobs on Bespaloff for Aeon: aeon.co/essays/for-r...
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Our latest update to @liznangel3.bsky.social's appeal for us, two years to the day since we moved aboard Wrack:
"It’s becoming clear that my wife now needs more consistent, better health care than our necessarily nomadic life can provide."
www.gofundme.com/f/a-voyage-i...
"It’s becoming clear that my wife now needs more consistent, better health care than our necessarily nomadic life can provide."
www.gofundme.com/f/a-voyage-i...
Donate to Support a Voyage to Find Home, organized by Liz Cullinane
Hello, my name is Liz Cullinane and for the past four years, I have been inspired to raise… Liz Cullinane needs your support for Support a Voyage to Find Home
www.gofundme.com
March 16, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Our latest update to @liznangel3.bsky.social's appeal for us, two years to the day since we moved aboard Wrack:
"It’s becoming clear that my wife now needs more consistent, better health care than our necessarily nomadic life can provide."
www.gofundme.com/f/a-voyage-i...
"It’s becoming clear that my wife now needs more consistent, better health care than our necessarily nomadic life can provide."
www.gofundme.com/f/a-voyage-i...
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
Deep discount available on my book on Hegel’s aesthetics and the birth of Hip Hop culture in the Bronx.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Hip Hop, Hegel, and the Art of Emancipation
This book argues that Hip Hop’s early history in the South Bronx charts a course remarkably similar to the conceptual history of artistic creation presented in Hegel’s Lectures on Aesthetics. It cont...
link.springer.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Deep discount available on my book on Hegel’s aesthetics and the birth of Hip Hop culture in the Bronx.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
History says we forgave the executioner.
February 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
History says we forgave the executioner.
Reposted by John Reed Spiers
I did a tribute
Terror Danjah was the gregarious heart of the grime scene – and its greatest producer | Joe Muggs
The producer, who has died following a period of ill health, made thrillingly imaginative beats, but just as impressive was his ability to draw together the British bass scene
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:39 AM
I did a tribute
I have a stack of Radical Philosophy issues for anyone who wants them and can pick up in Glasgow. Specifically, issues 69, 129, 138, 162, 169, 174, 175, 179, 180, and 184-200. Let me know.
February 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I have a stack of Radical Philosophy issues for anyone who wants them and can pick up in Glasgow. Specifically, issues 69, 129, 138, 162, 169, 174, 175, 179, 180, and 184-200. Let me know.