PRACTICE IS THE MEASURE: to understand the sociology of academia, do not pay much attention to declarations and (self-)publicity:  follow the books and translations, follow the conferences, the talks, the reviews (like in the crime series: follow the money trail). Look with your own eyes and see who is talking and who is being listened to, see how far the dialogue goes, who and what is being left out. Do not confuse declarations of intention and actual performance. A performance is not a free pass, but must be evaluated in all its aspects.

PAY UP AND SHUT UP: People are meant to buy the books, but not to talk back to the authors and their friends. The bulk of the readers are not peers but cattle. Human cattle are not supposed to give their opinion, but to pay up and shut up. They are treated to the theatrics…