Kate Farquhar-Thomson

Generative AI models are skilled in the art of bullshit Large language models are unconcerned with truth because they have no concept of it — and therein lies the danger

The philosopher Harry Frankfurt argued that bullshit was "a greater enemy of the truth than lies are".

But is generative AI-generated botshit even worse than human-generated bullshit? (Yes)

My latest @financialtimes.com here:

on.ft.com/3SikRPK

Earth's extraordinary deep biosphere is our next great frontier A fantastic alien adventure can be found on our very own planet by studying the microbial life in Earth's crust, according to Karen G. Lloyd's new book Intraterrestrials

A fantastic alien adventure can be found on our very own planet by studying the microbial life in Earth's crust, according to Karen G. Lloyd's new book Intraterrestrials

For the last 4 years I've been working on a book on symbiosis and the interconnectedness of life. It's epic, and I'll be talking about it at New Scientist Live live.newscientist.com/nsl-london-2...

The Measure of Progress by Diane Coyle — has GDP run its course? News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

The Measure of Progress by Diane Coyle — has GDP run its course?

https://www.ft.com/content/3008152a-4c8a-4ef8-8d7b-dd40f2bac89c

The Measure of Progress by Diane Coyle — has GDP run its course? A timely argument that AI, geopolitical tensions and global production networks demand a new statistical infrastructure

Gosh, I’m thrilled by the FT review (by Alan Smith) of my new book! on.ft.com/3YEGUnj The Measure of Progress by Diane Coyle — has GDP run its course?

Podcast: Sheila Fitzpatrick and Daniel Soar · In the Soviet Archives

Over her career, historian Sheila Fitzpatrick has frequently questioned the conventional understanding of Soviet history. On the podcast, she talks to @danielsoar.bsky.social about her work in the Soviet archives, the obstacles researchers face, and her latest books:

www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...

So very thrilled that @princetonupress.bsky.social have not 1, not 2, but 3 titles on The 2025 Cundill History Prize Longlist! We are rocking! 😀🥳🎉📚https://www.cundillprize.com/news/the-2025-cundill-history-prize-longlist

Arrived in the post today. Holding it in your hands for the first time is always very special. Thank you @princetonupress.bsky.social !

Gillian Tett's article in the FT on "The new age of geoeconomics" https://on.ft.com/3U6ecZF

The era of pure economics is over. Trump's tariffs signal a shift to "geoeconomics" - where commerce serves statecraft, not markets. Like the 1930s, politics now trumps profit. Countries weaponize trade, finance & supply chains. The pendulum has swung from globalization back to power politics

Our memories are unreliable, limited and suggestible – and it’s a good thing too

Memories are constantly revised in acts of recollection. They are moulded by new information, beliefs and emotions, and other people’s versions of events.

Caroline Priday retires from Princeton University Press after 20 years Caroline Priday has retired from Princeton University Press’ (PUP) European office after 20 years.

Caroline Priday has retired from Princeton University Press’ (PUP) European office after 20 years 👇

Such a pleasure to have been able to be there on the night!

"A bold answer to one of history's--and humanity's--most essential questions: What drives technology and innovation?" - Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI

How 1,000 years of global history show why technological and economic progress is often followed by stagnation and even collapse.

How Progress Ends by @carlbfrey.bsky.social publishes September 16!

Preorder your copy of this fascinating book: press.princeton.edu/books/ebook/... #econsky

A woman's body is a man's world. Just ask an anatomist... From Fallopian tubes to the G-spot, long-dead men have left their mark on women's anatomy. It's time to turf them out, says Adam Taor

From Fallopian tubes to the G-spot, long-dead men have left their mark on women's anatomy. It's time to turf them out, says Adam Taor

While in the UK, I had an opportunity to chat with journalist
Matthew Reisz. Some of my remarks made his latest essay for @timeshighered.bsky.social.

You can catch his full dispatch from Buckingham here: www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-an...

Enjoyed talking with journalist @jamesrball.com while I was in the UK promoting We Have Never Been Woke. Our interview is now live with @thenewworldmag.bsky.social: www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-m...

@princetonupress.bsky.social :-)

Watch our 2025 Annual Lecture: We Have Never Been Woke by Musa al-Gharbi
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR00...

@musaalgharbi.bsky.social @ktwamley.bsky.social
@princetonupress.bsky.social

@princetonupress.bsky.social 😀

@princetonupress.bsky.social 😀

Princeton University Press at, for me, the best and most interesting of the academic presses at the moment, marred only by their insistence on putting a big watermarked "P" in their review copy proofs. PUP, I love you, but I don't think there is a roaring black market trade in your review PDFs!

Issue 47.10 is now online, featuring:

Jeremy Harding on Belgium’s Central Africa Museum
Susan Pedersen on Soviet displaced persons
@trillingual.bsky.social on the far right
Dinah Birch on P.D. James
Neal Ascherson on Norman Lewis
and a cover by Jon McNaught.

Read now at www.lrb.co.uk

Hunting extreme microbes that redefine the limits of life An adventurous survey of inhospitable habitats unearths extraordinary organisms that pose challenging research questions.

Book review 📚 Hunting extreme microbes that redefine the limits of life

https://go.nature.com/43bMgYK

My #bookofthemonth is Doctors by Nature by @jaapderoode.bsky.social. Coverage in @dailymail.co.uk,
@theguardian.com, & @newscientist.com. 'Many animals seek out substances to relieve illnesses or battle parasites. . .They could even teach us a thing or two about medicine' says
@wsj.com 🐕🐵🪹💊🕊️🩺

You can also email me, Kate_Farquhar-Thomson@press.princeton.edu 👍

Book Tour: We Have Never Been Woke - Musa al-Gharbi We Have Never Been Woke will be published on October 8, 2024. I'll be on tour in the US and beyond to support the launch. Catch me if you can

I currently have some wiggle room between May 29 and mid-June where I can add some additional #UK dates.

If you're interested in having me do a talk, or if you're a UK-based journalist, academic or other stakeholder interested in connecting, reach out to my team ASAP to lock things down!

‘I Humbly Beg Your Speedy Answer’ — the agony aunt’s origin story Mary Beth Norton delves into the 17th-century archives and finds familiar concerns, even if advice is often less than sympathetic

Out now: I Humbly Beg Your Speedy Answer by Mary Beth Norton—revealing 17th-century Q&As on love, sex & marriage.

The FT calls it “entertaining and instructive.” and we definitely agree! Read the full review here:

BBC Radio 4 - Conflict and Co-operation: A History of Trade, Omnibus, Episode 2 Paul Seabright presents the second part of his investigation into our trading past.

Caught this 'repeat' on the car radio heading south yesterday www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b... @bbcsounds.bsky.social - fascinating history of 'trading' & well worth a listen! Hosted by @princetonupress.bsky.social author Paul Seabright & featuring #PUP author of The Box - Marc Levinson!

Paradigm Publishing Services and Princeton University Press partner on new ‘Einstein database’

@paradigmpubserv.bsky.social is expanding its offering to include database development, hosting and distribution, with the first project under the new initiative to be the Collected Works of Albert Einstein in partnership with @princetonupress.bsky.social 👇#BookSky

Photograph of To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause

Congratulations to Benjamin Nathans, whose book, To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement, has been Shortlisted for the Pushkin House Book Prize by Pushkin House!

Learn more about this year's shortlisted titles: www.pushkinhouse.org/pages/book-p...