iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Hudson Valley/Capital Region people: I'll be speaking tomorrow at the Chatham (N.Y.) Public Library, 1:30 pm, about the great political backstory behind the Erie Canal, whose bicentennial we'll be celebrating next month. Hope to see you there ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

I'm thrilled to announce that my next book, a biography of Thomas Cooper (1759-1839), has been accepted by LSU Press as part of its distinguished Southern Biography Series. Cooper was ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

It's flattering to see that the Sex and the City people think that middle-aged historians look like this shirtless:

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

I really enjoyed being a guest on Evan Axelbank's excellent history podcast, though I revealed a few embarrassing childhood stories about presidential figurines and American Heritage books: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1... @evanaxelbank.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com

#182: James Bradley -

Podcast Episode · Axelbank Reports History and Today · 07/29/2025 · 49m

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

The only piece you'll ever read about unions, Martin Van Buren, Jerry Brown, Christopher Hitchens and Milton Friedman: jamesbradley.substack.com/p/when-the-l...

jamesbradley.substack.com

When the Left Was Laissez-Faire

A primer on politics and organized labor in the 1830s

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

The Wikipedia entry on the presidential election of 1796 refers to John Adams as "Lucifer" and his wife as "Lilith," the "first human woman in existence, and the Queen of Hell." Need a laugh? Read this ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

On most days my role model is not another historian or writer but a fictional character. My new Substack post. jamesbradley.substack.com/p/my-worldan...

jamesbradley.substack.com

My World—and Welcome to It

What Walter Mitty has taught me about work habits

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

In my latest Substack I write about being a "best-selling author" and hitting the road to talk Van Buren: substack.com/inbox/post/1...

substack.com

My Little Book Tour

On being a "best-selling author" and a celebrity for a day (or two)

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Self-promotion feels a bit unseemly these days, but we must get on with our lives, of course. I'll be speaking at Cumberland tonight, on MVB's 1848 run for president on the Free Soil ticket. You can watch on YouTube, 7pm CST, 8pm, EST. www.youtube.com/live/7WGyzFp...

youtube.com

Cynthia Van Buren Lecture Series

YouTube video by CumberlandU

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

A new MVB biography was released a few weeks ago. The subtitle's illiterate and the text (from the sample I saw) isn't much better. The cover image looks nothing like him. If this is what I suspect it is, I thought Amazon was cracking down on AI books?

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Had a fun time chatting with Matt Chorley of the BBC this morning. He's the first interviewer to ask for my take on Trump and today's party system. Q&A is about 8 minutes. I come on at the 50:30 mark. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Matt Chorley - Nick chat, Paddy facts, wash your pan at home? - BBC Sounds

Nick Robinson joins Matt, plus Paddy O'Connell goes to PMQs.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Calling all Van Buren fans in the UK ... My book is now out in your country. MVB was a committed Anglophile, and I wrote a great deal about his time in London. Also, I'll be interviewed on Matt Chorley's BBC show tomorrow morning, 9:30 EST. Here's the link: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Radio 5 Live - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Tonight I'll be talking at Cumberland University about MVB's run for president with the Free Soil Party in 1848. Don't live in Nashville? Don't worry! You can catch it on YouTube. 7pm CT, so it's 8pm on the east coast. Hope you can watch ... www.youtube.com/live/lt8N1KH...

youtube.com

Cynthia Van Buren Lecture Series

YouTube video by CumberlandU

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

If, for some reason, you were preoccupied last night and missed my interview with Al Vuona on WICN, Worcester Public Radio, I have good news. It will be rebroadcast this evening at 6:30. Here's the link: wicn.org/shows/public...

wicn.org

Public Eye - 90.5 WICN Public Radio

Don’t look now but we’ve got our eye on it…“The Public Eye,” that is! From controversy to culture, this half-hour talk show will inform, enlighten and hopefully entertain you. This is where history co...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

To all my fans in the Nashville area ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I see there's a new biography of James Alexander Hamilton coming out. This brave writer actually read his letters. She deserves special recognition for this. He had the worst handwriting—and my colleagues at @vanburenpapers.bsky.social will back me up on this. www.amazon.com/James-Alexan...

amazon.com

James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution

James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution [Wilcoxson, Samantha] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

I really enjoyed discussing my new book on Xavier Bonilla's terrific Converging Dialogues podcast. You can listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...

podcasts.apple.com

#397 - The Life and Presidency of Martin Van Buren: A Dialogue with James M. Bradley

Podcast Episode · Converging Dialogues · 01/23/2025 · 1h 26m

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

The fine writer (and JQA biographer) James Traub gave my a book a nice write-up in the estimable Washington Monthly, a publication that comes out ... every two months. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/01/05/p...

washingtonmonthly.com

Party Animal | Washington Monthly

Martin Van Buren, father of the Democrats, knew that the Founders were wrong about partisan politics.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

The audio version of my book is out, and @paulwoodson.bsky.social's golden, sonorous narration is a sheer delight! (I know, I'm not exactly impartial here.) Now I know "Southwick" is pronounced "suth-ick." The info is here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...

rbmediaglobal.com

RBmedia | Martin Van Buren

Listen to the audiobook Martin Van Buren, written by James M. Bradley, narrated by Paul Woodson.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

This is the year I do it! Check in with me in 12 months.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

This is William Leuchtenburg. He has a new book out called Patriot Presidents, which I'm reading now. It's the first of a multivolume history of the presidency. He's 102. "I recognize that this project maybe be too ambitious," he writes. "But I am resolved to carry it through." An inspiration.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

I was 11 when Jimmy Carter was elected. It's the first POTUS campaign I have memories of. It was called late. My parents had sent me to bed since it was a school night. "Carter won!" I heard my father cry. I then went to sleep smiling, knowing my parents were happy.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

From today's New York Times. Right now I would like to institutionalize many in our government.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

The official cutoff point for Christmas music on radio/streaming stations should be noon on Christmas Day.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Step aside, Obama. (I should add that Bill O'Reilly, Pete Hegseth, Roger Stone, and a few crackpot conspiracists are topping both of us)

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I'm excited to announce that tomorrow at noon I'll be talking with the great Russell Shorto for the Live From New Amsterdam podcast. It's free but you need to register. Perfect to go with your lunch. www.nyhistory.org/programs/liv...

nyhistory.org

Live From New Amsterdam: Maarten Van Buren | The New York Historical

Learn about America's 8th President with the New Amsterdam Project.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

You guys, Brian Lamb interviewed me on his Booknotes+ podcast. Brian Freaking Lamb! Of course he asked unusual questions, because he's Brian Lamb. It was great fun and an absolute thrill. Check it out here: www.c-span.org/podcasts/sub...

c-span.org

Podcasts from C-SPAN. Subscribe or Listen Now | C-SPAN.org

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Striking an unfortunate William F. Buckley pose at tonight's terrific talk at the FDR library with my Coe-host @alexiscoe.bsky.social.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Calling all history lovers in NY's Hudson Valley: Tomorrow I will be speaking at the Henry Wallace Center at the FDR house in Hyde Park at 6pm. My interlocutor will be the excellent @alexiscoe.bsky.social. It's free to the public but you need to register.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Do your part, everyone. Adam's the only historian on social media who says something wise and moving in one post and completely goofy in the next.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

This morning I learned that Juan Soto has joined the Mets from @adamrothman.bsky.social. Bluesky really has arrived.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Do I have *another* public appearance to announce? Why, yes, I do. This one's a biggie. It's in Van Buren's hometown of Kinderhook. A talk, book signing, cake, drinks—a veritable bacchanal. Details below.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

To those in the New York capital region, I'll be speaking tomorrow, Dec. 6, at the Albany Institute with Akum Norder of the Albany Times Union. We start at 5:30, and it's free. Followed with a book signing. Hope to see you there. www.albanyinstitute.org/events/educa...

albanyinstitute.org

Albany Institute of History & Art

The Albany Institute of History & Art connects diverse audiences to the art, history, and culture of the Upper Hudson Valley through its collections, exhibitions, and programs.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Hi, everyone! It's release day. I've been up since 4. I'm driving my wife crazy. I have no idea how seriously to take this, but this is pretty neat.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

A not altogether unfavorable review of my book in the Wall Street Journal. (MVB would have liked my double negative there ...) www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

wsj.com

13 Books We Read This Week

The scientist Founding Father, rockabilly’s pioneer, a dissident in Hong Kong and more.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

I also have a Substack column, where I write about US history and other pressing topics. Please consider subscribing. I don't post very often. Here I review the fine but flawed new biography of John Quincy Adams by Randall Woods. jamesbradley.substack.com/p/john-quinc...

jamesbradley.substack.com

John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People, by Randall Woods

The JQA train continues with a new doorstop biography

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

This line from Colm Toíbín's excellent new book on James Baldwin really struck me. I think every historian feels the same way. It all starts with our grandparents.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

One week from release day! I'm excited and terrified. I have several public events lined up for December, and I'll keep you all posted. I picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

I needed a break from nonfiction, so I've been reading new novels lately, some of them highly praised. Only one has really stood out: Joseph O'Neill's Godwin. Best novel I've read in ages.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I'm putting together a panel for Biographers' International Organization's annual conference next June in Washington, DC. Details below.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

I had a marvelous time talking with Mark Koblas on the @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social about Martin Van Buren and his life and times. newbooksnetwork.com/martin-van-b...

newbooksnetwork.com

James M. Bradley, "Martin Van Buren: America's First Politician" (Oxford UP, 2024) - New Books Network

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