A book tour is a dizzying, whirl-a-gig experience. It catapults an author into a blur of very different podcasts and webinars, classroom talks and conference panels, media interviews and in-person events.
In my case, I also personally visited a number of cities with passionate commoners, including London, Amsterdam, Brussels, New York City, and hooray, Brattleboro, Vermont. By the end of my tour, mention of the word “commons” made me as talkative as a drunken magpie.
My visits and events were actually a kind of field research for me. I learned a lot about what people know and think about the commons, what initiatives they are already involved with, and what topics need more attention. I also made some new friends and acquaintances along the way.
Despite all this positive energy, I’m happy to report that my book tour has officially ended. It was a five-month sprint that began in mid-March, with the release of the significantly revised, second edition of my 2014 book, Think Like a Commoner.
A big thanks to New Society Publishers for their confidence in releasing a second edition of the book after eleven years! My apologies if I didn’t make it to your town, but I’m still open to (a few) invitations.
Happily, some of my book events yielded memorable audio or video recordings, which are now posted online. They include:
My Frontiers of Commoning podcast, Episode 60, with Radio Kingston director Jimmy Buff interviewing me. (40 minutes) Radio Kingston graciously broadcasts my podcast every month, preceded by short introductions of each episode by Jimmy.
Writer’s Voice, with Francesca Rheannon, podcast and syndicated public radio show. (57 minutes) Francesca is such a great interviewer!
Team Human, video podcast hosted by Douglas Rushkoff, Episode #320, “David Bollier: The Commons Are Not a Tragedy” (1 hour and 7 minutes). Doug is a spirited, inquisitive interviewer whose talents can be seen in this video, and not just heard.
CODE PINK podcast interview with Jodie Evans, Episode 310. “The Fundamentals of the Commons: A Conversation Between David Bollier and Jodie Evans.” Jodie is doing such great work in developing and promoting the local “peace economy” as well as calling attention to the Gaza nightmare. Interview in truncated form (25 minutes).
International Association for the Study of Commons conference, at UMass Amherst, June 16-20. Video from four panels that I participated on will be available later this year on the IASC’s YouTube video channel. The video for one panel, on bioregionalism and the commons, is already available here (my talk begins at the 18:08 timecode).
Print Media
Journal of Wild Culture, interview and book excerpts, July 1. Reposted on Resilience.org.
Garrison Institute website, essay, “Crossing the Commons: From Inner Change to Systemic Change,” April 21.
Shareable.com web magazine essay, “The Liberating Power of the Commonsverse,” July 16.
CODEPINK article on the commons, “The Enclosure of the Commons and the War Economy: A Feminist and Anti-Colonial Critique,” by Caitlin Hoyland, May 4.
A quick shout-out to my many gracious hosts. Also, to my interviewers, whose preparation and provocative questions elicited from me things I didn't realize I needed to say. I am grateful for the platforms to talk about the commons, showcase the new edition of Think Like a Commoner, and explain the promise of the Commonsverse.
Finally, a hearty thanks to Hans and Wallapa Van Willenswaard of INI Innovation, publishers in Bangkok, who got the whole ball rolling. Their initial query about doing a Thai translation of Think Like a Commoner in 2023 triggered me to write a second, updated edition of the book. They also hosted me online in May 2025 as part of a full-day conference on the commons in Bangkok. Their translation of the new edition has a great cover!
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