Samuel Miller McDonald
@smillermcdonald.bsky.social
My book PROGRESS is on sale in bookstores and the Internet
Essays in magazines, Internet
DPhil from Oxford geography
Michigan man
Essays in magazines, Internet
DPhil from Oxford geography
Michigan man
Pinned
My book provides a novel framework/historical analysis explaining how and why this lineage of development has led to the environmental and inequality crises of today, how narratives of progress have reproduced this lineage, and offers viable ways out of these crises. Links below...
New podcast out at Across the Margin. Michael Shields and I discuss my book PROGRESS and topics like the origins of capitalism and the root causes of current crises, to the challenges of finding meaning beyond progress. Please have a listen! shows.acast.com/across-the-m...
Episode 241: Progress with Samuel Miller McDonald | Across the Margin: The Podcast
shows.acast.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:47 PM
New podcast out at Across the Margin. Michael Shields and I discuss my book PROGRESS and topics like the origins of capitalism and the root causes of current crises, to the challenges of finding meaning beyond progress. Please have a listen! shows.acast.com/across-the-m...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Across The Margin : The Podcast examines the notion of Progress, an idea that built civilization and now threatens to destroy it, with geographer and author Samuel Miller McDonald: acrossthemargin.com/across-the-m... @smillermcdonald.bsky.social
Across The Margin : The Podcast — Progress with Samuel Miller McDonald
Across The Margin : The Podcast — Progress with Samuel Miller McDonald
acrossthemargin.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Across The Margin : The Podcast examines the notion of Progress, an idea that built civilization and now threatens to destroy it, with geographer and author Samuel Miller McDonald: acrossthemargin.com/across-the-m... @smillermcdonald.bsky.social
This excellent new article puts forward an important framework for understanding the difference between periods of collective exhaustion and those of exuberance. Have a guess which we are in now... Give it a read, OPEN ACCESSS!
delighted to share my latest article is published (open access) in Modern Fiction Studies! @hopkinspress.bsky.social
I give Hanya Yanagihara's first novel, The People in the Trees, the petroculture studies treatment and conclude that the times, they are exhausted
doi.org/10.1353/mfs....
I give Hanya Yanagihara's first novel, The People in the Trees, the petroculture studies treatment and conclude that the times, they are exhausted
doi.org/10.1353/mfs....
September 19, 2026 at 7:09 PM
This excellent new article puts forward an important framework for understanding the difference between periods of collective exhaustion and those of exuberance. Have a guess which we are in now... Give it a read, OPEN ACCESSS!
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
delighted to share my latest article is published (open access) in Modern Fiction Studies! @hopkinspress.bsky.social
I give Hanya Yanagihara's first novel, The People in the Trees, the petroculture studies treatment and conclude that the times, they are exhausted
doi.org/10.1353/mfs....
I give Hanya Yanagihara's first novel, The People in the Trees, the petroculture studies treatment and conclude that the times, they are exhausted
doi.org/10.1353/mfs....
September 19, 2026 at 7:04 PM
delighted to share my latest article is published (open access) in Modern Fiction Studies! @hopkinspress.bsky.social
I give Hanya Yanagihara's first novel, The People in the Trees, the petroculture studies treatment and conclude that the times, they are exhausted
doi.org/10.1353/mfs....
I give Hanya Yanagihara's first novel, The People in the Trees, the petroculture studies treatment and conclude that the times, they are exhausted
doi.org/10.1353/mfs....
Disappointing this kind of deceitful, shoddy scholarship is making it past reviewers and editors at PNAS. I guess people love to publish anything that downplays crises
1/ Doomism means saying it's too late and nothing can be done. It doesn't mean saying things are bad.
One recent high profile paper in @pnas.org treats conflates this.
Whilst another paper in the British Journal of Psychology treats naming who funded climate delay as conspiracism.
A thread 🧵
One recent high profile paper in @pnas.org treats conflates this.
Whilst another paper in the British Journal of Psychology treats naming who funded climate delay as conspiracism.
A thread 🧵
August 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Disappointing this kind of deceitful, shoddy scholarship is making it past reviewers and editors at PNAS. I guess people love to publish anything that downplays crises
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
1/ Doomism means saying it's too late and nothing can be done. It doesn't mean saying things are bad.
One recent high profile paper in @pnas.org treats conflates this.
Whilst another paper in the British Journal of Psychology treats naming who funded climate delay as conspiracism.
A thread 🧵
One recent high profile paper in @pnas.org treats conflates this.
Whilst another paper in the British Journal of Psychology treats naming who funded climate delay as conspiracism.
A thread 🧵
August 13, 2026 at 8:05 AM
1/ Doomism means saying it's too late and nothing can be done. It doesn't mean saying things are bad.
One recent high profile paper in @pnas.org treats conflates this.
Whilst another paper in the British Journal of Psychology treats naming who funded climate delay as conspiracism.
A thread 🧵
One recent high profile paper in @pnas.org treats conflates this.
Whilst another paper in the British Journal of Psychology treats naming who funded climate delay as conspiracism.
A thread 🧵
Shatters the ideological foundation of liberalism and capitalism.—Prof Thea Riofrancos
There is an idealism to this book that refreshes readers jaded by the claims of 'techno-futurism' and the aspirations of oligarchs.—Kirkus Reviews
The paperback version of PROGRESS is published in the UK today
There is an idealism to this book that refreshes readers jaded by the claims of 'techno-futurism' and the aspirations of oligarchs.—Kirkus Reviews
The paperback version of PROGRESS is published in the UK today
August 13, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Shatters the ideological foundation of liberalism and capitalism.—Prof Thea Riofrancos
There is an idealism to this book that refreshes readers jaded by the claims of 'techno-futurism' and the aspirations of oligarchs.—Kirkus Reviews
The paperback version of PROGRESS is published in the UK today
There is an idealism to this book that refreshes readers jaded by the claims of 'techno-futurism' and the aspirations of oligarchs.—Kirkus Reviews
The paperback version of PROGRESS is published in the UK today
"This is a wise book"—Bill McKibben
"a provocative interrogation of the very foundations of modern society.” —Publishers Weekly starred review
"explodes the great myth of our time...Lucid and wise."—Prof David Farrier
The beautiful hardcover version of PROGRESS is on sale at Barnes & Noble:
"a provocative interrogation of the very foundations of modern society.” —Publishers Weekly starred review
"explodes the great myth of our time...Lucid and wise."—Prof David Farrier
The beautiful hardcover version of PROGRESS is on sale at Barnes & Noble:
August 13, 2026 at 11:14 AM
"This is a wise book"—Bill McKibben
"a provocative interrogation of the very foundations of modern society.” —Publishers Weekly starred review
"explodes the great myth of our time...Lucid and wise."—Prof David Farrier
The beautiful hardcover version of PROGRESS is on sale at Barnes & Noble:
"a provocative interrogation of the very foundations of modern society.” —Publishers Weekly starred review
"explodes the great myth of our time...Lucid and wise."—Prof David Farrier
The beautiful hardcover version of PROGRESS is on sale at Barnes & Noble:
July 31, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Michigan Governor caught on hot mic with Oracle CEO Clay Magouyrk, discussing citizen opposition to AI data centers, bragging how she ignores their concerns: “We’re used to people saying 'f*ck no,' & doing it anyway.”🇺🇸
June 10, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Michigan Governor caught on hot mic with Oracle CEO Clay Magouyrk, discussing citizen opposition to AI data centers, bragging how she ignores their concerns: “We’re used to people saying 'f*ck no,' & doing it anyway.”🇺🇸
The oil & gas drones have less cognitive agency and less life-value than insects
The real reason Mark Carney wants to build so many AI data centres?
@jenstden.bsky.social and I report on internal govt documents explaining one of the top 'public policy benefits to Canada' of data centres is they 'provide markets' for gas producers.
www.desmog.com/2026/06/11/m... @desmog.com
@jenstden.bsky.social and I report on internal govt documents explaining one of the top 'public policy benefits to Canada' of data centres is they 'provide markets' for gas producers.
www.desmog.com/2026/06/11/m... @desmog.com
Mark Carney Advisor Says AI Data Centres ‘Provide Markets’ For Gas
Boosting energy production is one of the top ‘public policy benefits to Canada’ of data centres, internal Privy Council document explains.
www.desmog.com
June 11, 2026 at 3:25 PM
The oil & gas drones have less cognitive agency and less life-value than insects
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
"ChatGPT, the most heavily used AI service, gave wrong information in 46% of its answers, including making up an expenses scandal, giving inaccurate replies on voter eligibility rules and getting the date of the election wrong by two months."
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
ChatGPT and other AI bots made huge errors before Scottish election, study finds
Exclusive: Electoral Commission calls for new controls as Demos finds tools made up fake scandals, invented candidates or gave wrong date
www.theguardian.com
May 21, 2026 at 9:36 AM
"ChatGPT, the most heavily used AI service, gave wrong information in 46% of its answers, including making up an expenses scandal, giving inaccurate replies on voter eligibility rules and getting the date of the election wrong by two months."
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Don't be virgin AI user
May 20, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Don't be virgin AI user
There's only one solution to this
Must read: xAI is poisoning Mississippi, captured via thermal imaging.
March 10, 2026 at 6:35 PM
There's only one solution to this
Nuclear energy is not "available around the clock". Reactors often have to be shut down during heat-waves or other intense weather events—which are increasing—and when they are, they rely on diesel generators. Nuclear is carbon-heavy. They want a world both too hot to inhabit and irradiated.
Europe needs homegrown, low-carbon energy sources.
Nuclear & renewables together have a key role to play.
Nuclear energy is available around the clock, providing electricity all year.
Europe has been a pioneer in nuclear technology.
And can lead again
→ link.europa.eu/jwqwNv
Nuclear & renewables together have a key role to play.
Nuclear energy is available around the clock, providing electricity all year.
Europe has been a pioneer in nuclear technology.
And can lead again
→ link.europa.eu/jwqwNv
March 10, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Nuclear energy is not "available around the clock". Reactors often have to be shut down during heat-waves or other intense weather events—which are increasing—and when they are, they rely on diesel generators. Nuclear is carbon-heavy. They want a world both too hot to inhabit and irradiated.
March 10, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Delighted to have my essay, 'AI is a Performance of Progress, Not the Real Thing', republished at the excellent @popnbalance.bsky.social ! www.populationbalance.org/essays/ai-is...
AI is a Performance of Progress, Not the Real Thing — Population Balance
It would be reasonable to see the AI rollout as history’s most diversified form of mass theft. The initial “training” of generative AI programs involved stealing copyright-protected intellectual prope...
www.populationbalance.org
January 27, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Delighted to have my essay, 'AI is a Performance of Progress, Not the Real Thing', republished at the excellent @popnbalance.bsky.social ! www.populationbalance.org/essays/ai-is...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
big thanks to the brilliant @racheldonald.bsky.social for the opportunity to chat on Planet: Critical
we kicked off the new year by asking: what's up with climate fiction?
www.planetcritical.com/heather-mill...
we kicked off the new year by asking: what's up with climate fiction?
www.planetcritical.com/heather-mill...
How Fiction Makes Sense of the Crisis | Heather Milligan
How does literature reflect the crisis we're collectively experiencing—and why do some of the novels published today fail to grasp both the intensity and complexity of our world?
www.planetcritical.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:15 PM
big thanks to the brilliant @racheldonald.bsky.social for the opportunity to chat on Planet: Critical
we kicked off the new year by asking: what's up with climate fiction?
www.planetcritical.com/heather-mill...
we kicked off the new year by asking: what's up with climate fiction?
www.planetcritical.com/heather-mill...
New polemic about loving and hating the USA.
January 8, 2026 at 12:51 PM
New polemic about loving and hating the USA.
Delighted to see Progress included in Porchlight's Best New Business Books in Dec www.porchlightbooks.com/collections/...
January 5, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Delighted to see Progress included in Porchlight's Best New Business Books in Dec www.porchlightbooks.com/collections/...
One of the few things I've read recently that seems like a genuinely positive development and feels plausibly optimistic: socialistforum.dsausa.org/issues/fall-...
Mexico City’s UTOPIAs – Socialist Forum
socialistforum.dsausa.org
December 31, 2025 at 5:19 PM
One of the few things I've read recently that seems like a genuinely positive development and feels plausibly optimistic: socialistforum.dsausa.org/issues/fall-...
My book provides a novel framework/historical analysis explaining how and why this lineage of development has led to the environmental and inequality crises of today, how narratives of progress have reproduced this lineage, and offers viable ways out of these crises. Links below...
December 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM
My book provides a novel framework/historical analysis explaining how and why this lineage of development has led to the environmental and inequality crises of today, how narratives of progress have reproduced this lineage, and offers viable ways out of these crises. Links below...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
「Progress」out—looking intriguing and challenging, by @smillermcdonald.bsky.social. Much looking forward to reading a solid social science framework, which most literature on climate policy lacks, that aims to develop possible alternatives to the idea of progress. bookshop.org/p/books/prog...
Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It
How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It
bookshop.org
December 15, 2025 at 5:10 AM
「Progress」out—looking intriguing and challenging, by @smillermcdonald.bsky.social. Much looking forward to reading a solid social science framework, which most literature on climate policy lacks, that aims to develop possible alternatives to the idea of progress. bookshop.org/p/books/prog...
Reposted by Samuel Miller McDonald
Organisations like Our World in Data and folk like Steven Pinker would have us believe that everything is getting better because lines are travelling a certain way on charts.
This week's guest @smillermcdonald.bsky.social thoroughly debunks that.
Listen now: www.planetcritical.com/the-myth-of-...
This week's guest @smillermcdonald.bsky.social thoroughly debunks that.
Listen now: www.planetcritical.com/the-myth-of-...
December 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Organisations like Our World in Data and folk like Steven Pinker would have us believe that everything is getting better because lines are travelling a certain way on charts.
This week's guest @smillermcdonald.bsky.social thoroughly debunks that.
Listen now: www.planetcritical.com/the-myth-of-...
This week's guest @smillermcdonald.bsky.social thoroughly debunks that.
Listen now: www.planetcritical.com/the-myth-of-...