As ever, publication day brings with it an eclectic mix of books from Birlinn and Polygon Books, from two stunning poetry collections, to a history of salt cod from Shetland, to a biography of Enlightenment genius James Hutton, with much in between.

Not brilliant, or one of us might have been VC of University of Glasgow. But we were given another chance – and everyone should be

Scottish ‘kilts’ could be a financial innovation too far via Financial Times on.ft.com/3QaTmpS

Delighted to be appearing with the likes of Oliver Bullough Jared Bibler Edward Chancellor Ray Perman Tamim Bayoumi and Bronwen Maddox at the inaugural Weekend of Mistakes at Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, on 1-3 March 2024. The Library of Mistakes haycastletrust.org/p-3525-weekend…

The inaugural Weekend of Mistakes, organised by The Library of Mistakes, is being held at Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales on 1-3 March 2024, and is billed as “a weekend of financial booms and busts, bubbles, swindles, panics and crashes”. Will Quinn Merryn Somerset Webb

I’ll be speaking at the inaugural Weekend of Mistakes at Hay Castle, in Hay-on-Wye from 1st - 3rd March 2024, organised by The Library of Mistakes and Hay Castle. For tickets and more information, see this link: haycastletrust.org/p-3525-weekend…

Sir Walter Scott was as successful as JK Rowling in the early 19th century, but not as wise with his money. I’ll be telling the tale of his financial ruin – and how he got out of it at the inaugural Festival of Mistakes at Hay Castle. A few tickets left haycastletrust.org/m-1-hay-castle…

A few tickets left for my talk at the Festival of Mistakes, Hay Castle. Book here haycastletrust.org/m-1-hay-castle…

Ours have been very busy on the fastballs too

Out today and available on all digital platforms a new single by Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman. claypipemusic.bandcamp.com/track/communal… Andrew Wasylyk Tommy Perman

letter to the Times from a former Conservative MP

Death where is thy sting? A survivor of Dutch Elm Disease in flower outside our window this morning

And a wonderful weeping elm in St Cuthbert’s churchyard

'Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On' by Andrew Wasylyk and I is out today on the ever brilliant Clay Pipe Music. Available to download and stream in all the usual places or to buy on vinyl / CD. Vinyl coming soon. claypipemusic.co.uk/2024/08/vinyl-…

#ArtsinCrisis a a cri de coeur from Dougal Perman for Scottish Government (and others) to live up to promises and redress the funding crisis afflicting a sector delivering huge benefits for Scotland, its economy and people sceptical.scot/2024/10/how-to…

NEW📢 Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli Anton Muscatelli writes about the results of the 2024 US Election, warns of the potential for future trade wars, and notes it's now imperative that the UK re-evaluates its alignment with the EU as a large trading bloc. Read 🔗gla.ac.uk/research/az/pu…

Money Talks, Money Walks tomorrow night The Library of Mistakes Looking forward to Ray Perman, Russell Napier and stand-up historian Susan Morrison revealing nooks and crannies of Edinburgh's financial history, launching new audio walking tour guidigo.com/Tour/United%20…

Thank you Little Green Space 🦋 for a beautiful presentation of my personal questioning of what rewilding means – it wasn't a word we knew (Ray Perman and I) when we began our woodland adventure 30 years ago. littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/led-b…

#MakeItHappen Camping it up with poor music and even worse jokes, Iames Graham has thrown away a story which was a genuine tragedy – for thousands of people who lost their jobs, for hundreds of thousands who lost their life savings… sceptical.scot/2025/08/make-i…

Unfortunately, most people don’t realise just how close to the edge the University system is. Across all 4 U.K. nations. There is a systemic funding shortfall of the system which now requires a major independent review.