Bedeutet Uns die Fußball-WM Wirklich Etwas?

With the World Cup nigh upon us, it seemed a good occasion to revisit an old article from four years ago (the last time the World Cup took place). Only this time, it's in German. For the original English version, click here. Die Fußballweltmeisterschaft ist fast da! Und obwohl ich schon 32 Jahre alt bin,…

On Novak Djokovic’s Refusal to Vaccinate Himself Against COVID-19.

In an exclusive interview for the BBC, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic offered the following justification for his refusal to vaccinate himself against COVID-19. "Me, as an elite professional athlete, I have always carefully reviewed, assessed everything that comes in from the supplements, food, the water that I drink, or sports drinks - anything really that…

Essential Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in too many changes to enumerate. Many of these changes are material or behavioural. But some are psychological. People's attitudes have evidently altered with respect to more or less every facet of life, whether it's the value of work, free time, travel, material consumption, or anything else. One change has…

Corbyn’s Brexit Neutrality

Jeremy Corbyn made headlines last Friday. In addition to his party's pledge to put to a referendum any deal they strike to leave the EU against the option to remain, he said that as Prime Minister he would adopt a 'neutral stance' on the two options. He later justified the decision as 'a sensible way…

On the Academic Job Market

Some weeks ago, trapped in a car by my sleeping child (I am responsible for the child; it isn't just immovably heavy or something), I thumbed some thoughts on the academic job market into my phone—specifically, thoughts from the perspective of a seasoned applicant directed at hiring committees and HR departments. I then shared them…

On Jan Leyk on Mesut Özil

The Sunday before last, German footballer and 2014 World Cup winner, Mesut Özil caused huge controversy, especially in Germany, when he retired from international football because, to unhelpfully condense the whole affair into one sentence, ‘racism should never ever be accepted’. The whole unseemly episode began when Özil and German team-mate Ilkay Gundoğan, who both enjoy…

Nils Stear Interviewed for R29 Article.

J-Lo recently remarked that men are useless before they turn 33. A Refinery 29 article asks various 33-year-old men whether this is true, here. They interviewed me for the piece on my 33rd birthday. For those short on time, my responses are here.

Do We Really Care about the World Cup?

The World Cup is finally upon us! And despite being 32 years old, I can barely contain my child-like excitement. I have supported the country of my birth (Germany) since I was 6 when, alas, they faltered to Denmark in the final of Euro '92. But one might sensibly wonder why I’m excited. After all,…

Are More Important Goals Better Goals?

In the 64th minute of yesterday's Champions League final, Gareth Bale scored an outrageous bicycle kick to give eventual winners Real Madrid the lead over Liverpool. Here it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JbOoJ_dge4 During the BBC’s Radio 5 Live coverage (at 1:25:33), commentators Mark Lawrenson and Chris Waddle debated whether it was a greater goal than Cristiano Ronaldo’s…

Guest Post: Imaginative Resistance and the Woody Allen Problem – Kathleen Stock

This post was originally posted at the Thinking About Fiction blog, here. I have a problem. I love mid-period Woody Allen films. In no particular order, I love: the jokes, the affection, the humanity, the characterisation, the depiction of family life, the locations, the performances, the references to other films, books and poetry, the clothes, the music,…