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Yesterday, I received an email from Rebecca Sharpless, Associate Professor of History at Texas Christian University.  It began (shared with permission): Dear David Perry, Thanks to you, I have now published in the New York Times.  Last Thursday, when I was debating on whether to weigh in on the Paula Deen flap with her cook, … Continue ReadingPublic Engagement – Go Speed Racer

The Toronto Star has a good essay that, like my own writing, explores the issue of what happens to a parent when they receive the diagnosis. When my son Max, now 5, was diagnosed with the complex brain disorder just after his third birthday, it was like a sucker punch to the gut. In one … Continue ReadingMore on McCarthy – from a parent of a child with autism.

Just a note, as I seem to be posting this a lot. 1. The person I read, in English, about the Pope, is John Allen at the New Catholic Reporter. In general, the NCR is my first stop when trying to figure out what modern Catholics with whom I generally agree are thinking. Well, my … Continue ReadingPope Francis – “Chi sono io per giudicare un gay?

Last week the Chronicle of Higher Education published my essay on public engagement. There’s some irony here, in that I just received positive reader reports on my book and entered a grant-writing period (now that I can apply for grants for the next project). So just as I’ve spoken as strongly and clearly as I … Continue ReadingPublic Engagement – Untapped Resources

In May 2005, I drove from Minneapolis to Northfield, to interview for my first academic position outside the graduate school bubble. The position involved teaching three classes, one in J-term and two in the spring, for the pre-modernist who was joining the “Great Conversation” program. It was a spectacularly beautiful spring day in Minnesota. I … Continue ReadingJames Farrell, St. Olaf College

No, that’s not a typo. Read this. Then read this explanation from Jezebel. Ok, so it’s a way for Choice U.S.A. to try and guys to explicitly endorse pro-choice policies and position themselves as allies to women. I was going to be on Huffington Post Live today to talk about it, as one of their … Continue ReadingThe bro-choice movement

I missed an oil change, the weather got hot, the light flashed red on my 1997 minivan, I bought and poured in some extra oil, and the next day I took it into the shop. Don’t worry, the van’s fine. While I was waiting, a pretty big guy came in and started talking loudly to … Continue ReadingEveryday Sexism – I need a new mechanic

Since The Atlantic – Health published my piece on Jenny McCarthy, I’ve gotten a lot of email. A lot of it has been from parents saying: I don’t like Jenny McCarthy, and I’m not sure about vaccines, but let me tell you about my child and the dramatic improvements I’ve seen as a result of … Continue ReadingVitamins, Snake Oil, and Jenny McCarthy

I have a new essay at “The Good Men Project” on why I call myself a feminist and what it means to me. Please go read it there and share it across your networks. This is my first publication there and I’d like it to do well. In many ways, it’s really an essay about … Continue ReadingStraight White Male Feminism