Whoop! Here’s the link — not for the feint-hearted: it’s a nine minute read maxfarrar.substack.com/p/community-...
“Community” — Yes — But Don’t Ignore Capital
Gordon Brown needs some help from Karl and Tussy Marx
maxfarrar.substack.com
@maxfarrar.bsky.social
Gordon Brown on the radio & in the Guardian this week has revived my critique of communitarian thinking & that inspired me to write something about this today on my Substack page (max farrar). If you’re interested, search Substack while I try & find a link to post here …
I read the article in Time about King Trump reading King Solomon & I dug up Chronicles 2, 7, the text he read, & went on to read para 8. Thanks to AI I found out about the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, & Jebusites. Guess what, all these neighbours were enemies. They must “pay tribute”.
@judeinlondon.com has a good piece here: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/fe... I like her stress on values. I think socialists shd speak to the emotions underpinning empathy, compassion, equality, solidarity, love and joy, simultaneously addressing the material realities that undermine those values.
Jude Wanga | The centre shrinks
Peter Mandelson is a case study for the way the Westminster ecosystem protects its own until it is forced, by leakage...
lrb.co.uk
If you love novels, especially novels that tell you about life in London (a unique place) do buy Ferdy Dennis’s latest novel #ConcreteDreams from the excellent @peepaltreepress.bsky.social Here’s my review on the brilliant site @writersmosaic.bsky.social writersmosaic.org.uk/reviews/conc...
Concrete Dreams | WritersMosaic Magazine
Max Farrar reviews Concrete Dreams by Ferdinand Dennis, a family saga that explores race, colourism, masculinity and British imperialism over generations.
writersmosaic.org.uk
I do the occasional post on Substack. Since I’m trying to drum up some followers I’m putting it up here, too …
@kiaabdullah.bsky.social great hearing & meeting you in Bradford today! Great interview w Barbara Kingsolver in yesterday’s Guardian magazine, BTW. Her Congo book is The Poisonwood Bible.
www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/eas...
*Big Flame: Building Movements, New Politics* at East Bristol Books
Join us for special evening with Max Farrar and guests discussing the history of Big Flame, the lessons that can be learnt from its failures and successes, and the future of radical politics in the UK...
headfirstbristol.co.uk
I think this is called venting: I waited 7 minutes to pick up @LeedsBeckettUniversity students in its Rose Bowl carpet. The project visit went well. Then I got a parking fine from CPP who must run the car park for the university. I’d been away for a fortnight so it cost me £100. Ouch.
Rock Against Racism! The most important youth movement this country has seen. Great film & great coverage in LOP …
Remember LOP@rememberlop.bsky.social · last yr.For more on #RAR in Leeds, including the Potternewton Park event with the Specials, see this great little film from @leedsmuseums.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR01...
In an hour, I'm on Radio 4's Saturday Live, talking about my new book Maybe I'm Amazed - about my autistic son James, and how much music connects us - and the whole of humanity
Would love to see you here in Big Flame’s original city on Wednesday evening (the book will be discounted to £20!)
Lively, enlightening discussion followed our talks about our book about #BigFlame (MerlinPress2024) at the excellent #MayDayRooms archive in London. Thanks for hosting us!
I’m a Caryl Phillips’ superfan & his new novel has had some negative reviews: I really do think it’s well worth your time. (This photo, TBH, is misleading.) … writersmosaic.org.uk/reviews/anot...
Another Man in the Street | WritersMosaic Magazine
Another Man in the Street by Caryl Phillips (Bloomsbury, 2025) Reviewed by Max Farrar, about racism and migration in London, set in the 1960s
writersmosaic.org.uk
Superb cafe/restaurant in #VictoriaIsland #Lagos #crustandcream — aircon & coffee much needed on this hot day
What a treat to hear #CarylPhilips read from his brilliant new novel #AnotherManOnTheStreet & provide eloquent answers to #profJohnMcLeod ‘s stimulating questions at #TheLeedsLibrary tonight
Just had an inspiring PM & evening event @wcmlibrary.bsky.social in #Salford, England. Their young ppl are doing amazing work of their #BigFlame archive, & Old Flames united later w new Flames (partly to promote our book abt BF pub by @merlinpress.bsky.social
It’s 50 years since I was arrested with 11 black youth during the “Bonfire Night Uprising” in Chapeltown, Leeds. I spoke about this at the excellent Black Power at the Grassroots symposium at Manchester Uni on Friday. I’ve posted my short talk here. www.maxfarrar.org.uk/writing/the-...
This book about #BigFlame won’t sell itself, so I’m a (temporary) marketeer. Here’s something about a lovely meeting we did at #CaracolBooks in #Norwich — among those of 25 to 75 years of age, the flame still burns labourhub.org.uk/2025/01/20/t... Thanks, #LabourHub
The relevance of the Big Flame experience today
Max Farrar introduces some upcoming events around his new book, co-authored with Kevin McDonnell, Big Flame: Building the Movements, New Politics, published by Merlin Press. “I met Big Flame women …
labourhub.org.uk
So, this is Christmas, and what'd have you done, asked John & Yoko; War is Over, they hoped . . . and I posted this (about Xmas) on Substack, advertising our book at the same time, cos I'm a marketeer just like everyone else. open.substack.com/pub/maxfarra...
Christmas and sensuous materialism
And a bit of a plug for our book about Big Flame
open.substack.com
Whoop! Super pleased to see our #BigFlame book included in this most excellent of festive lefty reading lists compiled by the imaginative, irreverent and most excellent lefty @mark-perryman.bsky.social: labourhub.org.uk/2024/12/20/t...
Twelve Reading Days of Christmas
Mark Perryman provides his annual seasonal reading guide. OK – twelve books in twelve days in-between welcoming Santa down the chimney, preparing the nut roast for Christmas dinner, sabotagin…
labourhub.org.uk
If you live in the north of England & libertarian socialism is an interest of yours (I can feel attention dropping) check out this event on 6/2/25 about #BigFlame bit.ly406B9jkO
If you’re into books about politics & culture well to the left of centre, & you’re thinking what buy for yr friends, may I suggest my co-authored book BIG FLAME, new movements, new politics (Merlin Press) and/or SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER (Hansib Publications) ?
Ok, with zero followers, let me start the way I mean to go on:: tonight I’m at the launch of a book about genuinely progressive political praxis in the 1970s — please ask your library to buy it!
