Bruce Handy
@brucehandy.bsky.social
Adult stuff: New Yorker, NYT, The Atlantic, elsewhere. Latest book: “Hollywood High: A Totally Epic, Way Opinionated History of Teen Movies.” Kid stuff: picture books including “There Was a Shadow” and (coming October 14) “Balloon.”
SPY magazine is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a free substack! All the best Trump bits in one place! You know what they say: show me the bankrupt 1980s casino operator and I’ll show you the corrupt 2020s president. Follow the link to subscribe… spymagazine.substack.com/p/coming-soo...
Coming Soon — Spy at 40
Spy Magazine’s Anniversary Chronicle of a Certain Short-Fingered Vulgarian
spymagazine.substack.com
I had a great time talking to Harris Alterman and Dave Ross about their fake tech ad campaign. Their ongoing (I hope) project is funny and pointed. Check it out before AI kills us all!
The local library recommends Hollywood High: A Totally Epic, Way Opinionated History of Teen Movies by @brucehandy.bsky.social in their enewsletter.
A kid interpreter, a fox with a mystery, a chicken-dinosaur, a balloon tragedy with a happy ending, and a cranky Crow: five of my favorite picture books this year. @brucehandy.bsky.social @juliekuo.bsky.social kidsbookaday.com/2025/12/28/f...
Five favorite picture books
The Interpreter/La Intérprete by Olivia Abtahi, illustrated by Monica Arnaldo (Kokila, 40 pages, ages 5-8). Cecilia has two jobs: being a kid and interpreting for her Spanish-speaking family. Blue …
kidsbookaday.com
From Flushing to Place Vendome: Wes Anderson and curator Jasper Sharp have exactingly recreated the artist Joseph Cornell’s basement Queens studio—part Santa’s workshop, part hoarder’s paradise—in Paris. I learned what went into making this massive, wonderful mess: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Re-Assemblage of Joseph Cornell
Wes Anderson and Jasper Sharp teamed up to recreate the artist’s famous Flushing studio—only this time it’s at a Gagosian gallery in Paris.
newyorker.com
He could have bought so many friends with that money.
More Perfect Union@moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 11mo agoMark Zuckerberg’s gamble on the "Metaverse" has lost his company more than $77 billion.
Nice company for Balloon!
East Grand Forks Campbell Library@egfcampbelllibrary.bsky.social · last yr.#newbooksday Kids books are for everyone! 🥳 @gianferrari-m.bsky.social @hsalyer.bsky.social @brianlies.bsky.social @isabellakung.bsky.social @liantomato.bsky.social @devinellekurtz.bsky.social @nickofferman.bsky.social @brucehandy.bsky.social @kongsavage.bsky.social @meganclendenan.bsky.social et al
I wrote an op-ed about Bruce Springsteen’s breakthrough moment in the context of aspirational 1970s male rock stardom (I.e. what he meant to doofy normcore teenage boys like me)… www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/o...
I talked comedy and politics and cowardly networks with Dick Smothers. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Just caught this lovely “Briefly Noted” that ran in last week’s New Yorker. Thank you anonymous critic! The last line summarizes the book way better than I ever have.
As bad as the Sphere Wizard of Oz might be it’s still impressive people are traveling to Las Vegas and paying $200 a ticket to see an 86 year old movie
I delve deeply into the sociopolitical symbolism of submarine sandwich throwing as protest… www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/o...
Opinion | I’ll Have My Resistance on a Roll. Hold the Mayo.
nytimes.com
Reposting this in “honor” of White House’s proclamation on federal architecture. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Trump’s Proposed Face-Lift for Federal Buildings
What if the President practiced what he preaches when it comes to his own very classy holdings?
newyorker.com
It’s true! Mea culpa!
Robert Graves@robertgravesla.bsky.social · last yr.Reading Hollywood High: A Totally Epic and Way Opinionated History of Teen Movies by @brucehandy.bsky.social and loving how deeply it dives into a genre I love intensely. But shocked he completely forgot Valley Girl. It goes hand in hand with Fast Times, I think.
@brucehandy.bsky.social's Hollywood High. Incisive look at pop culture through lens of teen movies. Serious, critical analysis. Underpinnings of teen life/psychology told in Handy’s signature voice: Humor w/reportage. Great read for pop culture, movie buffs, academics. #popculture #teenmovies
I have addressed a topic of national concern. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/o...
Opinion | Brad Pitt, Whom So Proudly We Hail
nytimes.com
🟠 This week’s Klassik Tom the Dancing Bug - It’s GOOD-GUY-WITH-A-GUN to the rescue! - www.gocomics.com/tomthedancin...
Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling for June 26, 2025 | GoComics
Read Tom the Dancing Bug—a comic strip by creator Ruben Bolling—for today, June 26, 2025, and check out other great comics, too!
gocomics.com
Title story from Helen Schulman’s wonderful new collection, “Fools for Love,” published today by @theatlantic.com (free link!) www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...
Fools for Love
A short story
theatlantic.com
Our big annual AI-free summer book package, w/great new books by, take a breath, @jenngivhan.bsky.social @stevemartinreally.bsky.social @tvayyyy.bsky.social @robingivhan.bsky.social @brucehandy.bsky.social …
Summer books 2025: Get lost in our shelves of Chicago, spiritual or just plain weird books
Someday, when I open a bookstore and the big bucks roll in, I’ll display titles in narrow categories, ensuring no one finds anything and has to wander. This summer survey will be my trial run.
chicagotribune.com
You know you’re in France when the train station newsstand has a Vivian Maier bookazine.
