Prof. Joshua Bennett’s forthcoming book, The People Can Fly, has already attracted significant attention! In “The Nonfiction Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026,” The New York Times highlights a vibrant and ambitious literary landscape. Even ahead of its publication next month, the book is already resonating both within and beyond the academy, signaling the depth of engagement and anticipation surrounding Joshua’s work.
This early recognition reflects the thoughtful, engaged scholarship we value in Literature and the meaningful conversations our faculty help bring into the world. Congratulations to Prof. Bennett and to everyone excitedly waiting for the release of his newest book!
The People Can Fly by Joshua Bennett
What does it mean to be a gifted Black child in a country that treats them as an anomaly? A poet and M.I.T. literature professor seeks answers in the early archives of figures like James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni and Stevie Wonder — and in his own experiences as an academic.