Researchers recently found that “reading for fun in the US has fallen by 40%,” which sucks. The study shows “a sustained, steady decline” over about twenty years, which I agree with the scientists is “deeply concerning.” If you’re a Lit Read more >
Today, the National Book Foundation announced the longlist for the 2025 National Book Award for Translated Literature. Then ten titles were selected from a pool of 139 books submitted for consideration by their publishers. This year’s judges for Translated Literature Read more >
Another day, another duel with AI slop. Unfortunately a recent deep fake has come in the guise of a friend. Last Friday, Powell’s Books of Portland, Oregon—one of the country’s best loved bookstores and the largest indie in the world—found Read more >
Today, the National Book Foundation announced the longlist for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Then ten titles were selected from a pool of 325 books submitted for consideration by their publishers. This year’s judges for Young Read more >
A new season has officially begun: there’s slightly more chill in the air, a bit more yellow in the trees overhead, and a lot more books pouring out every week. The dam has been released. The books we have been Read more >
Today, the British Academy announced the 2025 shortlist for the British Academy Book Prize, which awards £25,000 annually to a work of nonfiction, and seeks to recognize books “based on exceptional research and written for the general reader, that deepen Read more >
Fall is in the air, which means millions of American teenagers are sailing into English class. Stakes are high. Will the syllabus plant a life-long love of literature? Or simply send everyone running to ChatGPT? The season shift has me Read more >
The New York Times is reporting some new details about the settlement agreement between the AI company Anthropic and the authors whose work the company stole. The class action settlement, it was announced today, will award writers $1.5 billion, the Read more >
In at least decent media news, the children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel has been using her huge platform for good. Ms. Rachel—whose government name is Rachel Griffin Accurso—has worked in children’s education for years, getting her start as a teacher for Read more >
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my Read more >
We’ve a lot of little offerings today, happy-hunters. This week, we gave our ears to scathing gossips and baritone outlaws. Like Warren Zevon, we enjoyed every sandwich, snacking heartily from coast to coast. We applauded spectacles and big swings, and Read more >
The radical centrists at Third Way recently circulated this weird word policing memo that lists words and phrases they think Democrats should stop using. The objectionable verbiage is sorted into categories, with explanations and descriptions. For example, “Therapy-Speak” like “privilege” Read more >
Okay, so ostensibly the reason we’re all here is to talk about author James Patterson’s new initiative to help emerging authors finish their books with grants of $50,000 called “Go Finish Your Book!”, but I’d like to use this space Read more >
September is back to school season: a busy time of fresh starts, remembering how to work hard, trying to multitask, and generally getting the old chestnut back in action. In the world of publishing, this feeling is no different. September Read more >
Today, McGill University announced the shortlist for the 2025 Cundill History Prize, which honors history writing that “demonstrates excellence across the prize’s guiding criteria: craft, communication and consequence.” The winner will take home a prize of $75,000; two runners-up will Read more >
Happy Friday before the long weekend! Always a good feeling. It’s been another busy week, so catch up on some of the news, with a few fun little Venns. And happy early Labor Day! Here’s a reading list to check Read more >
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