Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
@zibaldoni.bsky.social
山人. 'The Notebook: a History of Thinking on Paper' is available everywhere. 'Book of the Year' pick by Waterstones, New Yorker, New Statesman, Spectator, Toronto Globe, Engelsberg Ideas, Lit Hub, Austin Kleon, Ryan Holiday, Stephen L. Carter...
Pinned
I’d not be doing social media at all if it wasn’t part of the ‘being a conscientious author’ job description. By which I mean, an author who wants to help their publisher get their book read by as many people as possible. But what’s my book about, and where did it come from?
Surprised, and utterly delighted, by the length of the sentence. Hopefully a deterrent to Gill's obnoxious ilk.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £30,000 while he was an MEP, from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Surprised, and utterly delighted, by the length of the sentence. Hopefully a deterrent to Gill's obnoxious ilk.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
So many of our problems go back to that vote. There's a long list of people who need to be hauled out and held accountable.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 5:19 PM
So many of our problems go back to that vote. There's a long list of people who need to be hauled out and held accountable.
The angels smiled on me yesterday. Six straight hours of writing without a break: cutting, e-priming, adding colour, fixing the metaphors, sowing a dragon's tooth, calibrating the conclusion. Leaving me stiff of leg but happy with the second draft of Chapter IX. Hoping for a similar day tomorrow...
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The angels smiled on me yesterday. Six straight hours of writing without a break: cutting, e-priming, adding colour, fixing the metaphors, sowing a dragon's tooth, calibrating the conclusion. Leaving me stiff of leg but happy with the second draft of Chapter IX. Hoping for a similar day tomorrow...
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Farage was up to it as an adult too...
@marxmedia.bsky.social Alan Sked long ago went on the record about Farage bandying around the N word, etc. Never got sued. Check out interviews with him about early days of UKIP.
November 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Farage was up to it as an adult too...
This model of academic publishing — devised by Robert Maxwell! — is absolutely criminal. Reasonable margins might be ≈10%. That would put ca. $8bn back into the world's universities.
"academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who created it... The dominant four collectively generated... $12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024."
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
This model of academic publishing — devised by Robert Maxwell! — is absolutely criminal. Reasonable margins might be ≈10%. That would put ca. $8bn back into the world's universities.
@marxmedia.bsky.social Alan Sked long ago went on the record about Farage bandying around the N word, etc. Never got sued. Check out interviews with him about early days of UKIP.
November 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
@marxmedia.bsky.social Alan Sked long ago went on the record about Farage bandying around the N word, etc. Never got sued. Check out interviews with him about early days of UKIP.
Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
What Ireland's uplands look like up close due to sheep: molinia deserts, with open wounds of erosion, as the vegetation that holds the soil together is stripped away.
This was once all rainforest, and with the sheep gone could be again.
In a time of ecological collapse, there is just *no* excuse.
This was once all rainforest, and with the sheep gone could be again.
In a time of ecological collapse, there is just *no* excuse.
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 AM
What Ireland's uplands look like up close due to sheep: molinia deserts, with open wounds of erosion, as the vegetation that holds the soil together is stripped away.
This was once all rainforest, and with the sheep gone could be again.
In a time of ecological collapse, there is just *no* excuse.
This was once all rainforest, and with the sheep gone could be again.
In a time of ecological collapse, there is just *no* excuse.
I wonder if there might possibly be a downside to this admittedly ballsy approach?
November 18, 2025 at 8:16 AM
I wonder if there might possibly be a downside to this admittedly ballsy approach?
Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
BREAKING: ECM announces new all-vocal Keith Jarrett compilation
This collection presents new versions of beloved Standards Trio performances with the piano completely mixed out. Now you can enjoy Jarrett’s impassioned scatting and groaning without the distraction of his piano-playing.
This collection presents new versions of beloved Standards Trio performances with the piano completely mixed out. Now you can enjoy Jarrett’s impassioned scatting and groaning without the distraction of his piano-playing.
November 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
BREAKING: ECM announces new all-vocal Keith Jarrett compilation
This collection presents new versions of beloved Standards Trio performances with the piano completely mixed out. Now you can enjoy Jarrett’s impassioned scatting and groaning without the distraction of his piano-playing.
This collection presents new versions of beloved Standards Trio performances with the piano completely mixed out. Now you can enjoy Jarrett’s impassioned scatting and groaning without the distraction of his piano-playing.
Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
🚨 SHOCKING 🚨
A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime.
Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river.
We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW.
Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇
A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime.
Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river.
We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW.
Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇
November 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
🚨 SHOCKING 🚨
A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime.
Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river.
We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW.
Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇
A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime.
Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river.
We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW.
Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇
Did the Guardian not realise that in giving away the Observer they would knacker their app for the weekend? It seems very lightweight of a Saturday–Sunday now, esp. as (I think) they drop some Saturday articles (eg. book reviews) earlier in the week.
November 16, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Did the Guardian not realise that in giving away the Observer they would knacker their app for the weekend? It seems very lightweight of a Saturday–Sunday now, esp. as (I think) they drop some Saturday articles (eg. book reviews) earlier in the week.
The NYT usually runs a variant of this headline when a diner closes down but whatever.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/s...
Epstein Emails Reveal a Lost New York
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
The NYT usually runs a variant of this headline when a diner closes down but whatever.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/s...
Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
A dreamy day, if you enjoy writing things in notebooks, and – crucially – I enjoy writing things in notebooks.
November 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A dreamy day, if you enjoy writing things in notebooks, and – crucially – I enjoy writing things in notebooks.
Reason why FIP is incredible, #28766 it's taken me two hours of amazing Neil Young covers (all new to me) for the penny to drop. A Google reveals that it's Neil's 80th birthday.
Happy birthday, man.
@fip.fr merci beaucoup
Happy birthday, man.
@fip.fr merci beaucoup
November 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reason why FIP is incredible, #28766 it's taken me two hours of amazing Neil Young covers (all new to me) for the penny to drop. A Google reveals that it's Neil's 80th birthday.
Happy birthday, man.
@fip.fr merci beaucoup
Happy birthday, man.
@fip.fr merci beaucoup
Authors sharing Amazon links of their books is one thing. Personally I don't, but I understand that it's the best way to get potential readers to a buy button.
On the other hand, actively helping Amazon out by promoting its shitty price promos...no.
On the other hand, actively helping Amazon out by promoting its shitty price promos...no.
Amazon Canada has a bunch of manga up for sale!! I compiled everything I would be if I had the money here~
(Colette is one of the series on sale... if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend!!)
canadianaujapan.ca/2025/11/12/e...
(Colette is one of the series on sale... if you haven't read it yet I highly recommend!!)
canadianaujapan.ca/2025/11/12/e...
Early Black Friday Manga Deals for Canadians
As we get into November, we creep closer and closer into Black Friday territory! While the actual sale is still a little while away, Amazon has listed some of their manga up for sale early. So, let…
canadianaujapan.ca
November 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Authors sharing Amazon links of their books is one thing. Personally I don't, but I understand that it's the best way to get potential readers to a buy button.
On the other hand, actively helping Amazon out by promoting its shitty price promos...no.
On the other hand, actively helping Amazon out by promoting its shitty price promos...no.
Relatable content from Tom Gauld (again!)
November 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Relatable content from Tom Gauld (again!)
Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 AM
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
On 8.
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
On 8.
Well this was nice to see. (Ryan runs what looks like a beautifully curated bookshop, and shouts out other authors relentlessly, and is A Good Thing)
November 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Well this was nice to see. (Ryan runs what looks like a beautifully curated bookshop, and shouts out other authors relentlessly, and is A Good Thing)
AI = productivity gains for computer-virus coders, yay!
New: Google says it has discovered at least 5 malware families that use AI to rewrite their code and generate new capabilities on the fly, suggesting AI-powered malware is finally starting to take off. cloud.google.com/blog/topics/...
Report also has interesting stories about state actors' AI use.
Report also has interesting stories about state actors' AI use.
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
AI = productivity gains for computer-virus coders, yay!
Reposted by Roland Allen, author of 'The Notebook: a History'
Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists.
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists.
Hello Oxford! That's what I'll be saying in a couple of weeks. Join me at the Ashmolean to talk notebooks on November 17th. @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social
www.ashmolean.org/event/member...
www.ashmolean.org/event/member...
HOW PUTTING PEN TO PAPER CHANGED THE WORLD
In this author talk by Roland Allen, explore the pivotal role notebooks have played – and continue to play – in shaping the creativity and ingenuity of artists, writers, scientists and thinkers of all...
www.ashmolean.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Hello Oxford! That's what I'll be saying in a couple of weeks. Join me at the Ashmolean to talk notebooks on November 17th. @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social
www.ashmolean.org/event/member...
www.ashmolean.org/event/member...
@ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social surprisingly poor answers to an interesting question on the Friday pod. Look up 'Turkish Businessperson Visa' (Ankara Agreement) which explains!
November 2, 2025 at 10:07 PM
@ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social surprisingly poor answers to an interesting question on the Friday pod. Look up 'Turkish Businessperson Visa' (Ankara Agreement) which explains!
@ellencph.bsky.social worth going back for a follow-up on this one to see how it worked out?
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
Why Bookshop.org is not the saviour the book world needs
The “ethical” alternative to Amazon was lauded when it arrived in the UK in November. But a number of high street booksellers and independent publishers are sceptical.
www.newstatesman.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
@ellencph.bsky.social worth going back for a follow-up on this one to see how it worked out?
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...