Jessa Crispin is a writer. She was the editor-in-chief of Bookslut between 2002 and 2016.
December 2023
Christmastime can be a sad reminder that many towns in the US are left behind
Jessa Crispin
The trains and buses that once connected my childhood hometown to the larger US have long since disappeared
January 2023
Noma is closing. Are we seeing the death of ‘fine dining’?
Jessa Crispin
Some of the world’s most famed restaurants face business problems or accusations of abuse and deception. What next?
November 2021
I’ve been introduced to a new holiday called ‘Singles’ Day’. I wish I hadn’t been
Jessa Crispin
Singles’ Day is a Chinese holiday turned online shopping bonanza. But Americans, too, love to buy things to fill our gaping existential despair
October 2021
US schools gave kids laptops during the pandemic. Then they spied on them
Jessa Crispin
According to one survey, 81% of teachers in America said their schools monitor devices. Students are not always aware
September 2021
A billionaire wants to build a utopia in the US desert. Seems like this could go wrong
Jessa Crispin
Employers are spying on Americans at home with ‘tattleware’. It’s time to track them instead
Jessa Crispin
August 2021
Move over, space. Tech billionaires have a new utopian boondoggle: the ‘metaverse’
Jessa Crispin
Imagine a massive, invisible world that surrounds you but which you cannot see or engage unless you own the correct – expensive – technology
July 2021
Like millions of Americans, I can never leave my spouse. I’ll lose my healthcare
Jessa Crispin
Welcome to dystopia: getting fired from your job as an Amazon worker by an app
Jessa Crispin
June 2021
Did I use the pandemic for ‘self-improvement’? Nope. And that’s fine
Jessa Crispin
Stressed-out Amazon workers can now access ‘mindfulness’ training. Gee, thanks
Jessa Crispin
March 2021
Amazon is a disaster for workers. Nomadland glosses over that
Jessa Crispin
The film doesn’t glamorize life at an Amazon warehouse. But it’s undeniably useful to the corporation to have a prestigious film to give political cover
Job-hunting is stressful and humiliating enough. Now robots judge our résumés
Jessa Crispin
Algorithms decide which applications reach human managers’ eyes. But they sort out people with unusual work histories or who lack college degrees
Millions in the US don't feel seen by either political party. My dad is one of them
Jessa Crispin
Like many people, my father feels politically homeless – unable to stomach toxic Trumpism, but too conservative for the Democratic party
December 2020
In 2020, Americans helped each other out – because our government wouldn't
Jessa Crispin
Does Covid mean you're spending your first Christmas alone? Let me guide you
Jessa Crispin
Hillbilly Elegy uses personal experience to promote the same old bootstrap nonsense
Jessa Crispin
Dolly Parton helped fund a Covid vaccine. This isn't the first time she's saved us
Jessa Crispin
October 2020
The world's on fire, our nerves on edge: the merchants of Calm have just the fix
Jessa Crispin
Religion is no longer the opiate of the masses. It’s ASMR videos, low-stakes nature documentaries and ‘mindfulness’ apps
September 2020
A new film tries nobly to 'de-stigmatize' abortion. So why does it leave me cold?
Jessa Crispin
In its effort to be sympathetic, Unpregnant flattens abortion into a simple and palatable narrative