Hi there, glad you're here.

This is tiny driver, a weekly newsletter about writing and reading in the interdisciplinary humanities.

Every Monday, expect to have a little letter in your inbox that includes some (or all) of the following:

  • ✏️ Still Processing: Reflections on my writing process and excerpts from my process journal. I hope that these musings will also keep you company in the pursuit of your own goals!

  • 📚 Still Reading: I give you a summary and my thoughts on a recent academic article or book that I read the week before. I work at the intersection of US history, transnational American Studies, Iranian diaspora studies, cultural studies, and Asian American Studies, so get ready for those kinds of reads!

  • 🌀 Still Consuming: Commentary on TV, movies, books, and other things that I happen upon, plus links from around the web curated by yours truly. (I'll always mention what I'm currently reading and what I'm planning on reading next.)

  • 📖 Book Club Corner: Information re: the tiny driver book club.

  • 🐶 A pup-date: I have two very important dogs in my life named Higgins and Girlie. I let you know how they're doing and what they're up to. Here's some glamour shots:

Who's behind tiny driver?

tiny driver is written by me, Ida Yalzadeh. Hi!

I am a Global American Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University’s Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History. I received my Ph.D. in American Studies from Brown University in 2020 and have previously taught in Northwestern University’s Asian American Studies Program.

Originally from Los Angeles, California, I work on Iranian diasporic communities in the context of histories of race and empire in the United States. My interdisciplinary research interests are at the intersection of transnational American studies, visual culture studies, and diplomatic history. At Harvard, I teach courses in the The Committee on Ethnicity, Migration, Rights on social movements, the history of racial formation in the United States, and U.S. media representations of the Middle East.

Outside of research and teaching, I consult for organizations working towards social justice and equity alongside their other objectives.

When I am not working, I enjoy reading contemporary fiction, rock climbing, running, and (of course) writing tiny driver.

Support tiny driver (+ Ida)!

tiny driver is maintained & written during my free time. If you find the newsletter joyful and/or useful, consider supporting me & my work so I can invest more into the future of the newsletter!

Right now, there are two ways to support tiny driver:

  1. You can buy me a coffee by clicking the button below.

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a weekly newsletter about writing and reading in the interdisciplinary humanities

People

postdoc @ harvard studying Iranian diasporic communities in the US