Scenes from my May 24th book event with Joan Wallach Scott at the Institute for Advanced Study

Thanks very much to Andrea Kane for her lovely photographs!

The beautiful coast of Maine

Today was a beautiful day on the Maine coast and I was very sorry to be leaving the state.

It feels so weird to be back...

I’m on campus again and teaching in person without masks. Although I know that there are students still getting sick with the virus, it seems as if everyone has forgotten about the pandemic. My classes have started and I am now chair of my department, which comes with more responsibility than I counted on. But at least Philadelphia is really beautiful this time of the year.

Concrete and Steel Dreams in New Belgrade

New author photos by the amazing Elena Hmeleva

I did a photoshoot with the amazing Elena Hmeleva in Paris earlier this month because I needed some updated professional author photos, and these are some of the results. I was quite uncomfortable at first, but she was a pro and got me to relax and enjoy myself. I especially love how Elena managed to evoke the spirit of Paris in so many of the images.

Sunset in Belgrade

I was quite sad to leave Germany, but happy to be back in the Balkans.

Scenes from Bologna, Italy

Having lots of fun with my camera! Bologna is one of the most beautiful places on earth IMHO.

Scenes from Modena, Italy

In town for the 2021 Festival of Philosophy and enjoying the stunning beauty of Modena’s city center.

Penn does autumn

Mums and pumpkins on the Penn Commons.

Love

I was walking across campus today and somehow this sculpture just spoke to me. Spring is in full bloom in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly (and Sisterly) Love!

The Cherry Blossoms are coming

Walking to work this morning, I could feel the spring in the air. One thing about living in Maine for so long is that I had forgotten what spring felt like. In Maine, we had mud season, and not the vibrant burst of life you get in the mid Atlantic. Gorgeous!

Thanks to Alina Yakubova!

In general, I hate cameras and I always feel awkward when I have to do author’s photos. But after several tries, the brilliant and talented photographer, Alina Yakubova, managed to get me to relax enough for her to snap a few decent shots.

Summer into fall...

This is the perfect image to capture the early days of September when summer is still hanging on, but the world seems to be hankering for fall.