"Kate and Julie describe it as “social proof,” visibly demonstrating to others that authoritarianism can and must be resisted, however humble the means. I prefer to think
of it as courage begetting courage….Giving up is the only unforgivable sin."
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/03/o...
book cover, looks like a hand drawn blueprint with a few pink highlights, title "How to Assemble and Activist" by Saul Austerlitz. Drawing of a man surrounded by some of the objects one needs to be an activist, including a laptop, snacks, comfortable shoes, a rain jacket, a phone charger
I illustrated the cover for @saulausterlitz.bsky.social's new book "How To Assemble an Activist." The publisher said that his wife, "who has a history of not holding back her opinions on book covers immediately loved it!"
It's also a great read!
www.unsungvoicesbooks.com/sausterlitz-...
"Real things are happening in America. And ordinary people just like you—men who selected hoodies out of their dressers that morning, women who answered a knock at the door—are being challenged to insist on the safety and well-being of others.”
Hand holding paperback book titled “How to Assemble an Activist” by Saul Austerlitz. The cover evokes a hand drawn blueprint with a man and items he needs to be an activist, including a laptop, backpack, umbrella, snacks and sticky notes.
I had the honor to illustrate and design the cover for @saulausterlitz.bsky.social’s latest book “How to Assemble an Activist.” It’s part memoir and part instruction manual, and Saul is such an engaging writer. Also, he’s a mensch.
www.unsungvoicesbooks.com/sausterlitz-...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
Don’t give up hope—not now, not ever.
If you read Michelle Goldberg’s column in today’s New York Times about having “more ICE whistles in my house than I can count, because my neighbors are constantly handing them out, most recently at my daughter’s dance recital,” that was our group handing out those whistles.
Some of those lessons feel especially relevant right now, watching ICE terrorize the inhabitants of a major American city. You can read an excerpt from the book here:
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/my-acting-...
And no, we have not given up. America is too precious not to fight for it.
My new book “How to Assemble an Activist” is the story of our group during Trump 1.0, and some of the lessons we learned collectively about how to effectively combat authoritarianism, and how not to submit to despair.
We also got through a pandemic and helped defeat Donald Trump the first time around. (We also wasted time sending faxes to senators and made countless other newbie mistakes.)
Over the next four years, our rapidly growing group would call our reps, raise money for refugees and asylum seekers, show up at countless rallies and marches, write postcards and letters, donate to candidates, register voters, and knock on thousands of doors for political candidates.
We had absolutely no idea what we were doing, but we were committed to figuring it out.
I emailed a guy from my neighborhood named Jeff, asked him if he’d seen a document that had been going around online about how to effectively reach out to your elected officials, and wondered if he wanted to start a local Indivisible group with me.
Nine years ago, after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States for the first time, I panicked. How would we carry on as a country?
I’m so thrilled to have had the good fortune to have the brilliant @meganpiont.bsky.social design the cover of my new book “How to Assemble an Activist”
The good people at the Ministry of Pop Culture ( @ministrypopculture.bsky.social ) have named my book BREAK THE FRAME: CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN FILMMAKERS as a top pop culture book of 2025. Thank you all!
It was a real pleasure getting to speak with @sepinwall.bsky.social about all things TV for Ministry of Pop Culture. Read it to find out his favorite character on TV. (Spoiler alert: it’s Mel.)
Could 'Magic Mike XXL' Cure Our Heterofatalism?
As Sabrina Carpenter bemoans manchildren, a 10-year-old popcorn flick shows us a better way. ⤵️
#music #filmsky #sabrinacarpenter #authors
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/could-magi...
Thanks, Kevin! It was so great to get to share your terrific interview. And the book is so good!
The Ministry of Pop Culture is one of my favorite newsletters, intelligent, zip bam boom writing about pop culture old and new.
Tre menchy of them & @saulausterlitz.bsky.social to include an excerpt of my talk with Amy Heckerling, director of FAST TIMES and CLUELESS as part of their lineup.
In a stunning take, Saul Austerlitz dives into Andor—exploring resistance and the politics of endurance in the sci-fi spy thriller drama.
@saulausterlitz.bsky.social
#filmsky #starwars #andor
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/one-drop-a...
Scene Study: 'The Studio'
In search of one perfect take on Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's Apple series.
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/scene-stud...
What a restless camera and a pair of outbursts tell us about violence and despair in the acclaimed Netflix drama. #Adolescence
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/scene-stud...
Some thoughts on Season 3 of The White Lotus.
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/show-thera...
It is kind-of hilarious that no one is like, “whoa, our luxury vacation ended in multiple rounds of gunfire!”
#thewhitelotus
Our deep dive on Season 3 of The White Lotus, a particularly death-obsessed season that offered a resolution that included poisoned smoothies, jaw-dropping direct deposits, daddy issues and flying bullets.
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/show-thera...
Do You Have to Be Smart to Play Dumb?
From Henry Fonda and Betty White to Amanda Seyfried and Paul Rudd, some of our quickest wits have given stand-out performances as airheads.
#tvrecs #actors #film #parksandrec #meangirls
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/do-you-hav...
Today, we are talking all matters Severance after the season 2 finale, in which camcorders worked magic, drumlines drummed, and we took up residence in the windmills of Mark S.’ mind.
Let us know what you think! :))
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/show-thera...
“These environments give the actors some semblance of reality... they can feel like they're in a place where they can be relaxed, where they might go and have a drink."
- Steve Rostine, set decorator for #TheOffice, on building Poor Richard’s.
Ministry writer Thea Glassman spoke to the production and set designers behind beloved fictional eateries to find out how they brought these deliciously memorable worlds to life. Check it out!
ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/building-a...
Thank you, Kevin!
