The Audacious Round Up
For the week of August 9th
Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman is available for pre-order. Yes, this link will be available in this newsletter until it goes on sale on 10/26.
Our next book selection is Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford. Sign up on Literati to join our great discussions about the book of the month. You can register now for that conversation on August 24th.
Tressie, Debbie Millman and I are hosting a writing workshop retreat in July 2022. You can also register for this if you want to spend a weekend with us.
Roxane Gay Books is open for submissions.
I am partnering with Mayors For Guaranteed Income to publish a series of essays on a world where everyone’s basic needs are met. I’m calling the project Essays for Guaranteed Income. Consider submitting.
Artist Jenny Saville and I talked about fatness in art and then our conversation went to other interesting places.
Garnette Cadogan wrote a wonderful essay a couple years ago about walking while back. Still relevant.
An interview with Mike White.
Even more yikes.
Another terrible conservatorship story. Speaking of, Jamie Spears is finally stepping down as Britney’s conservator.
Child marriage destination? Come on.
Whew.
Where the Taliban get their money.
A really moving essay on good love, from Deesha Philyaw.
Lindsey Graham remains pathetic and sleazy.
A review of two books.
Last week I watched the first two episodes of Reservation Dogs, which I enjoyed. The show is a game changer and, hopefully, the beginning of far more film & television by Native Americans about Native Americans.
Bama Rush on TikTok. It’s… a lot, but bless their young hearts. I hope each young woman gets a bid from the house of her choice.
There was an earthquake in Haiti. Rebuilding begins, anew.
Trevor Bauer should never throw a baseball ever again.
What is Succession?
Billie Jean King’s legacy lives on.
The planet keeps telling us what’s up and we keep ignoring the message.
On succumbing to QAnon.
Opening schools isn’t going so well in some places.
What Lorde is up to.
Mac Phipps is free and figuring out where he goes from here.
How 9/11 affected one family.
A Q & A about the Pose finale with the writers.
An excerpt from Nichole Perkin’s forthcoming essay collection, Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be, a future Audacious Book Club selection.
Baldwin Hills 2.0? Yes. Yes.
Apparently something is wrong with book reviews?
Andrew Cuomo is in Ronan Farrow’s sights. Time’s up, I guess.
Crocs are happening AGAIN!
What is Ron DeSantis’s problem?
Who gets to create black popular culture?
A profile of the most charming Jason Reynolds.
Call my agent!
Once again, you bestow such a cornucopia of information into our mailboxes.... who, what, when, where, and y tho.....
On the white teacher writing such a patronizing fartpuff about "what my kids taught me"(HURL), as a former teacher writing a scathing memoir/satire/expose about the state of public education in this country, lemme just say... admitting she has a problem will be her first step. Ooof. I will have more to say about that in my forthcoming manuscript.
On Reservation Dogs, two beautiful thumbs up. It is touching and funny and sweet and awkward but only in the best way. Delightful.
Apparently, seagulls steal whole bags of chips all the time. They are the tiny crimes we can all allow. Crisps for gulls.
On Jeopardy, toxic, white men are as dull as the kindergarten paste they resemble. Pass.
On Florida's dipshit governor; private schools in Texas and Florida have enacted mask mandates so this is a brazen attempt to defund public education and WE SEE YOU, DESANTIS. But public schools are going to face another much larger crisis this year, I fear. Too little leadership and too much placation will be the undoing. Public schools, it's okay to set the tone, y'all. I believe in you, if you set it, they will grumble, but then they will get tired and go home. Believe.
Lastly please, please, please never put your cast iron pan in the dishwasher. I just... I can't.