The MIT Press

08/02/2025

An alarming exposé of the new challenges to literary freedom in the age of social media, "That Book is Dangerous!" is a much-needed wake-up call for anyone who cares about reading, writing, and the publication of books—as well as the generations of young readers we are raising.

Out August 12th, 2025: https://lnkd.in/gcU7Azt2

08/01/2025

🌌 🔭 In celebration of Women Astronomers Day, we're proud to feature a selection of our books devoted to women who have shaped astronomy and space exploration. From the life and legacy of Henrietta Swan Leavitt to astronaut Kathryn Sullivan's inspiring memoir about her work on the Hubble Space Telescope, these books reveal the profound impact women have had on our understanding of the universe. https://mitpress.mit.edu/celebrating-national-women-astronomers-day/

07/31/2025

Inescapable and mysterious, black holes have long captured the imagination of visual artists, even before their existence was first confirmed in 1971. In "Conjuring the Void" (publishing October 21st), Lynn Gamwell explores this fascinating intersection of art and science.

"Conjuring the Void" traces our growing scientific knowledge of black holes and related phenomena while freely mixing in artworks inspired by them. Featuring 155-color illustrations, Gamwell considers the work of contemporary artists such as Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliasson, Takashi Murakami, and Danh Vō, discussing how they've explored themes of nothingness, emptiness, darkness, void, and silence in their visualizations of this enigmatic cosmic phenomenon.

Learn more: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049962/conjuring-the-void/

07/30/2025

A super cool dive into the design and specifically the type treatment used in Anna Von Mertens' book "Attention is Discovery": https://bit.ly/4o9vD9H

Belarius in “Attention is Discovery: The Life and Legacy of Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt” by Anna Von Mertens | TypeTogether

07/30/2025

"The book about Gamergate we have been waiting for ... As Massanari shows, Gamergate provided the Far Right not only with a new recruiting pool but also with a laboratory in which to develop tactics for gaming social media platforms to promote their toxic ideologies."

Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) includes Adrienne Massanari's investigation of the rise of techno-fascism, "Gaming Democracy," in a compelling review of recent scholarship on the alt-right: https://bit.ly/40Q9X8m

Jordan S. Carroll reviews recent scholarship on the alt-right.

07/29/2025

"We need to confront the commonplace claim that science is – or ought to be – objective and apolitical, uninfluenced by human culture, norms, or values."

A new piece in the Guardian US by the authors of "Feminism in the Wild," Ambika Kamath and Melina Packer: https://bit.ly/45ndXjn

We need to reckon honestly with science’s past and present to avoid a grim future

07/29/2025

If you haven’t yet browsed the Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science, their new Thematic Collections page organizes articles by subject area for easier discovery. In the Perception collection, the Director of the Visual Attention Lab, Jeremy M. Wolfe, provides an entry point to visual search: https://oecs.mit.edu/pub/n25y1nwt/release/1?readingCollection=275dbb46

We can't wait to connect with you in San Francisco during , which kicks off tomorrow, July 30th. Find us during the conference at table 4 to learn more about OECS!

07/28/2025

We have a deep, human tendency to abhor hypocrisy, but our attempts to stamp it out often backfire. In "The Hypocrisy Trap" (publishing October 14th), behavioral scientist Michael Hallsworth reveals the hidden psychology of double standards, showing that our relentless drive to expose inconsistency can actually breed more hypocrisy or, worse, cynicism that corrodes democracy itself.

Learn more: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262050944/the-hypocrisy-trap/

07/27/2025

Tom Mullaney believed the MingKwai — a legendary Chinese typewriter — had most likely ended up on a scrapheap. The New York Times reports on the incredible circumstances that led to its rediscovery and the efforts to preserve this cultural artifact: https://nyti.ms/4mei5YR

Learn more about the century-long quest for a workable Chinese typewriter in Mullaney's award-winning book, "The Chinese Typewriter": https://bit.ly/3IzzQ6m

A historian went down an 18-year rabbit hole in search of obsolete machines. But there was one he thought he’d never find.

07/26/2025

Online polarization and bias have become defining features of our digital age, particularly through the anonymous nature of social media interactions. But meaningful dialogue across ideological differences still remains possible—and indeed, necessary. Good-faith conversation can still effectively turn down the temperature on even some of the most controversial issues.

If you’re struggling to navigate conversations that feel increasingly fraught, we’ve gathered a collection of books that provide context to our current moment and provide tools for respectful, productive communication across ideological divides: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books-for-understanding-one-another/

07/25/2025

Caroline Boudoux, author of "It Goes without Saying: Taking the Guesswork Out of Your PhD in Engineering," shares 12 things that every PhD student should know via MIT Technology Review:

Here’s the practical advice nobody gave me before I started my PhD.

07/24/2025

Part-memoir, part-guidebook, "Sentido" (publishing October 4th) is an inspiring account of the power of design, diversity, and sisterhood from seasoned design leader Alison Rand.

The book derives its title from the Spanish word for “sense” or “to make sense of." Through her authentic storytelling, Rand bridges heart and business acumen to chronicle her journey as a multi-ethnic woman from New York City through a male-dominated, largely white corporate world in her evolution to becoming a design leader.

Written with broad appeal, "Sentido" is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of technology and society. Whether you are a Gen Z corporate worker, an identity-conscious millennial, or a Gen Xer seeking relatedness, inspiration, and representation, this book will empower you to find confidence in your voice, experience, and contributions, while also helping you become a more empathetic ally for the underrepresented in today’s corporate and professional work spheres.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4lwdL75