My summer research student, Abby Laform, has been researching cool socialist, communist, and revolutionary women and posting about them TikTok, trying to bring some of these life stories to a Zoomer audience. You can check it out here.
The Korean cover
Somehow I missed the launch of the Korean edition in July, but I found the cover for the Korean translation of Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence.
Celebrating with Jolly Vintners in New York City
One of my oldest friends from Bulgaria came to the US earlier this week to look for an American distributor for his wine. I spent a day at the trade fair chatting to Americans about Bulgaria’s long winemaking history. We also got a chance to celebrate the publication of my latest co-authored book.
Summer reading: 24/7 by Jonathan Crary
So many thoughts on this book…
“We are now in an era in which there is an overarching prohibition on wishes other than those linked to individual acquisition, accumulations, and power.” page 111
“Everyone, we are told–not just businesses and institutions–needs an ‘online presence,’ needs 24/7 exposure, to avoid social irrelevance or professional failure. But the promotion of these alleged benefits is a cover for conditions in which privacy is impossible, and in which one becomes a permanent site of data-harvesting and surveillance.” page 104
My writing retreat in Maine
Thanks so much to my dear old friends Page and Paul for lending me their cabin to put the finishing touches on Red Valkyries. I had my typewriter, my yoga mat, and no WiFi for nine glorious days in the woods.
And in Italian, too!
Cover mock ups for the next book
I love them all. Can my book have all three covers?
New podcast with George Miller of Le Monde Diplomatique English →
A nice review in the weirdest of places... →
I honestly have to admit that I never in my life thought anything I wrote (or even co-wrote) would receive a positive review in The American Conservative : Helen Andrews, “Making Sense Of Red Nostalgia” July 13, 2021
Andrews clearly understood the message the of the book and appreciated our critique of the Clinton policies of the 1990s. About the only point where I disagree with is her is her characterization that this is somehow my book. It was fully co-authored with my wonderful colleague at Penn, Mitchell A. Orenstein, with the invaluable help of our research assistant, Nicholas Emery, who is now a Ph.D. student in Political Science at UCLA.
And now in German, too...
Die roten Großmütter der Frauenbewegung, von Kristen R. Ghodsee
Pretty quote graphics attributed to me...
So these two lovely quote graphics in French and Portuguese were sent to me, but I’m not sure I ever said this. I agree with myself and it is the sort of thing I would say, but I actually can’t find the source of the quote in my book.
“in a polarized world, the persistent demonization of the past experience of state socialism functions as a political coup used to bury the dreams of those trying to imagine a post-capitalist future.”
Abuelas Rojas in Español! →
The great thing about Le Monde Diplomatique is that it appears in so many languages. Now, in addition to the French and English version of the article, there is a new Spanish version:
Las ‘abuelas rojas’ del movimiento internacional de las mujeres
Recommended summer reading from Libération.fr →
Egregious example of the pink tax
So I was on the Montblanc website this morning trying to buy refills for a ballpoint pen that was a gift, and I noticed that all of their refills costs $17 except for a “Ladies Edition” which costs $25. Curious, I decided to chat with a Montblanc “ambassador” (that is literally what they call their chat assistants), and I was told that the ink was more expensive because it was considered a “special edition.” When I asked how it was different, I was told that it was the same as all other Montblanc inks, except that it would be a pearlescent pink. So an extra $8 if you want to write in pink. All screen shots below.
A newsletter for the 4th of July
Independence Day
Today is the 4th of July and the skies around Philadelphia will light up with fireworks to celebrate what has largely become a midsummer holiday about barbeque and beer. Where I grew up in San Diego, I used to love to watch the pyrotechnics at Mission Bay or over the ocean on Pacific Beach. Now that I’m older I find myself less excited about the sometimes-overzealous displays of patriotism associated with this day, especially when the United States feels more like the Divided States of America.
The physical copies have arrived!
The actual copies of Taking Stock of Shock arrived in the mail yesterday. Writing is such a weird profession, because of all of the delayed gratification. You can go months or years without having a publication, and then they all start coming out at the same time.
And in English!
The English version of my article in Le Monde Diplomatique dropped today. I am so excited that the world is learning about these remarkable women.
On the front page!
The French version of my article is live and featured on the online front page of the July edition of Le Monde Diplomatique. It’s a DREAM come true! The direct link is here.
Proofs of my forthcoming article in Le Monde Diplomatique
These are the French proofs of my article forthcoming in the July edition of Le Monde Diplomatique in both French and English. I am so excited that it will be featured as the middle two-page spread in both editions.
NPR Throughline podcast - What is Capitalism? →
This debate which I did little while ago dropped today on the NPR website. For the record, the conversation that Vivek, Bryan, and I had was about an hour and forty-five minutes, which was then edited down to about 45 minutes. I did have more to say about the role of neoliberal economics in Eastern Europe, but it got cut.
