Object Lessons is "an essay and book series about the hidden lives of ordinary things". Each of the essays (2,000 words) and the books (25,000 words) investigate a single object through a variety of approaches that often reveal something unexpected about that object. As stated in the Object Lessons webpage, "Each Object Lessons project will start from a specific inspiration: an anthropological query, ecological matter, archeological discovery, historical event, literary passage, personal narrative, philosophical speculation, technological innovation—and from there develop original insights and novel lessons about the object in question."
In 2023, it was announced that the series was now based in the Program in Public Scholarship in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and will publish its 100th book in the series. Liam Otten, "‘Object Lessons’ book series comes to WashU Call for proposals for 100th volume by Liam Otten, The Source, October 20, 2023
Series publishers The Atlantic Bloomsbury Publishing
Series editors Ian Bogost – Washington University in St. Louis, formerly Georgia Institute of Technology Christopher Schaberg – Washington University in St. Louis, formerly Loyola University New Orleans Haaris Naqvi – Bloomsbury Publishing
Books Driver's License – Meredith Castile Remote Control – Caetlin Benson-Allott Golf Ball – Harry Brown Drone – Adam Rothstein Glass – John Garrison Phone Booth – Ariana Kelly Refrigerator – Jonathan Rees Silence – John Biguenet Hotel – Joanna Walsh Dust – Michael Marder Shipping Container – Craig Martin Hood – Alison Kinney Cigarette Lighter – Jack Pendarvis Bookshelf – Lydia Pyne Bread – Scott Shershow Password – Martin Paul Eve Hair – Scott Lowe Waste – Brian Thill Questionnaire – Evan Kindley Egg - Nicole Walker Tree - Matthew Battles Blanket - Kara Thompson Shopping Mall - Matthew Newton Sock - Kim Adrian Eye Chart - William Germano Earth - Jeffrey Jerome Cohen and Lindy Elkins-Tanton Veil - Rafia Zakaria Tumor - Anne Leahy Personal Stereo - Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow Jet Lag - Christopher J. Lee High Heel - Summer Brennan Traffic - Paul Josephson Whale Song - Margret Grebowicz Burger - Carol J. Adams Rust - Jean-Michel Rabaté Souvenir - Rolf Potts Luggage - Susan Harlan Fog - Stephen Sparks Doctor - Andrew Bomback Fake - Kati Stevens Pill - Robert Bennett Potato - Rebecca Earle Bulletproof Vest - Kenneth R. Rosen Environment - Rolf Halden Cell Tower - Steven E. Jones Ocean - Steve Mentz Compact Disc - Robert Barry Bird - Erik Anderson Magnet - Eva Barbarossa Hashtag - Elizabeth Losh Email - Randy Malamud High Heel - Summer Brennan Coffee - Dinah Lenney Snake - Erica Wright Exit - Laura Waddell Political Sign - Tobias Carroll Office - Sheila Liming Signature - Hunter Dukes Fat - Hanne Blank Gin - Shonna Milliken Humphrey TV - Susan Bordo Blackface - Ayanna Thompson Hyphen - Pardis Mahdavi Spacecraft - Timothy Morton Football - Mark Yakich Perfume - Megan Volpert Glitter - Nicole Seymour Recipe - Lynn Z. Bloom Trench Coat- Jane Tynan Stroller - Amanda Parrish Morgan Sewer - Jessica Leigh Hester Doll - Maria Teresa Hart Scream - Michael J. Seidlinger Alarm - Alice Bennett OK - Michelle McSweeney Mushroom - Sara Rich Skateboard - Jonathan Russell Clark Sticker - Henry Hoke Blue Jeans - Carolyn Purnell Grave - Allison C. Meier Pregnancy Test - Karen Weingarten Wine - Meg Bernherd Barcode - Jordan Firth Magazine - Jeff Jarvis Relic - Ed Simon Bicycle - Jonathan Maskit Air Conditioning - Hsuan L. Hsu Swimming Pool - Piotr Florczyk Pencil - Carol Beggy Space Rover - Stewart Lawrence Sinclair Newspaper - Maggie Messitt Mask - Sharrona Pearl X-Ray - Nicole Lobdell Island - Julian Hanna Oil - Michael Tondre Pub - Philip Howell Microphone - Ralph Jones
Reception "They are beautiful: elegant paperbacks, the quality kind, with front and back flaps, not quite pocket-sized but easily transportable, each coming in at under 200 pages, each inspired by an object. ... Billed as books about 'the hidden lives of ordinary things,' there are 10 so far, and every one a curiosity; not just an object, but a world in and of itself."—Los Angeles Review of BooksDinah Lenney, Arne De Boever, "Here Comes Everything", Los Angeles Review of Books, November 05, 2015
"In 1957 the French critic and semiotician Roland Barthes published Mythologies, a groundbreaking series of essays in which he analysed the popular culture of his day, from laundry detergent to the face of Greta Garbo, professional wrestling to the Citroën DS. This series of short books, 'Object Lessons', continues the tradition; subjects already covered include the remote control, driver's licence, shipping container and drone, with more to come."—Financial TimesMelissa Harrison, "‘Hotel (Object Lessons)’, by Joanna Walsh", Financial Times, September 25, 2015
References
External links
Essays and Mini Object Lessons