banner
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books
@publicbooks.bsky.social
3.3K followers 150 following 970 posts
Public Books is an online magazine of ideas, arts, and scholarship. www.publicbooks.org
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 11m
New at PB: Christian Collins of @clasp.org argues that what’s missing from conversations about the “enrollment cliff” is a desire to turn it into an “enrollment shift.”
To Save Higher Ed, Seek Our Black and Hispanic Men - Public Books
Policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to preserve higher education’s functionality should consider the enrollment and completion rates of Black and Hispanic men.
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1h
In 2016, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that graduate student workers at private universities are employees, and, therefore, eligible to be represented by unions.

In Trump’s second term, that decision is under threat. What paths forward are there?
Our Right to Our Union: Graduate Student Workers Under Threat - Public Books
University leaders may make a show of opposing Trump when funding is under threat, but they will happily align themselves with him in confronting graduate student workers.
www.publicbooks.org
1 1
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 2h
“Limited victories within the liberal constitutional framework might lull the center and the Left into trying to wait Trump out. This strategy will fail.”

Christopher Newfield explains why the courts won’t save us from Trump’s destruction of the university.
Academics Must Seize the Means of Knowledge Production - Public Books
Trumpism has canceled the knowledge society.
www.publicbooks.org
1 2
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 20h
Policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to preserve higher education’s functionality should consider the enrollment and completion rates of Black and Hispanic men.”
To Save Higher Ed, Seek Our Black and Hispanic Men - Public Books
Policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to preserve higher education’s functionality should consider the enrollment and completion rates of Black and Hispanic men.
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 23h
New at PB: As part of a series exploring higher ed under Trump, curated by @dennismhogan, @ccollins330.bsky.social argues that institutions should lead and organize dialogue about how to support the enrollment and success of Black and Hispanic men.
To Save Higher Ed, Seek Our Black and Hispanic Men - Public Books
Policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to preserve higher education’s functionality should consider the enrollment and completion rates of Black and Hispanic men.
www.publicbooks.org
1 3
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
“Many graduate student workers are concerned that university administrators will respond to the attacks on higher education by passing the hardship on to their workers.”
Our Right to Our Union: Graduate Student Workers Under Threat - Public Books
University leaders may make a show of opposing Trump when funding is under threat, but they will happily align themselves with him in confronting graduate student workers.
www.publicbooks.org
1
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
“Trump’s movement seeks the final subjugation of the knowledge institutions—the nation’s colleges and universities—and the knowledge classes. It is waging war on knowledge itself."
Academics Must Seize the Means of Knowledge Production - Public Books
Trumpism has canceled the knowledge society.
www.publicbooks.org
3
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
“It bears saying, also, that the relationship dynamic between trans and cis women is one that I have very specific hang-ups about that certainly filter my work.”
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
New at PB: As part of a series exploring higher ed under Trump, curated by Dennis M. Hogan (@dennismhogan.bsky.social), Jasper Cattell explores a path forward for labor unions across the country: union collaboration and change in state law.
Our Right to Our Union: Graduate Student Workers Under Threat - Public Books
University leaders may make a show of opposing Trump when funding is under threat, but they will happily align themselves with him in confronting graduate student workers.
www.publicbooks.org
3 7
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
New at PB: As part of a series exploring higher ed under Trump, curated by Dennis M. Hogan (@dennismhogan.bsky.social), Christopher Newfield tells us how waiting out Trump will inevitably fail. Instead, we must build a new cultural order.
Academics Must Seize the Means of Knowledge Production - Public Books
Trumpism has canceled the knowledge society.
www.publicbooks.org
3 8
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
“Even if what people do is inexcusable, there is some kind of power that comes from understanding how they unfold, what deep rivers the choices they make float up from.”

New at PB: Jeanne Thornton on humanity on the page.
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 2d
New at PB: Higher Ed section editor @dennismhogan.bsky.social introduces a series on the challenges faced in higher ed under Trump 2.0—and concrete, achievable, and actionable ways to fix them.
Toward the Next American University: A Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Higher Ed - Public Books
The path higher education was on before Trump’s reelection was neither certain nor stable. There is not much to go back to now.
www.publicbooks.org
1 1 2
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 2d
“Everything in this town is a fucking metaphor,” complains Jon Hamm’s character in AppleTV+’s Your Friends & Neighbors. “Reminding viewers they’re consuming metaphors,” writes Michael Szalay, “rather than simply affluence, might elevate this vapid drama.”
Price-Tag TV and the Transformation of Television Prestige - Public Books
Apple’s “Price-Tag TV,” to propose a new entrant to the TV name game, is expensive programming about folks who like expensive things, made for viewers who either can’t see or don’t care about the…
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 2d
“Democracy was staggering, but it hadn’t actually cratered yet, had it? I never expected that part of the book to become relevant in quite that way again.”

In a new interview, Jeanne Thornton talks about writing her latest novel in Trump 1.0—and publishing it in Trump 2.0.
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 3d
“‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ surrounds Apple’s viewers with luxury goods too, so they can wear them lightly, confident the brands do not define them.”
Price-Tag TV and the Transformation of Television Prestige - Public Books
Apple’s “Price-Tag TV,” to propose a new entrant to the TV name game, is expensive programming about folks who like expensive things, made for viewers who either can’t see or don’t care about the…
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 3d
For the latest On Our Nightstands, Literature in Translation editor @becquer.bsky.social recommends All Things Are Too Small: Essays in Praise of Excess by Becca Rothfeld.
On Our Nightstands: September 2025 - Public Books
A behind-the-scenes look at what Public Books editors and staff have been reading this month.
www.publicbooks.org
2
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 3d
In a new interview with author @jeannethornton.bsky.social, @ryanspencerphoto.bsky.social asks: What is the difference when writing characters in fiction and characters in gaming? Where do they intersect and where are they divergent?
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
1 10
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 3d
New at PB: Michael Szalay reviews AppleTV+’s Your Friends & Neighbors. Hardly a critique of conspicuous consumption, the show’s fuzzy math (and thought) cast about to correctly price the lifestyle on display.
Price-Tag TV and the Transformation of Television Prestige - Public Books
Apple’s “Price-Tag TV,” to propose a new entrant to the TV name game, is expensive programming about folks who like expensive things, made for viewers who either can’t see or don’t care about the…
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 4d
For the latest On Our Nightstands, B-Sides series editor John Plotz recommends The Season: A Fan's Story by Helen Garner (@pantheonbooks.bsky.social).
On Our Nightstands: September 2025 - Public Books
A behind-the-scenes look at what Public Books editors and staff have been reading this month.
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 4d
“Professionalism is like major league masking. There is a time when being trans was inherently not professional, when being autistic was inherently not professional. On my worst days I can’t get outside of thinking things like this.”

New at PB: Jeanne Thornton on her novel A/S/L.
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
1
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 4d
“At its rotten core 'Your Friends & Neighbors' exemplifies Apple’s efforts not just to upsell its aspirational customers but subtly to change their sense of what good TV is and does.”
Price-Tag TV and the Transformation of Television Prestige - Public Books
Apple’s “Price-Tag TV,” to propose a new entrant to the TV name game, is expensive programming about folks who like expensive things, made for viewers who either can’t see or don’t care about the…
www.publicbooks.org
1
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 5d
For the latest On Our Nightstands, managing editor @megancummins.bsky.social recommends Buckeye by @patrickryannyc.bsky.social.
On Our Nightstands: September 2025 - Public Books
A behind-the-scenes look at what Public Books editors and staff have been reading this month.
www.publicbooks.org
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 5d
“Both you and the cis people had the same lessons that acting trans is not a thing good people do. There are lots of parallels to religious upbringing: Even when you reject it, it haunts you.”

New at PB: @jeannethornton.bsky.social on her new novel A/S/L.
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
5 24
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 5d
The bubble of prestige TV has burst. Netflix serves up good and bad shows, and its algorithm doesn’t editorialize. In recent years, AppleTV+ has emerged as “the new HBO.” But take a closer look, and you see it as a platform for advertising Apple products.
Price-Tag TV and the Transformation of Television Prestige - Public Books
Apple’s “Price-Tag TV,” to propose a new entrant to the TV name game, is expensive programming about folks who like expensive things, made for viewers who either can’t see or don’t care about the…
www.publicbooks.org
2 4
publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 6d
New at PB: @ryanspencerphoto.bsky.social interviews @jeannethornton.bsky.social about her new novel A/S/L (@sohopress.bsky.social), a book that reminds us: Forgetting isn’t freedom, forgiveness isn’t redemption, and in life there are no resets.
“Conjuring and Reality”: An Interview with Jeanne Thornton - Public Books
“Pronouncing a sentence about a person, wrapping them up in your narrative, can be a very gracious action, or a cruel one, or probably most often both.”
www.publicbooks.org
2 6