Finding Ferdy B
A Lockdown Miscellany
On the wistful pleasure of turning a chance encounter into a minor obsession
Publication Date: April 15, 2020
Theme: Miscellaneous, Personal/Memoire
Category: Journalism and essays
Writings
Here you can find a record of almost all my publications – from scholarly journal articles to newspaper articles – listed with the most recent first. In most cases there is either a downloadable pdf or a link to the publication itself. You can search by publication type (academic, non-academic, book reviews etc), by theme and by keyword. Enjoy!
The Big Question: Why Is Fistball Not Played In The UK?
A Lockdown Miscellany
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Theme: Miscellaneous, Small worlds
Category: Journalism and essays
All you need is hate: the dangerous pleasures of extremism
Prospect
Whether you’re a jihadi or a heavy metal fan, a fringe subculture offers dark temptations [Essay review of Julia Ebner’s 'Going Dark']
Publication Date: April 2, 2020
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate
Category: Book reviews, Journalism and essays
Jewish community has gone virtual. But it’s my neighbors I’m discovering and leaning on.
The Forward
Publication Date: April 1, 2020
Theme: Community, Jews, Judaism and Jewishness
Category: Journalism and essays
After the pandemic: how will the right fight back?
Open Democracy
Five ways in which they might rescue the wider political project from the jaws of defeat.
Publication Date: March 16, 2020
Theme: Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
Preparing for coronavirus shutdown: A template for a letter to your neighbours
Medium
Publication Date: March 11, 2020
Theme: Community, Miscellaneous
Category: Journalism and essays
Heavy by Dan Franklin review – metal gets serious
The Guardian
More than just guitar power chords ... a weighty discussion of metal, for both passionate fans and neophytes
Publication Date: March 11, 2020
Theme: Metal Music and Culture
Category: Book reviews
Heavy by Dan Franklin review – metal gets serious
The Guardian
More than just guitar power chords ... a weighty discussion of metal, for both passionate fans and neophytes
Publication Date: March 11, 2020
Theme: Metal Music and Culture
Category: Book reviews
Cui Bono? No One
Medium
A coronavirus-fuelled attempt at understanding the self-destructiveness of the privileged
Publication Date: March 6, 2020
Theme: Denial, Ignorance and Stupidity, Miscellaneous, Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
If everyone was a little bit shameless, it might deflate the ‘anti-woke’ right
The Guardian
The human need for transgression is key to the backlash. Liberals must allow room for this without it harming others
Publication Date: March 2, 2020
Theme: Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
The failure of the laughable left
Medium
An addendum to my Guardian article ‘If everyone was a little bit shameless, it might deflate the ‘anti-woke’ right’
Or: Why choose Richard Burgon when you could have Mark Francois?
Publication Date: March 2, 2020
Theme: Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
Beyond Sound and Vision
RSA Journal, Issue 2 2020
Technology has always favoured sight and hearing: might the Covid-19 pandemic encourage innovation related to our other senses?
Publication Date: March 2, 2020
Theme: Miscellaneous
Category: Journalism and essays
Labour’s antisemitism crisis is unsolvable without some wary pragmatism
The Guardian
The Board of Deputies has 10 pledges for the leadership candidates, but there is surely a limit to how much any political party can represent a single group
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate, Conflict Resolution, Civility and Dialogue, Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
Marching towards a different kind of solidarity: Reflections on anti-racism for Martin Luther King weekend
Medium
This was intended to be delivered as a lecture to an interfaith Erev Shabbat service for Martin Luther King weekend 2020 at Congregation Mishkan Israel, in Hamden, CT. At the last minute I was unable to attend.
Publication Date: January 17, 2020
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate, Conflict Resolution, Civility and Dialogue
Category: Conference papers and lectures, Journalism and essays
The Battle to Frame the Defeat: Four responses to the UK’s general election. (Contributor)
Dissent
Publication Date: December 24, 2019
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate, Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
Lessons for the US from the UK Labour Party antisemitism crisis
Medium
The danger of self-fulfilling prophecies
Publication Date: December 20, 2019
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate, Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
Young Jews are reviving the Jewish left – will they succeed?
Vashti
Publication Date: December 9, 2019
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate, Jews, Judaism and Jewishness, Politics
Category: Journalism and essays
British Jews’ fears have become a political issue – but they must be taken seriously
The Guardian
We may not emigrate in large numbers if Corbyn gets into No 10 – but having our bags packed is how we articulate our anxiety
Publication Date: November 26, 2019
Theme: Antisemitism, Racism, Hate, Politics
Category: Journalism and essays