Reading the article I was like ‘which bit is the FUCK bit because I feel like I’ve said a lot of internal fucks already’… and then it happened and there was no mistaking that was it. Terrifying, very sad and definitely one of the most arrogant men with a God complex I’ve ever come across. Wow. Thanks for sharing P. xx
For fans of Katy Hessel + more on women artists of the 1950s, I highly recommend the nonfiction book Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel. It's a real doorstopper, but goes through the lives of five women artists who shaped the abstract expressionist movement in NYC (including Lee Krasner). Not at all academic, and fascinating stuff!
I said the same! I alternated through the audiobook and reading the actual book during covid and it was such a gift. Truly transported me on those endless daily walks and stayed with me. Excellent read!
I can’t stop thinking that Simone is in an abusive situation herself. This may be my own bias and I clearly don’t know her whole story but as a neurodivergent woman who had a challenging upbringing at best, it seems to me that she’s is under full control of her husband. Is she really ok with not having central heating? Does she really enjoy motherhood after being so vehemently opposed (I’m not saying it’s not possible to change her mind but her comment about how she “found” that she enjoys spending time with the children stuck with me); is she really ok with homeschooling her children? The way she’s willing to put her health on the line to keep giving birth…
Thank you for this recommendation, Pandora! So many things to think about with this piece.
Thank you for sharing that article! My friends and I were discussing those very themes over the weekend - low birth rate, the way westerners “parent” meaning it becomes too hard/expensive for people to have multiple kids… whilst I certainly don’t agree with many things this couple does - the obvious one, as well as the iPads hanging around their necks..!! But I have to concede I agree with some of the observations of modern parenting today… I’ve got three kids and consider myself fairly ‘free range’ but if I was a total helicopter it would be more exhausting.! Our generation could do with a little less pressure on being the perfect parent..
That article! The 'bit' was shocking, but The Guardian pulled it out to feature it in bold type a paragraph or two ahead of time (not sure what the journalistic term is) WHY would they do that? I was shocked, stopped because it came out of nowhere and then read on to find out what led up to it. Just awful. Other than that (not to dismiss it), the I Pads around the neck was number 2 on the 'maybe they aren't really parenting as well as they think' list. Why are your 2 year old and 4 year old literally tethered to a device? And the lack of heat, and the neighbors doing presumably most of the childcare to live for free (Can they even hold down other jobs?) Just a mess.
Absolutely stunned by the article – I literally gasped multiple times (but especially at the *bit*). Fascinated (appalled?) by the the way facts, figures and 'logic' are prioritised over compassion, and how they're maximising efficiency and productivity in childrearing at the expense of humanity. Typical tech-bro vibe of making every aspect of life hyper-productive, at any cost. Thank you for sharing!
Oh my goodness, thank you SO much for the David Baddiel article link. I have never read his writing; only knew him as a comedian and it's-coming-home-football-chanter. It was like reading English Sedaris. Going to order his memoir immediately.
I’ve seen that they have called the backlash “racist”. I’ve always felt queasy about Musk and his breeding. The article has really just confirmed what I always suspected, that the movement is about ensuring a white future. Hate that they think they are intellectually superior, hiding behind data to justify their crappy opinions. Absolutely chilling read.
I’m supposed to be on a book ban (until I get caught up with my stack) and these recs are the biggest threat to my strategy. Needless to say I will continue to look forward to them and bought Ministry of Time on the way to work this morning. You win some you lose some!
Reading the article I was like ‘which bit is the FUCK bit because I feel like I’ve said a lot of internal fucks already’… and then it happened and there was no mistaking that was it. Terrifying, very sad and definitely one of the most arrogant men with a God complex I’ve ever come across. Wow. Thanks for sharing P. xx
For fans of Katy Hessel + more on women artists of the 1950s, I highly recommend the nonfiction book Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel. It's a real doorstopper, but goes through the lives of five women artists who shaped the abstract expressionist movement in NYC (including Lee Krasner). Not at all academic, and fascinating stuff!
I said the same! I alternated through the audiobook and reading the actual book during covid and it was such a gift. Truly transported me on those endless daily walks and stayed with me. Excellent read!
I can’t stop thinking that Simone is in an abusive situation herself. This may be my own bias and I clearly don’t know her whole story but as a neurodivergent woman who had a challenging upbringing at best, it seems to me that she’s is under full control of her husband. Is she really ok with not having central heating? Does she really enjoy motherhood after being so vehemently opposed (I’m not saying it’s not possible to change her mind but her comment about how she “found” that she enjoys spending time with the children stuck with me); is she really ok with homeschooling her children? The way she’s willing to put her health on the line to keep giving birth…
Thank you for this recommendation, Pandora! So many things to think about with this piece.
Thank you for sharing that article! My friends and I were discussing those very themes over the weekend - low birth rate, the way westerners “parent” meaning it becomes too hard/expensive for people to have multiple kids… whilst I certainly don’t agree with many things this couple does - the obvious one, as well as the iPads hanging around their necks..!! But I have to concede I agree with some of the observations of modern parenting today… I’ve got three kids and consider myself fairly ‘free range’ but if I was a total helicopter it would be more exhausting.! Our generation could do with a little less pressure on being the perfect parent..
gosh, that article, kinda wish I hadn't read it. depressing.
cheer yourself up w the David Baddiel one
That article! The 'bit' was shocking, but The Guardian pulled it out to feature it in bold type a paragraph or two ahead of time (not sure what the journalistic term is) WHY would they do that? I was shocked, stopped because it came out of nowhere and then read on to find out what led up to it. Just awful. Other than that (not to dismiss it), the I Pads around the neck was number 2 on the 'maybe they aren't really parenting as well as they think' list. Why are your 2 year old and 4 year old literally tethered to a device? And the lack of heat, and the neighbors doing presumably most of the childcare to live for free (Can they even hold down other jobs?) Just a mess.
That's exactly what it's called! A "pull out quote"
Absolutely stunned by the article – I literally gasped multiple times (but especially at the *bit*). Fascinated (appalled?) by the the way facts, figures and 'logic' are prioritised over compassion, and how they're maximising efficiency and productivity in childrearing at the expense of humanity. Typical tech-bro vibe of making every aspect of life hyper-productive, at any cost. Thank you for sharing!
I'm one of the friends whom Ministry of Time was written to entertain (!), and I may be a tad biased but I can confirm it's brilliant :)
I love that!! Maybe that should be the barometer for friendship - if they haven't written a best-selling novel for you, who even are they?
THAT article! Gives a whole new meaning to “tiger mum”.
Oh my goodness, thank you SO much for the David Baddiel article link. I have never read his writing; only knew him as a comedian and it's-coming-home-football-chanter. It was like reading English Sedaris. Going to order his memoir immediately.
I’ve seen that they have called the backlash “racist”. I’ve always felt queasy about Musk and his breeding. The article has really just confirmed what I always suspected, that the movement is about ensuring a white future. Hate that they think they are intellectually superior, hiding behind data to justify their crappy opinions. Absolutely chilling read.
I’m supposed to be on a book ban (until I get caught up with my stack) and these recs are the biggest threat to my strategy. Needless to say I will continue to look forward to them and bought Ministry of Time on the way to work this morning. You win some you lose some!
I had three distinct fucks. And now I'm haunted by this. Those poor children
I had looked past that article on the guardian app, but now I will be thinking about it for a long time! Stunned.
Please can we also have one on how to parent a non reader 😂
I have just begun the Ministry of Time and I am loving it so much. I’d never have picked it up. Thank you so much for the recommendation!