Bruce Robbins

Bruce Robbins, Columbia humanities professor and author of Who's Allowed to Protest?, discusses double standards in how protests are treated. He examines accusations that protesters are privileged, comparisons to Vietnam-era dissent, immigration and protest rights, the role of expertise versus anti-elitism, and why campuses like Columbia become flashpoints. Multiple short, vivid conversations explore these contested topics.

Bruce Robbins, a humanities professor at Columbia University and author of 'Atrocity, a Literary History,' explores how literature tackles the darkest aspects of human history. He discusses the moral responsibilities of authors in addressing mass violence and how fictional narratives often provide insight that mere facts cannot. The conversation also dives into the effectiveness of iconic works like 'Slaughterhouse-Five' and '100 Years of Solitude.' Additionally, Hemingway expert Alex Vernon shares his choice for the last book he would read, while playful banter liven up discussions on marriage and literary parties.