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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

@zibaldoni.bsky.social

2.3K followers 2.6K following 880 posts

山人. 'The Notebook: a History of Thinking on Paper' is available everywhere. 'Book of the Year' pick by Waterstones, New Yorker, New Statesman, Spectator, Toronto Globe, Engelsberg Ideas, Lit Hub, Austin Kleon, Ryan Holiday, Stephen L. Carter...

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · Feb 19

I’d not be doing social media at all if it wasn’t part of the ‘being a conscientious author’ job description. By which I mean, an author who wants to help their publisher get their book read by as many people as possible. But what’s my book about, and where did it come from?

THE NOTEBOOK: A HISTORY OF THINKING ON PAPER, by Roland Allen, on a green background

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Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 1d

This important report reveals that increased AI use in schools:

-causes teachers and students to have more concern about AI

-makes students feel less connected to teachers

and that 71% of teachers worry AI weakens critical thinking & research skills.

Hand in Hand: Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risks to Students

Artificial intelligence (AI) has continued to alter the educational experiences of teachers, students, and parents during the 2024-25 school year. The frequency and variety of AI uses continues to gro...

cdt.org

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Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 4h

God keep me from ever completing anything.

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Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

👻madeline boOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 3h

the usa said "let's roll shit back to the feudal era" and the vatican said "alright bitch"

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 2h

Naming and shaming the publishers: Ebury Press of PRH.

Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Lux Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 17h

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 5h

A moment of joy in a grim world

Hester L-J @starcrossed2018.bsky.social · 5h

Osric, BAFFLED, but still hasn't delivered his message
www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/slo...
Please enjoy Osric in glorious technicolour (Peter Cushing in Olivier's 1948 film). (I sometimes have to remind myself that King Lear's Oswald is very much not Osric 2.0, but a properly nasty piece of work.)

A colour still of a character in a film. Three-quarter length, a young man with neat dark hair and a tiny moustache and beard; he has a supercilious expression on his face. Standing against a patterned tapestry, mostly blue and gold, he is wearing white tights and a very short tunic, white satin with a pattern of blue dots, big sleeves with yellow lining, and a yellow scarf draped around his chest. He has a hat with a big blue feather under his right arm, gloves in his right hand, a lace handkerchief in his left hand, and lots of rings.

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 5h

Kemi made me do it.

Version of the Simpsons 'bus driver taps the sign' meme in which the tapped text reads 'Your reminder that the UK book industry is worth over £7bn, more than four times the steel industry (1.7bn) and six times the fishing industry (£1.1bn) so maybe English degrees do have a point after all.'

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 6h

*attract

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 6h

This is the sort of shit that people come up with before settling down to a long evening in front of Netflix or Apple TV, watching shows made in the UK by humanities graduates, that attracting inward investment, then generate massive export revenues.

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Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Marc Morris @marcmorris.bsky.social · 1d

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Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 1d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 1d

When the London Review of Books synopsize your book in their '15 minute read for time-pressed executives' model of not-reviewing...

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 1d

Just finished this from @praddenkeefe.bsky.social and humbly propose that, despite dealing with events in US in the ’80s and ’90s, it gives great insight into what's happening today in the UK. Plus, just a terrific read in its own right.

PB edition of Patrick Radden Keefe's THE SNAKEHEAD: AN EPIC TALE OF THE CHINATOWN UNDERWORLD AND THE AMERICAN DREAM

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 1d

For me, the bicycle has always represented freedom...

Steve Marmel @marmel.bsky.social · 10d

ICE attempted
and failed to disappear a food delivery guy.
It needed to be scored.

Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Barry Lyga @barrylyga.com · 2d

Prime Day what? Bookshop.org is offering FREE SHIPPING for October 7-8! Buy books, get free shipping, support local bookstores! Easy!

#primeday #antiprime #freeshipping #supportlocal #supportindie

Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.

Bookshop.org

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 1d

I can't think of another book with a carved title (this means little, my knowledge is limited)

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 1d

Is the KochbuchVon a woodcut?

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 1d

That's one of the most fantastic title pages I've ever seen!

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Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Esther Schindler @estherschindler.bsky.social · 2d

I just saw someone use the abbreviation “AI;DR” and I’ll be laughing for a while.

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 2d

I can get behind this.

Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History @bcricciinstitute.bsky.social · 2d

Today we celebrate the birthday of our namesake, Fr. Matteo Ricci 利瑪竇, S.J. (Oct. 6, 1552-May 11, 1610). Happy Birthday, Fr. Ricci!

Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 3d

Dear Gods of all that is stupid...

IT'S REAL.

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 3d

Ooooh, surprise in the post, Korean editions of the book!

The Korean edition of Roland Allen, THE NOTEBOOK: A HISTORY OF THINKING ON PAPER

Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 4d

Like… it's kind of right there, no?

"AI" generated image of woman with dark hair sitting in a chair in front of posters with random shapes and symbols meant to look like images and text on movie posters, all superimposed with a post from k.w.bogen reading
"AI actresses can't negotiate. They can't say they'd prefer their bodies not be shown certgain ways. They can't refuse degrading scenes. They can't express distress about disturbing content. They can't ask the creators :why would you do that to me? Why put any woman through watching that? If AI film winds up being the path, we're about to see an entirely new generation (and more brutal depiction) of media misogyny."

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Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 4d

Nice composite illo by Matthew Hancock also.

Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History' @zibaldoni.bsky.social · 4d

Lovely piece in today's Observer (no paywall) about @lettersofnote.com's latest, DIARIES OF NOTE, which looks like it'll be as fascinating and well-made as the other books in the series. By Anthony Quinn.
observer.co.uk/style/featur...

The pages of our lives | The Observer

Diaries can be the most revealing records of who we are. One compulsive diarist introduces the intimate reflections of Audre Lorde, Salvador Dalí, Elton ...

observer.co.uk

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