"I Searched For Evidence..." (w/ Matt + Bowen)

Kathryn Jezer Morton investigates how social media has reshaped storytelling and everyday life by interviewing people across the U.S. She shows how algorithms, metrics, and platform formats push users toward attention-grabbing, simplified narratives. The book examines effects on home decor, vacations, celebrations, and personal identity, and how these mediated stories can feel disciplinary and limiting. Morton also documents people pulling back from posting while still consuming social feeds, and explores alternatives like family albums and offline memory practices. Throughout, she balances critique with an appreciation for creative uses of social media, like memes and private sharing.

Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members. The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity. It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless. Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society.

Published in 1945, 'Cannery Row' is a novel by John Steinbeck that captures the essence of a place and its people. The story revolves around Mack, a leader of a group of homeless men, and their efforts to throw a party for Doc, a marine biologist. The novel is characterized by its lack of a traditional plot, instead using vignettes to introduce various characters and explore themes of community, acceptance, and the fragility of life. The setting is vividly described, reflecting the real-life fish packing industry of Monterey during the Great Depression. Steinbeck portrays the characters, including Mack, Doc, Dora the madam, and Lee Chong the grocer, as complex and relatable, highlighting their virtues and the strong sense of community they foster despite their hardships.

Published in 1937, 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck is a novella that tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant ranch workers in California during the Great Depression. The narrative revolves around their dream of owning a small farm, a symbol of the American Dream. However, their plans are continually thwarted by circumstances, including Lennie's accidental killing of the ranch owner's daughter-in-law, which leads to a tragic conclusion. The book is known for its vivid portrayal of farm life, its exploration of themes such as loneliness, friendship, and the harsh realities of the labor system, and its objective narrative style. It has been widely adapted into stage and film versions and remains a significant work in American literature.

East of Eden, first published in 1952, is John Steinbeck's most ambitious work and a modern retelling of the Book of Genesis. The novel spans from the American Civil War to the end of World War I, detailing the generational saga of two families: the gentle Adam Trask and his violent brother Charles, followed by Adam's sons, the virtuous Aron and the rebellious Caleb (Cal). Driven by the presence of the manipulative and evil Cathy Ames, the story explores timeless themes of good and evil, the mystery of identity, the inexplicability of love, and the consequences of love's absence. Steinbeck originally dedicated the book to his young sons, aiming to create a mythic narrative with primordial power.