About Andrew Pessin

Andrew Pessin is a philosophy professor at Connecticut College and Campus Bureau Editor for the Algemeiner, a news outlet that focuses on Jews and Israel. With degrees from Yale and Columbia, he is the author of many academic articles and books primarily on early modern philosophy (thinkers such as Descartes, Malebranche, and Leibniz), as well as of works of philosophy for a general audience, including The 60-Second Philosopher, The God Question, and Uncommon Sense: The Strangest Ideas from the Smartest Philosophers(the latter named an “Outstanding Academic Title” by Choice). Over the past decade his keen awareness of the hostility to Israel across college campuses has led him to focus on Jewish and Israel Studies. In addition to teaching classes on Zionism, Jewish Philosophy, and related topics, his recent books include Anti-Zionism on Campus: The University, Free Speech, and BDS, documenting and analyzing the phenomenon, and Poisoning the Wells: Antisemitism in Contemporary America which unfortunately turned out to be compellingly timely. He has also published four novels and greatly enjoys meeting (either in person or virtually) with the many book clubs that have adopted them. These include Nevergreen, a satirical account of campus cancel culture, its ideological excesses, and its deleterious impact on the Jews, which unfortunately too has proven prophetic post October 7. His most recent novel is Bright College Years (about how college used to be before they all went crazy, or at least how one remembers it, which may not be the same thing). He enjoyed some moments of fame portraying “The Genius” on the David Letterman show. More information about him and his work may be found at www.andrewpessin.com.