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 >
This week, Lit Hubbers are reporting from all over the country. Bracing for the acknowledged end of summer this weekend, we’re resting hard, chasing best selves, and getting the last laugh. James Folta’s nice thing of the week involves a Read more >
Fall is here, a season with a name rather suggestive in the unsettling times we find ourselves in—but art can always help us navigate the strangedark. To that end, I come bearing new books to consider as September rolls around. Read more >
Naoise Dolan, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed young novelists, has announced that she will be boarding the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the siege on Gaza. Dublin writer and activist Dolan—the author of Exciting Times (2020) and The Happy Couple (2023)—has been Read more >
Every year since his inauguration, President Obama has released a reading list spotlighting his favorite books. Like a fireside chat with FDR, this tradition familiarized the man. We got a sense of his taste, his style. And such a high-profile Read more >
Today, Kirkus Reviews announced the 18 finalists for the 2025 Kirkus Prize, in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Young Readers’ Literature. Finalists are chosen from the pool of writers whose work has been awarded a coveted Kirkus star in Read more >
Here’s my best impression of a late night ad for a law firm: Do you think your book may have been stolen by an AI company? Then you might be entitled to be part of a class action lawsuit! The Read more >
The end of the summer is almost here, and it feels difficult to believe that fall is approaching; 2025 remains a year in which time has consistently seemed too fast and too slow all at once. Still, one thing remains Read more >
In this surging sea of celebrity book clubs, it’s nice to hear of an established brand wading into public letters. Shakes things up, anyway. Today, that brand is C-SPAN, the cable non-profit best known for bringing daytime television viewers straight Read more >
We’ve been gushing about Zach Cregger’s new horror flick Weapons in the Lit Hub Slack (“Lit-lack”? “Lhlack”? “Slub”?) The movie, from a sketch comedian turned horror filmmaker, is scary and funny with just enough formal creativity and snappy writing to Read more >
Another busy week winds down. I spent most of it thinking about bugs, but there was a lot going on outside of my little insect zone. Things feel very dour, to put it very mildly, so I tried to surface Read more >
This week, we’re calling all flâneurs. We’re striding—sometimes jumping—into new worlds, or finding fresh gold in the familiar. We’re probing pole ends of the AM dial, and trawling the archive. It’s an August for discovery. Last week, Calvin Kasulke got Read more >
