Susan Wardell

Guest writer

Dr. Susan Wardell is from Dunedin, New Zealand. She is a lecturer in Social Anthropology, at the University of Otago, and a mother of two small children. Susan is the author of an academic book and a number of articles and blogs, on topics such as culture, disability, religion, mental health, suffering, and social media. She also publishes poetry and essays - winning second place in the 2018 Landfall essay competition, and first place in the 2019 Maxim Institute essay competition.

Images by Susan Wardell, design by Tina Tiller

Meet Aotearoa’s cyborg kids

There are cyborg children among us, and they shouldn't have to pay so much just to live.

By Susan Wardell | 18th January, 2022

Anne Shirley, aka Anne of Green Gables, aka maybe Anne with ADHD (played here by Megan Follows) (Design: Tina Tiller)

Diagnosing Anne: Now that I finally see ADHD in myself, I see it in books, too

A diagnosis can force you to re-read your life – and your favourite books.

By Susan Wardell | 7th January, 2022

Anne Shirley, aka Anne of Green Gables, aka maybe Anne with ADHD (played here by Megan Follows) (Design: Tina Tiller)

Diagnosing Anne: Now that I finally see ADHD in myself, I see it in books, too

A diagnosis can force you to re-read your life – and your favourite books.

By Susan Wardell | 31st May, 2021

(Images: Supplied)

Companion planting: the art and history of gardening

Two wildly different books about gardens.

By Susan Wardell | 30th April, 2021

Photos: Kai Schwoerer/Carl Court via Getty Images

The politics of memory, on the anniversary of tragedy

What can be said to truly sum up the loss and trauma of Christchurch's two distinct tragedies?

By Susan Wardell | 22nd February, 2021

Kelly Kahukiwa, of Whakaue Pataheuheu and Te Aitanga a Makaki iwi, holding a pūrerehua in the shade of kauri trees. A.H. Reed Memorial Park, Whangārei.
(This image has been slightly cropped) (Photo: Michelle Hyslop)

A review of The Overstory, a knockout novel that speaks for the trees

How should we live – and find hope – in the Anthropocene?

By Susan Wardell | 6th January, 2021

Image: Tina Tiller

The uncomfortable truth about medical crowdfunding in New Zealand

New research into online crowdfunding for healthcare reveals some worrying trends around which campaigns are deemed 'worthy'.

By Susan Wardell | 16th September, 2020

Kelly Kahukiwa, of Whakaue Pataheuheu and Te Aitanga a Makaki iwi, holding a pūrerehua in the shade of kauri trees. A.H. Reed Memorial Park, Whangārei.
(This image has been slightly cropped) (Photo: Michelle Hyslop)

A review of The Overstory, a knockout novel that speaks for the trees

How should we live – and find hope – in the Anthropocene?

By Susan Wardell | 9th April, 2020

Philip Pullman and his new book, The Secret Commonwealth

Growing up is hard to do: Philip Pullman’s The Secret Commonwealth, reviewed

Dr Susan Wardell, a His Dark Materials fan who grew up to be a social anthropologist, reviews the much-anticipated sort-of sequel, The Secret Commonwealth.

By Susan Wardell | 14th November, 2019