Weekly Top Five Articles
Higher Testosterone In Men Votes to the Right, The Death of White Male Main Character in Novels, Why Kids Need Music, and more. . .
Here’s what stood out this week. . .
(1) “The Grip That Race and Identity Have on My Students,” by Thomas Chatterton Williams, New York Times (July 8, 2025)
Williams reflects on teaching a college seminar about race in unconventional terms, only to discover a deep generational divide between himself and his students. Drawing on authors like Frederick Douglass, James Weldon Johnson, and Albert Murray, Williams hoped to explore America’s “mongrel” identity and the possibilities of racial transcendence epitomized by Barack Obama’s 2008 election. Yet his students, shaped politically in the shadow of Donald Trump rather than Obama, met his optimism with skepticism, embodying what he calls a “race pessimism” and a belief in immutable, ascriptive group identities.
Williams describes how students reacted uneasily to guest lecturer Coleman Hughes’s advocacy of colorblindness, often perceiving it as anti-Black. Many equated being “antiracist” with reinforcing the very racial categories they oppose, a paradox Williams finds troubling. He observes a shift among young progressives from Obama-era hope to a moral absolutism that reduces all issues to group-based social justice, sometimes at the cost of pragmatic or pluralistic thinking.
Williams argues that identity politics, once galvanized in resistance to Trump, has ironically fueled further division and even ethnic determinism. He contrasts the racial optimism following Obama’s victory—when large majorities believed race relations would improve—with the disillusionment and polarization of recent years. The once-dominant vision of a unified, multiethnic America has given way to competing narratives of victimhood and moral purity on both the left and right.
Yet he notes a paradox: despite Trump’s overtly racialized politics, the 2024 election was the least racially polarized in decades, revealing that many minorities no longer wish to be seen only through racial lenses. Williams ultimately calls for a more modest, pluralistic liberalism focused on concrete goals like justice and democratic preservation, warning that identity-based politics can be weaponized by political opponents. He concludes that America cannot simply return to Obama-era optimism; the nation must grapple with the consequences of a deeply fractured discourse.
(2) “The Death and Life of the Straight White Man’s Novel,” by Marc Tracy, New York Times (July 3, 2025)
The seeming decline of a certain type of novelist is much discussed and debated in the literary world. But the bigger question is whether it matters.
Tracy’s article explores whether the era of the straight white male novelist is fading—and what that means for literature. He profiles Jacob Savage, a former screenwriter who argues that younger straight white male authors have been sidelined in the literary world. Savage claims these writers feel unable to depict themselves as victims or aggressors and fear accusations of cultural appropriation, leading them to avoid writing honestly about their experiences.
Savage supports his case by pointing to declining numbers of young white men on major literary prize lists and in prominent publications. However, others argue this reflects changing cultural priorities rather than deliberate exclusion. Writers and critics like Aleksandar Hemon and Francine Prose dismiss the idea of a crisis, suggesting that literature is simply opening space for new voices after centuries of white male dominance.
Some industry insiders acknowledge that publishers and prize committees now favor marginalized voices and female authors, partly because women are the main consumers of fiction. Yet others note that many young men are drifting away from literary fiction altogether, gravitating instead toward video games, podcasts, and other media.
Historically, white male novelists held a central role in shaping American literature, often using male protagonists as stand-ins for universal human experience. Over time, however, newer authors have adopted more self-aware and critical approaches to writing about white male identity.
While some see the decline of the straight white male novelist as cultural progress, others believe fiction still has a role in exploring the complexities and frustrations of this group, especially amid broader social and political shifts. The debate continues over whether these stories remain essential—or have simply moved to the margins.
(3) Unsentimental Education: Peter Weiss’s Aesthetics of Resistance, Liberties, by Jared Marcel Pollen (July 2025)
Pollen explores The Aesthetics of Resistance, Peter Weiss’s ambitious trilogy that blends art, politics, and memory. Originally published in German between 1975 and 1981, and only recently fully translated into English, the novel chronicles the harrowing years of 1937-1942 through the eyes of a young proletarian narrator navigating fascist Europe.
Weiss’s work combines political history, aesthetic theory, and personal reflection, offering dense, flowing prose reminiscent of a visual frieze. The novel is steeped in art, with characters interpreting classical works like the Pergamon Altar and Picasso’s Guernica as allegories of class struggle and resistance. Art becomes a means of survival and moral orientation amid political terror, echoing earlier thinkers like Schiller, who saw aesthetic education as vital for preserving humanity against the brutality of politics.
Weiss’s narrative draws from real historical figures and events while grappling with the tension between political activism and artistic creation. His characters, unable to pursue education traditionally, carve out intellectual freedom in secret gatherings, where discussing literature or art becomes an act of defiance under totalitarian regimes.
Pollen argues that The Aesthetics of Resistance is not merely historical fiction but a meditation on how art helps preserve ethical foundations during crises. The novel insists that engaging with art and memory is a form of resistance, keeping alive the moral imagination necessary for the future. Despite its daunting length and complexity, Weiss’s work has gained renewed relevance as readers revisit 20th-century political turmoil in light of contemporary anxieties about authoritarianism and cultural memory.
Weiss’s central message is that even in the bleakest times, art remains a reservoir of human resilience, connecting past struggles to present and future possibilities.
(4) Learning Music Boosts Kids’ Wellbeing, Confidence, and Belonging, Neuroscience News (July 10, 2025)
When I was growing up, every boy in my neighborhood did two things: played sports and learned at least one instrument. Parents don’t do that anymore, which leaves their kids worse off.
Also, for boys, “band kid culture” has completely ruined music appreciation. I spoke with a high school upperclassman about why he didn’t play an instrument, and he said, “Because I didn’t want anyone to think I was gay.” Playing anything other than guitar or drums for rock music is considered “gay.” This level of insanity is rampant.
Gone are the days when parents assumed that music makes their kids better off—but the research is very clear that it does. Every kid on my street played at least one instrument. Why don’t today’s parents get it?
Summary: A new study highlights the powerful role of music learning in improving children’s social, emotional, and educational wellbeing. Beyond listening or casual participation, learning music builds self-confidence, emotional awareness, and a sense of belonging.
Researchers argue music education should be seen as an essential wellbeing strategy in schools, not just an extracurricular activity. With growing concerns about youth mental health, they call for every child to have access to quality music education to help them thrive.
Key facts:
Wellbeing Benefits: Music learning improves confidence, emotional regulation, and social connection.
Essential in Schools: Researchers urge schools to treat music education as a core wellbeing strategy.
Call for Equity: All children, regardless of school, should have access to high-quality music programs.
(5) Child Maltreatment Accelerates Aging and Hinders Social Development, Neuroscience News (July 10, 2025)
Summary: New research shows that childhood maltreatment leaves lasting biological and social scars. In a study of young children, those who experienced abuse showed accelerated cellular aging and reduced social attention.
Using DNA methylation patterns and eye-tracking technology, researchers uncovered how early trauma alters both biology and behavior. These findings highlight the urgent need for early interventions to support vulnerable children and mitigate long-term harm.
Key facts:
Faster Aging: Maltreated children showed accelerated biological aging at the cellular level.
Social Impairment: They spent significantly less time making eye contact, a key aspect of social interaction.
Dual Pathways: Biological and social changes independently contributed to emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Scientific evidence has long shown that children who experience abuse and neglect face increased risk of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and premature death throughout their lives.
Beneath these visible signs lies a deeper truth: childhood maltreatment can fundamentally alter a child’s biology, triggering molecular changes that can last for decades.
Summary from the article:
A comprehensive analysis of the data painted a clear yet concerning picture. The team found that children who had experienced maltreatment exhibited significantly accelerated biological aging compared to their typically developing peers.
Furthermore, these children spent notably less time looking at eyes when presented with videos of human faces. This reduced attention to eyes—a crucial aspect of social interaction and understanding—suggests there are fundamental differences in how maltreated children process social information.
BONUS
“Testosterone shifts political preferences in weakly affiliated Democratic men, study finds,” by Eric W. Dolan, PsyPost (July 10, 2025)
A new study published in Brain and Behavior reveals that administering testosterone to weakly affiliated Democratic men reduced their identification with the Democratic Party and increased positive feelings toward Republican presidential candidates. The research, led by Paul J. Zak at Claremont Graduate University, found no similar effect in strongly affiliated Democrats or Republicans.
The study involved 136 healthy young men, who were randomly given either synthetic testosterone or a placebo. Participants then rated their political party identification and feelings toward Democratic and Republican candidates. Among weakly affiliated Democrats, testosterone reduced Democratic identification by 12% and increased warmth toward Republican candidates by 45%.
Interestingly, these men also had naturally higher testosterone levels compared to strong Democrats, suggesting a biological predisposition that testosterone amplifies. Researchers propose that testosterone may boost confidence and reduce social conformity, allowing hidden conservative leanings to surface in politically ambivalent individuals.
The findings highlight how biological factors can subtly influence political attitudes, particularly in those less firmly anchored in party identity. While strongly affiliated individuals remained unmoved by hormonal changes, weakly affiliated Democrats appeared uniquely susceptible to shifting views.
The study raises questions about how social environments that raise testosterone levels—like competitive events or politically charged rallies—might unconsciously sway swing voters. However, researchers caution that the study’s results are limited to young men and reflect self-reported attitudes, not actual voting behavior.
Zak emphasizes that people’s political preferences may be more fluid and biologically influenced than they realize, suggesting that unconscious processes shape how individuals respond to political messages and affiliations.