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Teri Kanefield

@terikanefield.bsky.social

36K followers 85 following 616 posts

Former appellate defender and UC Berkeley Law graduate. I’ve written more than a dozen books and published more than 50 pieces in major outlets including The Washington Post. Website: www.terikanefield.com

Posts Replies Media

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

As long as I am on the topic, here's another issue: Agencies have authors sign agreements, and those agreements benefit the agency. See the problem? What if your lawyer gave you a contract to sign and the contract benefitted the lawyer? Isn't the lawyer supposed to watch out for your interests?

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

On another site someone told me that I am, in fact, indicting agents. But if I am setting this up as a structural problem, and the structure was created by the publisher, the agent is just in the middle. Also agents are not trained as lawyers so they are not likely to understand . . . 1/

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I suppose writing about the problems with the traditional publishing industry isn't that far from what I've been writing about: The digital disruption and how it is making it difficult for the public to get good information. I have been disheartened by what I've seen lately in trad publishing.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

At heart, this is an indictment of the traditional publishing establishment. Literary agents are just doing their jobs. terikanefield.com/traditional-...

terikanefield.com

"Let Every Eye Negotiate for Itself": A Legal Breakdown of the Literary Agent Model - Teri Kanefield

Ideally, traditional publishers—like librarians—should act as guardians of the culture, but, well . . . 🤷 Ready for a legal breakdown of the literary agent model? Along the way, I’ll offer a personal ...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I usually post stuff on Saturdays (when I have something) and I did this yesterday, so, here it is again. Ready for a legal breakdown of the literary agent model? Warning: The rebel in me may be coming out. terikanefield.com/traditional-... The warnings . . . 1/

terikanefield.com

"Let Every Eye Negotiate for Itself": A Legal Breakdown of the Literary Agent Model - Teri Kanefield

Ideally, traditional publishers—like librarians—should act as guardians of the culture, but, well . . . 🤷 Ready for a legal breakdown of the literary agent model? Along the way, I’ll offer a personal ...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Ideally, the traditional publishing industry—like librarians—should act as guardians of the culture, but, well . . . 🤷 Ready for a legal breakdown of the literary agent model? Warning: The rebel in me may be coming out. 1/ terikanefield.com/traditional-...

terikanefield.com

"Let Every Eye Negotiate for Itself": A Legal Breakdown of the Literary Agent Model - Teri Kanefield

Ideally, traditional publishers—like librarians—should act as guardians of the culture, but, well . . . 🤷 Ready for a legal breakdown of the literary agent model? Me: Why write something that will mak...

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Tim Chambers @timothychambers.net · 19/07/2026

My team's work is this article on #AI in the @nytimes.com this morning: “Disinformation actors are, by definition, early adopters — they will use every technique and every technology they can,” said Tim Chambers, who runs the digital and social media arm of Dewey Square Group..." (1 of N)

Politicians Are Trying to Change What Chatbots Say About Them (Gift Article)

Political campaigns have something new to worry about these days: unflattering or incomplete information produced by A.I. programs when voters ask questions about candidates.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Hi, everyone, ICYMI, I updated my "Things I've Been Thinking About" webpage with a text from the two talks I gave in Madison, WI this weekend. Among other things ask whether we (yes, us, the good guys) are inadvertently contributing to the demise of democracy. terikanefield.com/things-ive-b...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

That was probably a lot of mumbo-jumbo for nothing. I could have just said: I put the text of my Madison Wisconsin talk, "The Power of Lies: Are We Creating Our Own Noise" at the top of my new "Things I've been Thinking About" page. It's here: terikanefield.com/things-ive-b...

terikanefield.com

Things I've Been Thinking About - Teri Kanefield

So, find a comfy chair, settle in, and scroll down to see if anything interests you. “He who knows only his side of the case knows little of that.” –John Stuart Mill, On Liberty “The spirit of liberty...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I updated my "Things I've Been Thinking About" page with the new piece, "The Power of Lies: Are We Creating Our Own Noise" terikanefield.com/things-ive-b... For now I put the new piece at the top, but later I'll put it where it goes conceptually. Why am I doing it this way? 1/

terikanefield.com

Musings Page - Teri Kanefield

So, find a comfy chair, settle in, and scroll down to see if anything interests you. “He who knows only his side of the case knows little of that.” –John Stuart Mill, On Liberty “The spirit of liberty...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Hi, Everyone, Last week, I gave two talks in Madison, Wi. Here is what I had to say: terikanefield.com/the-power-of... It was my first time in Wisconsin. The weather was perfect, the lakes were beautiful, and the Verona Public Library is an amazing building.

terikanefield.com

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Here is what I like. Instead of saying "Buy her book" they are giving away free copies of my book. The first 20 people who show up get a free copy. That's because this is a library and libraries are totally 100% awesome.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Any Madison, Wisconsin peeps? I'll be speaking tomorrow at two public libraries, the Verona Library at 10:00 am and the Meadowridge Library at 2:00. I've never been here before. What a lovely place. And the people are definitely nice. www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/event...

madisonpubliclibrary.org

Teri Kanefield for A Firehose of Falsehood

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

yarkot.bsky.social @yarkot.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

I enjoyed Teri’s writing here, a book chapter from her: terikanefield.com/1-demagogues... I’ll add one more reference read: See Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s nice writeup of Good & Evil in the last chapter of his book, “Finding Flow”, called “Love of Fate”. #AwarenessMatters

terikanefield.com

Chapter 1: Demagogues and Artists - Teri Kanefield

Chapter 1Demagogues and Artists In September 2024, I went to Chile for the national independence festivities and a family reunion for my husband and his siblings. While there, I learned something that...

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Jny🦅brd @justicelicsw.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

If you’re looking for calm, clear, & thoughtful, in the midst of the noise, read Teri’s page.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Hi, Bluesky I haven't been blogging much, so instead the usual blog page, I created a new (super cool) page. I went back over my key pieces from the past 7 years, updated stuff, and added new stuff. terikanefield.com/things-ive-b... Making website pages is fun. Who knew?

terikanefield.com

Musings Page - Teri Kanefield

So, find a comfy chair, settle in, and scroll down to see if anything interests you. “He who knows only his side of the case knows little of that.” –John Stuart Mill, On Liberty “The spirit of liberty...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

I guess there's some sporting event going on.

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

AMPTsuper @amptsuper.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Teri Kanefield posts require reading. What a concept? Always come away feeling like the 💡💡are getting turned on. PS: Librarians are the best. They are the center of a community and librarians will help you find a book, even if it's a book they don't like. It's more than a job. It's a calling.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Hi everyone, I have a weekend blog post ready. I was asked to speak to a group of librarians this week. Here is a text of the discussion about how to best deal with would-be censors and how we came to this moment. terikanefield.com/libraries-un...

terikanefield.com

Libraries Under Attack (wait, what? Those peaceful people?) - Teri Kanefield

First, an announcement. I will be in Madison, Wisconsin at the Madison Public Library (Meadowridge) on Saturday, June 20, to talk about “The Firehose of Falsehood and the Spread of Extremism.” If you’...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Today is an important anniversary. 73 years ago, on April 23, 1951, in Farmville, VA, Barbara Johns led a walkout of her segregated high school to protest the unfair and deplorable conditions of her school. What?! You don’t know who Barbara Johns was? This will stop your doomscrolling. 1/

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Why isn't it immediately obvious to everyone that the solution is to move away from dependence on oil? (I know why there is resistance, of course. The oil industry generates a lot of money.) But still. www.reuters.com/business/ene...

Reopened Strait of Hormuz and falling oil prices may recast Fed's options for future cuts

Reopened Middle East shipping and plummeting oil prices on Friday boosted bets the U.S. Federal Reserve may begin cutting interest rates as soon as December, but officials ‌still face a tangled outlo...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Maybe this was a long-term pro-environmental strategy. Perhaps the intention all along was to force the US to adopt clean energy sources and reduce our dependence on oil.

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Amazing. But it seems that the US is *assuming* that Iran will emerge from the war vastly stronger. able to either dictate or seriously contest sovereignty over the strait, exact tolls, etc.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

My 16-year-old Chilean nephew was curious about what’s happening with ICE. In Chile, the word “conservative” is associated with capitalism, and “liberal” is associated with communism. He observed that Trump says he’s a capitalist but doesn’t act like one. 1/ terikanefield.com/let-my-peopl...

terikanefield.com

Let My People In: The Story of Immigration in the U.S. - Teri Kanefield

My sixteen-year-old Chilean nephew was curious about what’s going on with ICE. In Chile, the word “conservative” is associated with capitalism, and the word “liberal” is associated with communism. He ...

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

AkivaMCohen @akivamcohen.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

People, I'm BEGGING you: If you are going to share that leaked 60 minutes segment, INCLUDE SOME COMMENTARY in your post that makes it necessary for readers to have access to the full video to understand the commentary. CBS has a deep black eye over this and the odds that they'll look to punish ppl

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Are there any librarians with time to read a piece of literary fiction? I looked for a setting to make sure my DMs are open to anyone, but I can't find it.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

I learned that some people are using AI to generate a summary of the book I'm offering free 😆 I therefore decided to compete with AI by writing my own summary, which I am calling Over the Cliff Notes. You can find them here: terikanefield.com/over-the-cli... 1/

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

happyluckyidiot.bsky.social @happyluckyidiot.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

here's the YT playlist for this, if anyone wants a podcast listen version. www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen - YouTube

This series is for people who have looked around at all the anger and division and wondered how we reached this point. I’m Teri Kanefield, a lawyer and autho...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Hey everyone, online ratings (Goodreads and retail sites) are helpful, so if you read it and feel inclined, I'd appreciate it. If you download it from one of the online bookstores, I think you can leave a rating there. Thanks!!

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

It’s finished. It’s also not finished because, in the words of Paul Valéry, a piece of writing is never finished. Ultimately it is abandoned. That’s because writing is thinking, and we’re never finished with that. Anyway, I figured out what to do with that long blog post . . . 1/

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

My publisher never emails me on weekends, but . . . there was good news yesterday. ncte.org/awards/orbis... Scroll down for the first honor book. My editor said it's a big deal so I believe him.

Orbis Pictus Award (Nonfiction for Children)

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

You can find political messages in interesting places in California. This painted rock was spotted along a trail in the coastal range.

Rock with "Yes on 50" painted on it.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

I finished that thing I've been writing. It looks like I've taken on some big questions. The conclusions are what I’ve been trying to say for several years, but I believe now I've explained it better and with more context. terikanefield.com/whyextremism... For a blog post . . . 1/

terikanefield.com

Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen (and how to protect democracy in a divided world) - Teri Kanefield

Hello, and welcome. I plan to take on some big questions, including: Why do some people spiral into extremism? Why does democracy seem perpetually on the brink? Why are we so divided? What can we do t...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Part II of this thing I’m working on is ready. Part I was called “Here’s Why Intolerance and Extremism happen.” It was about demagogues and artists (and more). In Part II, I quote the lyrics to three songs . . . terikanefield.com/heres-why/ 1/

terikanefield.com

Here's Why - Teri Kanefield

* * * Welcome! If you’ve already read Part I, click here to skip to Part II. * * * Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national indepe...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Okay, whew. I've been writing. Some light summer beach reading . . . NOT I begin by going over familiar territory: The authoritarian personality, what the neuroscientists tell us about our political differences. I need this because the new stuff requires context, so please stick with me. . . 1/

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Popping into say sorry I've been MIA so long. A combination of traveling, family commitments, and getting involved in what you might call a local political issue has taken my time. But I am working on a piece of writing that feels ambitious. I will share it when it's ready.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Hi, everyone, I am traveling so I haven’t been posting (or writing) much. Here is a first for me: The New York Times Book Review did a full review on my latest book. Here is a gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/04/b... 1/

Making the Bill of Rights Relevant to Young Readers

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Meredith W @meredithw.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

I started reading when the ebook dropped at midnight; it's excellent. I learned a lot just reading the prologue. I love how @terikanefield.bsky.social uses court cases to show how the amendments have been interpreted and reinterpreted over the years. #BillOfRights #UShistory #books #law

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

(Trying again because of typo. . .) Hello Bluesky Peeps. I have a birth announcement. (Yeah, I know it's corny, but I've been creating birth announcements for each book, beginning with my firstborn novel in 2001. Back then I didn't have photoshop.) And now, a moment of reflection . . . 1/

Birth announcement showing a stork bringing a book with the following:
Name: Rebels, Robbers, and Radicals: The Story of the Bill of Rights.
Birthday: May 20, 2024
Weight: 220 pages
Author: Teri Kanefield

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

In honor of the special occasion, I have a blog post ready: All About the Tenth Amendment. (No, really, it IS all about the Tenth Amendment) The history of the Tenth Amendment explains (almost) everything happening in American politics and government today. terikanefield.com/its-all-abou...

terikanefield.com

It's All About the Tenth Amendment - Teri Kanefield

No, really, it is. The history of the Tenth Amendment explains [almost] everything happening in politics and government today. But before I get to the [scintillating] topic of the Tenth Amendment, I h...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

After working all morning to get the blog post done, I needed a break. My favorite 3 year old challenged me to a game of hide and seek. Where CAN he be? (I'm sure his eyes are closed, which naturally makes it harder for me to see him.)

Child's hand sticking out from under a blanket.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

I have a blog post ready. It's here: terikanefield.com/your-brain-o... When the Guardian, the Telegraph, and @jenmercieca.bsky.social recommended The Ideological Brain by Leor Zmigrod, I figured I should get a copy and read it. So I did. I'll start with a 2 picture summary of the book ⤵️ 1/

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

I just realized it's April 23. That means it's the anniversary of the Farmville, Virginia Motion High School student strike. What? You don't know about that? Well, in 1951, Barbara Johns was fed up with the deplorable conditions in her segregated school, so she organized a strike. 1/

Graduation picture 1953 Barbara Johns

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

And thanks, @goodreedaj.bsky.social for the lovely review. agoodreedreview.com/2025/04/05/b...

agoodreedreview.com

The timely history of the Bill of Rights

By Ande Jacobson Teri Kanefield’s writing is often quite timely, and her latest book is no exception. At a time when individual rights are in peril, Kanefield’s upcoming book, Rebels, Robbers, and …

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

So I saw Wicked, Part I. Anyone else like it? It was so woke. And it was about democracy and fascism. (Or maybe if you spend e enough time thinking about democracy and fascism, everything is about democracy and fascism. Or maybe everything IS about democracy and fascism🤔 ) 1/

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

bookred.bsky.social @bookred.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

This is fascinating.

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Sean’s Thumbs @seansthumbs.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

“Modern critics of democracy describe it this way: Majority rule is the equivalent of two wolves and a sheep voting on the dinner menu.” Author @terikanefield.bsky.social traces the appeal of monarchy throughout history ⬇️: terikanefield.com/part-5-do-th...

terikanefield.com

Part 5: Do the People Want a King? - Teri Kanefield

To gain perspective on today’s politics, I have set out on a journey. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but I’m thinking something like “Make Political Philosophy Cool Again.” Here’s where we’ve been ...

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Oh, and some news. My upcoming book is a Junior Library Guild selection. I haven't received my certificate or the gold sticker that goes on the books, but I've been assured they are on their way. And the first trade review (Kirkus) was quite positive: www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

kirkusreviews.com

REBELS, ROBBERS, AND RADICALS | Kirkus Reviews

A compelling exploration of the Bill of Rights that weaves together landmark cases, historical narratives, and reflections on the paradoxes of liberty.

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Hello Bluesky Peeps: I have a new blog post ready called "Do the People Want a King?" Usually I write a short intro but it seems to me a blog post called "Do the People Want a King" needs no further introduction. terikanefield.com/part-5-do-th...

terikanefield.com

Part 5: Do the People Want a King? - Teri Kanefield

To gain perspective on today’s politics, I have set out on a journey. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but I’m thinking something like “Make Political Philosophy Cool Again.” Here’s where we’ve been ...

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Sean’s Thumbs @seansthumbs.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

“Specifically the founders feared that a demagogue, or a leader of the people, would lead the people to disaster.” *Excellent* essay by author/historian/attorney/former teacher/former “Twitter Mom” @terikanefield.bsky.social ⬇️: terikanefield.com/part-4-socra...

terikanefield.com

Socrates and the Subversive Element - Teri Kanefield

I started out writing about the trial and execution of Socrates. This brought me to the nature of subversiveness and the role of subversive elements in a democracy. * * * To gain perspective on tod...