Atlas of Wonders and Monsters

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters explores a broad spectrum of ideas, weaving together creativity, philosophy, technology, art, and cultural observations. It delves into the transitions and relationships between abstract and figurative concepts, human perceptions, artistic evolutions, societal norms, and the implications of emerging technologies on future narratives and ethics.

Art and Creativity Philosophy and Ethics Technology and Innovation Cultural Observations Human Behavior and Psychology Historical Narratives Literary Analysis

The hottest Substack posts of Atlas of Wonders and Monsters

And their main takeaways

The Value of Variety: Biodiversity

16 implied HN points • 20 May 21
  1. Biodiversity is valuable for both economic and aesthetic reasons.
  2. Measuring biodiversity is complex and species diversity varies.
  3. Conservation efforts often prioritize 'cooler' or economically relevant species over others.

Breathing Soul into History

16 implied HN points • 13 May 21
  1. The author finished the draft of their novel, which is the fourth complete draft they have written.
  2. The novel is about creating an exciting story about New France that is set in the present.
  3. The author aims to make history fun and entertaining through their book, hoping to show that history can be silly and soulful.

The Dance of Novelty and Comfort

16 implied HN points • 06 May 21
  1. Diversity is novelty and uniformity is comfort.
  2. Novelty provides specific pleasure like discovery and surprises.
  3. Society tends to overvalue comfort and undervalue novelty and diversity.

A Diversity of Diversities

16 implied HN points • 08 Apr 21
  1. Diversity exists in various forms like racial, sexual, and artistic diversity.
  2. Groups have emergent properties that make them diverse, sometimes differing from individual diversity.
  3. Biodiversity is not just about living organisms but extends to non-living entities like landscapes and elements.

It's Okay to Know the Story Beforehand

16 implied HN points • 11 Mar 21
  1. Spoilers matter much less to our enjoyment than we commonly think
  2. Rereading books and rewatching movies can actually enhance enjoyment
  3. Stories are primarily a performance; knowing the story beforehand doesn't ruin the experience
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

A Tower to Reach Heaven

16 implied HN points • 04 Feb 21
  1. The Tower of Babel story from the Bible signifies the diversity of languages as a result of human unity and effective communication.
  2. Ted Chiang's story 'Tower of Babylon' offers a different perspective, focusing on the quest for truth and exploration using science and engineering.
  3. The quest for truth is highlighted as important, along with the potential challenges of finding answers and what to do with newfound knowledge.

Unleash the Niche

16 implied HN points • 28 Jan 21
  1. The concept of a niche can be traced back to its origins from nests to statues to ecology.
  2. Niche can be applied in various contexts such as market segments in commerce or finding one's speciality.
  3. Discovering your niche may involve experimenting, following interests, and allowing it to naturally emerge over time.

Children of the Geissler Tube

1 HN point • 17 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Physics Lighting Electronics Computers Discovery
  1. Heinrich Geissler invented the Geissler tube, a crucial technology that led to the development of modern world technologies.
  2. Geissler tubes were originally sold as novelty items before becoming important for lighting, including fluorescent and neon lights.
  3. The Geissler tube's descendants include the cathode-ray tube used in TVs, computers with vacuum tubes, transistors, and even diodes, impacting numerous aspects of our daily lives.

The Value of Variety: Politics

0 implied HN points • 24 Jun 21
  1. Political diversity is valuable, even if it can be infuriating.
  2. Having a variety of political systems around the world is like an experiment that allows for learning from each other.
  3. Political diversity leads to progress by challenging opinions and fostering evolution of ideas.

Hello I Am on a Break 2

0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 21
  1. The author is rethinking the purpose of the newsletter and considering making it a platform to share interesting topics discovered through 'rabbit holes.'
  2. They plan to transform the newsletter into a 'Light Gray Matters, rabbit hole edition' to differentiate it from their other projects.
  3. Readers can look forward to a new format focusing on curated rabbit holes starting from the next issue.

Rabbit Hole #8: Non-Fungible Tokens

0 implied HN points • 13 Oct 21
  1. The post explores Non-Fungible Tokens in the crypto rabbit hole.
  2. The newsletter has been reorganized into two sections: Atlas of Rabbit Holes and Updates from Dark Gray Matters.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial.

On Uniformity

0 implied HN points • 29 Apr 21
  1. Uniformity can be beneficial when there is a clearly superior option.
  2. In some situations, uniformity is good for maintaining standards and minimizing surprises.
  3. While uniformity has its advantages, it is important to also recognize the value of diversity.

The Value of Variety: Culture and Language

0 implied HN points • 27 May 21
  1. Cultural and linguistic diversity are closely connected and continuously evolving.
  2. Cultural and language diversity enriches the world by creating new perspectives and experiences.
  3. The loss of languages and cultures poses challenges and risks in diminishing diversity.

A Timeline of Semi-Random Historical Facts

0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 21
  1. The timeline spans from ancient history to the future, including random facts and some invented ones.
  2. Different aspects influence what historical facts get recorded, like social media follower counts and personal interest.
  3. Engaging with historical facts in a semi-random way can be both entertaining and educational.

The Value of Variety: Daily Life

0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 21
  1. Novelty and variety in daily life are essential for our well-being and happiness.
  2. Exploring new experiences can lead to increased happiness and quality of life.
  3. Diversity in experiences is not only beneficial instrumentally, but also aesthetically pleasing.