Paul Smaldino @psmaldino@qoto.org

Solid press release about my book from UC Merced. They did cut a quote I gave them where I said I hoped literally everyone in the world would read it, but I suppose we should err on the side of humility.

https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2023/cognitive-science-professor%E2%80%99s-first-book-released-princeton-university-press

Andrew Gelman reviewed my book, Modeling Social Behavior.

“The book has social science, it has code, it has graphs—it’s got everything… I hope it’s taught in thousands of classes and sells a zillion copies.”

https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2023/10/24/modeling-social-behavior-paul-smaldinos-cool-new-textbook-on-agent-based-modeling/

I listened to this and realized that, in reference to disciplinary structure in the human sciences, I yelled “Burn it all down!” not once but twice. I stand by it.

Good times on the BJKS podcast. If for whatever reason you want to listen to me ramble about career trajectories, modeling social behavior, and the state of academic science, have a listen.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1390924/13689768-75-paul-smaldino-modeling-social-behavior-the-value-of-false-models-and-research-beyond-traditional-disciplines

Publication day! The modeling textbook I started five years ago is finally out today. I'm proud of it, and really grateful to everyone who helped make it better.

PUP: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691224145/modeling-social-behavior

AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691224145?tag=it_books_com-20

My book, Modeling Social Behavior, comes out in just 5 days in North America and the EU. Zounds! I think it's very good and you should get it, but you don't have to take my word for it -- the 1st chapter is free on the PUP website.
PUP: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691224145/modeling-social-behavior
AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691224145?tag=it_books_com-20

In four weeks, my book comes out in the US. Insanity. If you're interested, you can pre-order at the usual spots.

PUP: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691224145/modeling-social-behavior

AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691224145?tag=it_books_com-20

I kind of hate the standard Cognitive Science "hexagon." The disciplines feel totally false to the realities of actually understanding human cognition and behavior. When I teach intro to cogsci, here's the version I present, in case it's useful to anyone.

Diggin’ the way my book looks on the old modelin’ shelf.

My Intro to Cognitive Science students get a surprise lesson in parasitology in Week 2 in order to think about the relationship between cognition and environmental predictability. Trying to fill in some gaps here.

Question about the Trichinella spiralis lifecycle. Specifically: when larval cells are released by females in the intestines, how do they make their way to muscle tissue and encyst there? Is this totally a passive process, or are their catalysts that trigger behavioral responses?

I read an earlier draft of this paper by Francisco Gil-White a few years ago and found it to be a very insightful critique of modern academic institutions. I haven't read the new version, but I imagine it's only gotten better. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4504597

As promised, here's the full album, out today. DAD SONGS is 13 indie/garage/art-rock songs about the milieu of fatherhood. Enjoy.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0fJnZzY6vsdLALXy5XU9tC?si=otWcjuOJQEq7qrCmRiZlhA

All the socials! Now additionally trying out bluesky, we'll see how it goes.
@psmaldino.bsky.social