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Sarah Stein Lubrano

@sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social

680 followers 66 following 110 posts

Writer and broadcaster. Thinking at the intersection of critical theory and cognitive science. Book coming out May 2025. she/her

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Aug 7

So so so pleased that my piece on social atrophy is out in the Open Society Foundation’s The Ideas Letter.

I explore ideas in the last book but take them further. I bring in a bit more Marx, and think about how alienation and neuroplasticity are related.

www.theideasletter.org/essay/the-pe...

The Perils of Social Atrophy - The Ideas Letter

Societal disconnection is often framed as a “loneliness epidemic,” but the crisis runs much deeper: It’s not just that we feel alone, but also that prolonged isolation is rewiring our…

www.theideasletter.org

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David Mair @davidmair4.bsky.social · 6d

@sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social gave a great talk on her book "Don't Talk about Politics" today in the Commission.

Among many striking lines "Conversations don't change minds, relationships do".

Some important consequences for #scipol

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · 7d

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hob...

How 'Hobbit Camps' Rebirthed Italian Fascism

From 1977, crowds of militant youth gathered to discuss Tolkien and totalitarianism.

www.atlasobscura.com

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Max Haiven @maxhaiven.bsky.social · 22d

Join @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social and me in Brussels in November for a workshop on the deplorable state of things and what can be done

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · 23d

Last event on this book in London, at least for a while. I’d love to see people there!

howtoacademy.com/events/dont-...

25th September | Don’t Talk About Politics – How to Change 21st Century Minds

Democracy is dying because we are clinging to a dangerous myth: talking about politics can change people's minds. It doesn't. Political psychologist Sarah Stein Lubrano joins Tim Finch with the answer...

howtoacademy.com

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Hagen Blix @hagenblix.bsky.social · Sep 6

Readings I've found useful for thinking about this recently:
@sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social's Don't Talk About Politics & Malcolm Harris' What's Left

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Aug 28

I’m doing a big online talk aimed at suburban women against Trump (but which is available to anyone I believe :-))

go.redwine.blue/0904tt-ssl

Join & learn how to have effective conversations that change minds--w/o talking politics. Sign up!

Want to understand how to influence and persuade people when it comes to politics? Join us to learn how to break through polarization, build trust, and turn everyday conversations into meaningful cha...

go.redwine.blue

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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · Aug 27

Great piece which I think should be read alongside James Kanagasooriam's piece on agency.

Both come at things from a very different perspective, but reach similar conclusions.

Alienation and a lack of agency are damaging the body politic.

But also changing the way people are wired.

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Hagen Blix @hagenblix.bsky.social · Aug 22

I've been really enjoying @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social's argument against the whole concept of the "marketplace of ideas" in here 'Don't Talk About Politics' btw, would recommend!

Sarah Stein Lubrano

www.sarahsteinlubrano.com

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Aug 7

The Perils of Social Atrophy - The Ideas Letter

Societal disconnection is often framed as a “loneliness epidemic,” but the crisis runs much deeper: It’s not just that we feel alone, but also that prolonged isolation is rewiring our…

www.theideasletter.org

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Aug 7

Nice to be book of the day for @nextbigidea.bsky.social :) bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/p/debate-me-...

Debate Me, Bro. Actually, Don't—Here's A Better Way to Persuade

Arguments don’t change minds—lived experience does. Here's how to create the kind of change that actually sticks.

bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com

Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Aug 6

Much looking forward to this!

Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 29

Has anyone written well about democratic deliberation and introversion?

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Reed Galen @reedgalen.bsky.social · Jul 28

Check out Part 2 of my terrific conversation with @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social about her new book, Don't Talk About Politics! Watch, subscribe, buy Sarah's book!

youtu.be/QlYzoC3UR_4?...

Social Atrophy and the Fight to Reclaim Real Connection with Sarah Stein Lubrano, Part 2

YouTube video by The Home Front

youtu.be

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Collapse faster! @maketotalcollapse.bsky.social · Jul 20

This is damn smart actually.

Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 20

On the importance of the stickers (and graffiti) in your neighbourhood.

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 20

On the importance of the stickers (and graffiti) in your neighbourhood.

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 16

Happy to be featured in the Süddeutsche Zeitung today—and tickled by the paragraph where I immediately turn to late capitalism.

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Hagen Blix @hagenblix.bsky.social · Jul 14

I think this post from @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social does a pretty good job explaining why the production/commodification of a kind of individual (a)communality implies the production of a particular kind of madness

sarahsteinlubrano.substack.com/p/why-does-a...

Why Does AI Use Harm the Brain?

It makes us less thoughtful. And more delusional.

sarahsteinlubrano.substack.com

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รℓσαɳε ℓყรɓεƭɦ 🏳️‍🌈 @sloanelysbeth.bsky.social · Jul 14

i feel like this is how mainstream news and cultural affairs operates too.

btw im in the 20% that agreed with her other video. it didn't make me mad. i jus thought 'yeah... i am miserable.'.

Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 14

The 60-20-20 rule via @jamietahsin.bsky.social

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 14

The 60-20-20 rule via @jamietahsin.bsky.social

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David Mair @davidmair4.bsky.social · Jul 12

Great episode from @davidmcraney.bsky.social and @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social on motivated reasoning when we think and debate politics.

podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/y...

317 - Don't Talk About Politics - Sarah Stein Lubrano

Podcast Episode · You Are Not So Smart · 07/07/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

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Sarah Stein Lubrano @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social · Jul 14

This is all so nice to hear! Curious about what your reading group is :)

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Stephanie Cole @stephiec.bsky.social · Jul 13

A bit surprising about what works (deep canvasing) and what doesn’t for changing minds (not protests!). Some feels quite intuitive - doing things together, relationships matters, action and agency, social infrastructure. And great to have a name for disconnection we’ve seen - social atrophy.

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Stephanie Cole @stephiec.bsky.social · Jul 13

Thankfully just read the last sentences of @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social excellent Don’t Talk About Politics ready for my non-fiction book group gathering this evening. The book is so helpful for many parts of my life in general (particularly how I think about the world) and my work in particular.

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✨ A Goddess has NO KING ✨ @the-goddess-speaks.bsky.social · Jul 9

Sad? Mobilize!!

The science is in…activism and advocating for justice brings more meaning and happiness to our lives.

Let’s GO, joyful warriors! ✊🏼

(Good trouble lives on, July 17!!)

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