Category: Books
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A Theology of Human Machines | Solving the ‘Modest Problem of Death’
A fascinating read in the latest New Republic, reviewing Irish writer Mark O’Connor’s new book, To Be A Machine – subtitled ‘Adventures among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers and Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death.’ Anna Wiener writes: O’Connell is less interested in evaluating technology than in the people who make it and its philosophical implications. As he…
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New Book
Delighted to announce that I’ve been awarded a grant from Arts Council England to work on my next book. Following a 20 page application about artistic quality, and with supporting letters from some senior (and lovely) people in publishing, the award feels like a massive endorsement of the work I’ve done so far. The money…
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The Only Way to Have a Free Press is to Pay For It
One of the things that’s been on my mind in the wake of recent political events is the vital importance to liberal democracy of a genuinely independent and critical free press. It strikes me that if we want a free press, we’re really do need to be willing to pay for it. In Raoul Martinez’s Creating…
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Next Up, Capitalism Is Killing Us
Lead stories on the radio this morning: How a third of fathers want a less stressful job so they can actually spend time with their kids. Eight people in the world have more wealth than the poorest 50% The UK’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence rejects a life-extending cancer drug for use on NHS because…
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A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters
Currently reading this by Booker winner Julian Barnes, a collection of disperate tales that opens with the myth of Noah retold by a woodworm. Yup 🙂 It’s profound, and funny, and if you need a read for Christmas I’d recommend it highly.
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Mutiny | Withdrawal of Labour in the Age of Zero Hours
I’m no firebrand when it comes to trades union activity (though I am a lead rep in the education union I am a part of) but when a Tory government starts rattling sabres and threatening even more draconian legislation to outlaw strikes, it has me worried. Last night I finally got round to watching The…