PinnedAndrew Macdonald PowneyNo-one sees it comingIn his book The Yellow Wind, David Grossman told of the dreams of Palestinian children. He told of Israeli children’s dreams as well. None…Nov 4, 2023Nov 4, 2023
PinnedAndrew Macdonald PowneyTwittermobs were as yet undreamt ofIn 1994, when this book came out, its author Sven Birketts was reflecting on answerphones and CD-Roms, thinking about renting a video, and…Oct 13, 2023Oct 13, 2023
Andrew Macdonald PowneyWhy My Life Makes Little SenseMy life makes little sense because mine is a liminal generation. The point when I should have launched into flourishing was a point when…Sep 27, 20231Sep 27, 20231
Andrew Macdonald PowneyCultural Capital Doesn’t Mean What They Say‘Cultural Capital’ is a buzzword in some schools, but no-one in schools seems to know what it means. They tell you that Pierre Bourdieu…Aug 31, 2023Aug 31, 2023
Andrew Macdonald PowneyGood griefTeaching children about death: not everyone’s idea of a really great gig. An Anglican bishop wants schools to do it. There are supposed to…Aug 12, 2023Aug 12, 2023
Andrew Macdonald PowneyDo you read as directed? Are you open to your book?Once there was a book, Inside UFO 54–40. It was one of those ‘Choose Your Own Adventure Books’. Books like that, in the 1970s and 1980s…Aug 7, 2023Aug 7, 2023
Andrew Macdonald PowneyThe opium of the people is pinkIf you enjoyed the repetitive didacticism of The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists, you will love the Barbie movie. Robert Tressell’s once…Jul 28, 2023Jul 28, 2023
Andrew Macdonald PowneyLooking SmartThe novelists I like most do not write as they should. They write in every way that I was told not to. W.G. Sebald can take a page to…Jul 19, 2023Jul 19, 2023
Andrew Macdonald PowneyAI, God, fish, bicycleIt used to be said that a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. Fish and bicycles have absolutely nothing to do with one another…Jul 7, 2023Jul 7, 2023