David Avrom Bell
@davidavrombell.bsky.social
Historian, writer, New Yorker
How to Celebrate the 250th?
Historians of the United States are in a bind.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
Perhaps the most damning words in this article are the claim that this is "a bitter conservative family fight" over the neo-Nazi, Nick Fuentes.
What does this say about the conservative family?
What does this say about the conservative family?
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Perhaps the most damning words in this article are the claim that this is "a bitter conservative family fight" over the neo-Nazi, Nick Fuentes.
What does this say about the conservative family?
What does this say about the conservative family?
My newest review, of Lynn Hunt's "The Revolutionary Self," in The Nation:
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Invention of the Modern Self
How did the idea of the individual come into being?
www.thenation.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
My newest review, of Lynn Hunt's "The Revolutionary Self," in The Nation:
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
Opinion | Resistance to Trump Isn’t Enough
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:06 AM
A new essay of mine on the situation in France: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
France has survived revolutions and wars: its crisis now is deep, but not terminal | David A Bell
From the raid on the Louvre to the spectacle of Sarkozy in jail, it is tempting to think France is on a downward spiral. But history tells the tale of its resilience, says historian David A Bell
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A new essay of mine on the situation in France: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
David A. Bell @davidavrombell.bsky.social on the Enlightenment and race
A Baleful Legacy | David A. Bell
Enlightenment writers who proposed ways of improving and even perfecting the human species laid the theoretical foundations of modern racism.
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
David A. Bell @davidavrombell.bsky.social on the Enlightenment and race
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
This is a welcome post about expertise, but even more so about the dangers of total suspicion and the nihilism it encourages. Thinking of societies fueled by total suspicion always gets me back to experiences in Russia recently, but also to close post-Soviet contacts. One story always returns 1/4
Do we need to "stop trusting the experts"?
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
Do We Need to "Stop Trusting the Experts"?
(As RFK, Jr. Urges)
davidabell.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This is a welcome post about expertise, but even more so about the dangers of total suspicion and the nihilism it encourages. Thinking of societies fueled by total suspicion always gets me back to experiences in Russia recently, but also to close post-Soviet contacts. One story always returns 1/4
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
“Expertise is… a process, driven by trial and error. ʼBelieving in the scienceʼ doesn’t mean taking what scientists say at any moment as holy writ—the scientists themselves don’t do this. It means believing in the process and accepting that what is seen as truth today may look like error tomorrow.”
Do we need to "stop trusting the experts"?
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
Do We Need to "Stop Trusting the Experts"?
(As RFK, Jr. Urges)
davidabell.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
“Expertise is… a process, driven by trial and error. ʼBelieving in the scienceʼ doesn’t mean taking what scientists say at any moment as holy writ—the scientists themselves don’t do this. It means believing in the process and accepting that what is seen as truth today may look like error tomorrow.”
Do we need to "stop trusting the experts"?
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
Do We Need to "Stop Trusting the Experts"?
(As RFK, Jr. Urges)
davidabell.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Do we need to "stop trusting the experts"?
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
davidabell.substack.com/p/do-we-need...
My newest piece for the NYRB, on William Max Nelson's excellent book on Enlightenment biopolitics:
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
A Baleful Legacy | David A. Bell
Enlightenment writers who proposed ways of improving and even perfecting the human species laid the theoretical foundations of modern racism.
www.nybooks.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:36 PM
My newest piece for the NYRB, on William Max Nelson's excellent book on Enlightenment biopolitics:
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
Why the idea of “vaccine choice” is based on a dangerous misconception of what parents can control (by my better half):
www.wsj.com/health/why-v...
www.wsj.com/health/why-v...
Essay | Why Vaccines Work Best When We’re Young
Parents concerned about vaccinating their babies deserve to know why doctors recommend it.
www.wsj.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Why the idea of “vaccine choice” is based on a dangerous misconception of what parents can control (by my better half):
www.wsj.com/health/why-v...
www.wsj.com/health/why-v...
A new piece of mine in the Chronicle. Yes, it's stating the obvious. Sadly, the obvious needs to be stated.
www.chronicle.com/article/the-... (also available on my Substack w/out paywall: davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...).
www.chronicle.com/article/the-... (also available on my Substack w/out paywall: davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...).
Opinion | The Myth of Faculty Indoctrination
Charlie Kirk’s killing has reignited a right-wing canard.
www.chronicle.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
A new piece of mine in the Chronicle. Yes, it's stating the obvious. Sadly, the obvious needs to be stated.
www.chronicle.com/article/the-... (also available on my Substack w/out paywall: davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...).
www.chronicle.com/article/the-... (also available on my Substack w/out paywall: davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...).
The Myth of Faculty "Indoctrination"
davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...
davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...
The Myth of Faculty "Indoctrination"
Of all the foolish things posted online by prominent people last week, perhaps the most foolish came from the veteran far-right journalist and agitator Dinesh D’Souza.
davidabell.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The Myth of Faculty "Indoctrination"
davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...
davidabell.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...
France will be in the headlines this week, with a no-confidence vote Monday and a national day of action (“Bloquons tout”) Wednesday. Here’s my take on why President Macron’s leadership led to this. And please consider subscribing to my free newsletter.
open.substack.com/pub/davidabe...
open.substack.com/pub/davidabe...
Macron's Fatal Misreading of History
Next Monday, the French government is almost certain to fall, pushing France into a renewed political crisis.
open.substack.com
September 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
France will be in the headlines this week, with a no-confidence vote Monday and a national day of action (“Bloquons tout”) Wednesday. Here’s my take on why President Macron’s leadership led to this. And please consider subscribing to my free newsletter.
open.substack.com/pub/davidabe...
open.substack.com/pub/davidabe...
How Macron has been undone by his own self-serving reading of French history:
davidabell.substack.com/p/macrons-fa...
davidabell.substack.com/p/macrons-fa...
Macron's Fatal Misreading of History
Next Monday, the French government is almost certain to fall, pushing France into a renewed political crisis.
davidabell.substack.com
September 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
How Macron has been undone by his own self-serving reading of French history:
davidabell.substack.com/p/macrons-fa...
davidabell.substack.com/p/macrons-fa...
“A profoundly unpopular government is at war with its own people. It is corrupt, immoral, and taking Israel to a place of extremes, where there is might at the expense of morals; messianism at the expense of humanity and hope.” Extraordinary piece by @jo-ann.bsky.social in @newrepublic.com.
August 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
“A profoundly unpopular government is at war with its own people. It is corrupt, immoral, and taking Israel to a place of extremes, where there is might at the expense of morals; messianism at the expense of humanity and hope.” Extraordinary piece by @jo-ann.bsky.social in @newrepublic.com.
Reposted by David Avrom Bell
thank u to @itihaasnaama.bsky.social for recommending my new book The Future That Was alongside these amazing authors @kalramnath.bsky.social @abalasub.bsky.social 🥰💕 youtube.com/shorts/S99MW...
ये किताबें पढ़कर इतिहास के सारे बवाल समझ आ जाएंगे| Book Recommendations
YouTube video by The Lallantop
youtube.com
August 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
thank u to @itihaasnaama.bsky.social for recommending my new book The Future That Was alongside these amazing authors @kalramnath.bsky.social @abalasub.bsky.social 🥰💕 youtube.com/shorts/S99MW...
We have another contender for Nuttiest Republican Office-Holder, and, folks, I think this one may be a winner.
x.com/shadowofezra...
x.com/shadowofezra...
x.com
August 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
We have another contender for Nuttiest Republican Office-Holder, and, folks, I think this one may be a winner.
x.com/shadowofezra...
x.com/shadowofezra...
A cover letter plus a research statement, a teaching statement, a diversity statement and a writing sample? Talk about overkill. I have run a lot of faculty searches and can say from experience that you don’t need all this.
Pomona College - Assistant Professor of History (Early Modern European History):
memorients.com/news/pomona-...
memorients.com/news/pomona-...
Pomona College - Assistant Professor of History (Early Modern European History) | MEMOs
Assistant Professor of History (Early Modern European History) - California, USA
memorients.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A cover letter plus a research statement, a teaching statement, a diversity statement and a writing sample? Talk about overkill. I have run a lot of faculty searches and can say from experience that you don’t need all this.
My newest piece for the @nytimes, on the similarities and differences between the AI revolution and the Enlightenment, and what the latter shows about the dangers of the former: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/o...
Opinion | A.I. Is Not a 21st-Century Enlightenment
www.nytimes.com
August 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
My newest piece for the @nytimes, on the similarities and differences between the AI revolution and the Enlightenment, and what the latter shows about the dangers of the former: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/o...