Holodoxa

Holodoxa explores the interplay between genetics, human behavior, literature, and culture through essays and book reviews. It delves into topics like reading habits, cancer research, consciousness, masculinity, and societal norms, offering insights from scientific, historical, and philosophical viewpoints to understand the human condition.

Reading and Literacy Cancer Research and Genetics Consciousness and Neuroscience Masculinity and Society Genetic History Bayesian Analysis Free Will Intelligence Mental Health Ethical and Social Issues Literary Analysis Urban Planning and Design Scientific Research Practices Childhood Cancer Behavioral Genetics

The hottest Substack posts of Holodoxa

And their main takeaways

No Academy for Trad Men

39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia Political theory
  1. Scruton's successful academic and public career as a conservative thinker prompts reflection on the lack of conservative presence in the academy and the importance of intellectual diversity.
  2. Scruton's work in aesthetics emphasizes the importance of art in evoking emotion and engaging the imagination, connecting individuals to universality and timelessness.
  3. Despite facing ideological challenges and limited institutional support due to his conservative views, Scruton's respectable erudition and distinctive conservatism allowed him to operate successfully in academia, signaling challenges for aspiring conservative intellectuals.

Pop Neuroscience Needs to Evolve

59 implied HN points • 30 Jul 22
🔬 Science Neuroscience Evolution Critique
  1. Popular science writing, especially in neuroscience, can often oversimplify complex topics and lack rigor.
  2. Authors in the neuroscience field should strive for depth, nuance, and humility to better educate the intellectually curious public.
  3. Readers should seek out works that offer a sustained and balanced exploration of topics like human brain evolution.

A Cellular Symphony: The Song of the Cell Reviewed

39 implied HN points • 16 Dec 22
🔬 Science Biology History Medicine Genetics Education
  1. Cells are the basic unit of life, each acting as a decoding machine for genes and building block of organisms.
  2. Cell biology is a vast field encompassing genetics, molecular biology, and more, and studying cells is crucial for understanding life and disease.
  3. In his latest book, Siddhartha Mukherjee explores the history and importance of cellular biology, emphasizing that cells are the elementary particles of organisms.

We're Celebrating the YA-ification of Literary Fiction. So It Goes...

39 implied HN points • 02 Dec 22
📚 Literature Fiction Critique Analysis
  1. The novel 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt won critical acclaim and commercial success, raising questions about its place as Literature.
  2. The success of 'The Goldfinch' may be attributed to its unique blend of themes and genres, drawing readers in with familiar yet compelling storytelling.
  3. 'The Goldfinch' can be seen as a competent Bildungsroman celebrating and critiquing American culture, despite some criticisms of its depth and originality.
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To All The RomComs I've Watched Before

39 implied HN points • 17 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Film Criticism Genre Entertainment
  1. RomComs are beloved for their predictable yet endearing plots, performances, and lighter tone.
  2. Scott Meslow's book discusses the rise and fall of Romantic Comedies, highlighting their comeback in adjusting to new cultural and economic contexts.
  3. The RomCom genre faces challenges due to shifts in the entertainment industry towards franchise-focused and blockbuster films, impacting the traditional mid-level theatrical releases that once thrived.

Talking Science: Recent Podcast Appearances

59 implied HN points • 07 Jun 22
🎙 Podcasts Science Education
  1. Two former colleagues launched a new podcast named Science Behind Science, discussing academic science
  2. The author has appeared on the podcast, recorded two episodes, and plans to create more audio content on Substack
  3. The podcast episodes cover topics such as reading scientific literature, exploring science communication beyond manuscripts and conferences

Long Live the Gene

39 implied HN points • 02 Nov 22
🔬 Science Genetics Debate Research Philosophy Evolution
  1. There is a heated debate between the importance of genetics and environment in shaping human behavior with stark divisions between political ideologies.
  2. The debate often oversimplifies complexities, with genetics and environmental factors both playing significant roles, despite the polarized views.
  3. Kampourakis' book, 'Understanding Genes,' critiques genetic essentialism but lacks depth in explaining the significance and impact of genetic science, presenting a one-sided view.

Understanding Cancer

39 implied HN points • 30 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Cancer Biology Research Education Book
  1. Robin Hesketh, a Cambridge biochemistry professor, has written a book, 'Understanding Cancer,' giving a concise primer on cancer for science undergrads or curious lay readers.
  2. The book emphasizes that cancer is a genetic disease and explains how somatic mutations accumulate over time, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation and metastasis.
  3. While well-organized and informative, 'Understanding Cancer' may feel like a detailed outline rather than a narrative read, catering more to young biomedical science undergrads than casual readers.

The Endearing Irascibility of Neo-Luddism and Its Ambiguous Place on America's Current Political Compass

39 implied HN points • 26 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Technology Literature Philosophy Politics Science
  1. Neil Postman was a technology skeptic with a unique mix of progressive and conservative ideas.
  2. Postman's book _Technopoly_ critiques the surrender of human culture to technology without providing extensive data.
  3. Postman's analysis of technological and scientific influences on society continues to provoke critical thinking and raises questions about the role of humanities in governing decisions.

An Insider Perspective on the FDA: History and Role

39 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
🏥 Health Politics Clinical Trials Public Trust
  1. Understanding the FDA's approval process for drugs includes stages like drug discovery, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and regulatory approval.
  2. The FDA's accelerated approval program, initiated in the 1990s due to HIV/AIDS, aims to speed up bringing life-saving drugs to market for urgent conditions, but follow-up studies are crucial.
  3. FDA approval decisions hinge on expert clinical judgment, balancing benefits and risks for patient safety and efficacy, a process that involves multiple stakeholders and extensive data evaluation.

Lament the Post-Journalism World

39 implied HN points • 16 Sep 22
📰 News Journalism Media Criticism Public Discourse Political system
  1. Chris Stirewalt's book 'Broken News' highlights the negative impact of post-journalism and the cultivation of specific content for a focused audience.
  2. The shift in media landscape towards hyper-competitive, attention-seeking models through social media and cable TV has led to a decline in the quality of news and public discourse.
  3. Stirewalt offers a fresh perspective in 'Broken News' that is accessible for readers, urging them to improve their consumption of news and be discerning citizens.

Prestige Serialized Television is Today's Novel. Case Study: The Leftovers

39 implied HN points • 15 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Television Literature Art Entertainment Media
  1. Television is now considered the primary artistic medium for storytelling, surpassing film and literature.
  2. Prestige television shows have the capacity to provide greater emotional depth, complexity, and range compared to novels.
  3. Some narratives, like The Leftovers, experience significant enhancements when transitioning from novels to television, benefiting from the medium's extended length and emotional impact.

Notes: A New Substack Experience

19 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media Content Sharing Apps
  1. Substack has launched a new 'Substack Notes' feature for short-form content sharing, resembling Twitter but with differences that may limit its virality.
  2. The 'Notes' feature aims to maintain a more elevated discourse level than Twitter, making it unsuitable for current events but ideal for sharing different content types.
  3. Readers can easily join 'Notes' through substack.com/notes or the Substack app, enabling interaction like liking, replying, and sharing content shared by creators.

Postmodern Paralysis and the Anxiety of Ironic Awareness

39 implied HN points • 13 Aug 22
📚 Literature Postmodernism Online Culture Irony Satire
  1. In the post-modern era, creating meaningful narratives becomes challenging when all meta-narratives are considered false.
  2. Authors face anxieties like fear of mockery and lack of originality, leading some to use esoterica, ugliness, and irony as shields.
  3. Literary works focusing on 'very online' themes, like 'Fake Accounts' by Lauren Oyler, may risk being seen as empty and lacking substance.

Eschatology through the Ages

39 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22
📚 Literature History Philosophy Science Fiction Art & Illustration
  1. Niall Ferguson's book 'Doom' explores the history of disasters, showcasing how politics play a crucial role in exacerbating calamities.
  2. Ferguson questions the predictability of disasters and discusses different types, like 'gray rhinos,' 'black swans,' and 'dragon kings,' highlighting the impact of network dynamics on disaster scales.
  3. The author suggests that institutions should aim for greater resilience and antifragility to prepare for inevitable disasters and grow stronger in times of crisis.

Resurrect the Western Canon

39 implied HN points • 23 Jul 22
📚 Literature Criticism Interpretation Quality
  1. Harold Bloom presents a strong argument for identifying canonical literature based on qualities like aesthetic craft, psychological insight, and influence on future works.
  2. Bloom emphasizes the importance of individual and private engagement with high literature, contrasting it with more populist views on literary value.
  3. The discussion on the Western Canon by Bloom raises questions about the stability and historical context of what constitutes canonical literature, reflecting on the changing landscape of literary criticism.

Have We Been Fooled by PrimeWorld?

39 implied HN points • 21 Jul 22
🔬 Science Research Psychology Social Issues Behavioral Science Academic Publishing
  1. Critically looking at flashy but weak academic research is essential to avoid misguided social initiatives based on unreliable findings
  2. Popular media and journalistic venues often promote non-replicable science as easy solutions to complex problems, leading to wasteful institutional investments in ineffective programs
  3. Emphasizing rigorous scientific methods and exploring alternative solutions beyond 'quick fixes' is crucial in addressing social issues and avoiding costly yet ineffective interventions

Selling Out for The Nineties: A Halcyon Era of Self-Conscious Complacency

39 implied HN points • 14 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Cultural criticism Literature Film Music
  1. The 1990s were characterized by a post-modern ambivalence, where being into niche cultural products was cool as long as it was done with subtlety, and there was a sense of ennui due to media maturity during a time of relative peace and prosperity.
  2. Chuck Klosterman's analysis of the '90s raises questions about how artists and intellectuals navigate a world where Truth and Beauty have been challenged, and his perspective bridges the gap between our memories and reality of the past.
  3. Klosterman's essays in 'The Nineties' are recommended for culturally aware readers, particularly Gen-Xers and Millennials, as they are engaging, clever, and humorous, despite some shortcomings in analysis breadth and political commentary.

Testosterone: The Difference Maker

39 implied HN points • 01 Jul 22
🔬 Science Biology Gender Psychology
  1. The book 'T: The Story of Testosterone' by Carole Hooven explores the significant impact of testosterone on sex differences in morphology, behavior, athletic performance, and more.
  2. Hooven's work challenges social constructivist views on sex differences and presents evidence supporting biological influences.
  3. The book serves as a valuable resource for cultural commentators, shaping discussions on sex and gender differences and dispelling misconceptions about the biology behind them.

Douthat's Chronic Lyme Journey

39 implied HN points • 25 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Chronic Illness Memoir Medical Advocacy Personal Growth Science Writing
  1. Ross Douthat's memoir, _The Deep Places_, highlights the challenges of chronic Lyme disease, blending his personal story with science and social commentary.
  2. Douthat advocates for experimental treatment in chronic Lyme cases, questioning traditional evidence-based medical approaches that may not always be effective.
  3. The narrative showcases Douthat's journey through illness and growth in a compelling and thought-provoking manner, shedding light on the complexities of chronic diseases.

Family in the Time of Corona

79 implied HN points • 26 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Family Mental health Well-being
  1. The post discusses the impact of COVID-19 on families and society, highlighting varied reactions to pandemic statistics.
  2. It mentions strategies for maintaining mental well-being during challenging times like the pandemic.
  3. The post offers a subscription trial to delve deeper into the insights shared.

A Home for Serious Thought on Everything

79 implied HN points • 20 Apr 21
🚌 Education Online Publishing Blogging Free Trial
  1. The author is starting a new venture on serious thought without an established audience or much experience in blogging.
  2. The author invites readers to join in the learning experience and be curious about the impact of their journey.
  3. Readers can subscribe to Holodoxa for a 7-day free trial to access full post archives and support the author's endeavor.

2021 Reading Retrospective

39 implied HN points • 22 Feb 22
📚 Literature Non-fiction Book recommendations Reading habits
  1. The author completed around 220 books in 2021, with a focus on non-fiction works, and mostly consumed books in audiobook format.
  2. The author highly recommends using Goodreads to track reading progress, post reviews, and engage with other readers.
  3. The book 'The Genetic Lottery' by Kathryn Paige Harden delves into the relationship between genetics and social outcomes, challenging prevalent beliefs and offering thought-provoking insights.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

59 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
📚 Literature Storytelling Novel
  1. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is considered a masterpiece by many critics and one of the best novels from an East Asian author.
  2. The novel was originally published in 1994 and translated into English in 1997, showcasing the blend of magical realism and storytelling rules.
  3. Readers interested in strange and desultory narratives may find this novel intriguing and worth exploring.

Shakespeare in a Divided America

59 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
🎭️ Culture Books Politics Literature
  1. James Shapiro examines the intersection of current political tensions in America with Shakespeare's work, notably discussing a Trump-inspired production of 'Julius Caesar.'
  2. The organization of Shapiro's book, 'Shakespeare in a Divided America,' is criticized as being somewhat haphazard.
  3. Consider subscribing to access more detailed insights on this topic and explore related themes in the post archives with a 7-day free trial.

Is "The Great Experiment" in Peril? Will Diversity Be Its Downfall?

19 implied HN points • 20 Oct 22
🌍 World Politics Diversity Liberal democracy Challenges Democracy
  1. Maintaining and strengthening liberal democracy in diverse societies is a key challenge, requiring acknowledgment of historical injustices and proactive measures to foster unity.
  2. In diverse democratic societies, differences can drive conflict, and managing this challenge requires creative policy and economic growth to reduce inter-group tensions.
  3. Yascha Mounk's book critiques the 'demography is destiny' hypothesis, highlighting the complexities of racial identity and political shifts among minority groups in the United States.

An Aural Diet

59 implied HN points • 21 Apr 21
🎙 Podcasts Selection Reviews Recommendations
  1. The post highlights various podcasts worth listening to, categorized by content area like politics.
  2. It mentions 'The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg' as one of the recommended political podcasts.
  3. The post invites readers to explore more shows beyond those listed.

Popularity Equals the Maximum Distribution of Familiar Surprises

19 implied HN points • 11 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Popularity Art Literature Science Podcast
  1. Popularity is often driven by the confluence of exposure, familiarity in a surprising way, and promotion from dominant players in the network.
  2. Thompson's model emphasizes that distribution and network dynamics play a bigger role in making something popular than content or quality.
  3. Thompson's book delves into the science behind creating popular cultural artifacts but falls short in addressing the complexity of human preferences and other explanatory variables.

August Reading Review

39 implied HN points • 02 Sep 21
📚 Literature Reviews Reading Books
  1. The author indulged in reading 17 books and 2 plays in August, showcasing dedication to consuming a variety of content
  2. The author expresses a keen interest in continuously reading, analyzing, and discussing books, indicating a deep passion for literature
  3. The post encourages readers to reflect on their own reading habits and consider the impact of books on their lives

Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience

39 implied HN points • 22 Jul 21
🔬 Science Neuroscience Memoir
  1. The memoir 'Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience' by Michael Gazzaniga discusses his personal and professional journey in cognitive neuroscience, focusing on his work with split-brain patients.
  2. Split-brain patients are individuals who have undergone a procedure that severs the corpus callosum, leading to unique insights into brain function and consciousness.
  3. The memoir provides a glimpse into the fascinating world of cognitive neuroscience and the complexities of the human brain.

A Balanced History of Modern Right-Wing Politics

19 implied HN points • 23 Jun 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservative Politics Political Ideologies Political Movements Political Figures
  1. The Right by Matthew Continetti explores the history of right-wing politics in America between 1920 to 2020, shedding light on the tensions between elites and populists within the conservative movement.
  2. Continetti highlights the evolution of conservative ideologies and movements, from the era of Harding and Coolidge to the rise and fall of Donald Trump, showcasing how different factions shaped the narrative.
  3. The book delves into the complexities of the conservative movement, detailing the influence of various figures like William F. Buckley Jr. and the fractures that emerged during significant events like the invasion of Iraq and the 2008 recession.

Zero K by Don DeLillo - Lamenting Transhumanism

39 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
📚 Literature Book review Author analysis Transhumanism
  1. The novel Zero K by Don DeLillo delves into themes like mortality, technology, and human identity through the perspective of Jeffrey Lockhart at a mysterious facility.
  2. The narrative of Zero K may provoke thoughts on transhumanism and the implications of blending technology with human existence, as suggested by the title.
  3. The post hints at a desire for a film adaptation of Zero K by mentioning Alex Garland, sparking speculation on how the story would translate to the screen.

Think Again... or Not

39 implied HN points • 25 Apr 21
🎭️ Culture Book review
  1. The book 'Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know' by Adam Grant emphasizes the importance of reconsidering our beliefs and choices in a dynamic world.
  2. The topic of reevaluating our opinions is discussed widely, making it a common theme among many science writers.
  3. Consider exploring the book for insights on the value of being open to changing our perspectives and decisions.

Anxiety About American Hegemony in Post 9/11 Novels

19 implied HN points • 20 Apr 21
📚 Literature Analysis Novels Anxiety
  1. Post-9/11 novels often reflect anxiety about American hegemony, especially in relation to the Middle East wars and cultural malaise.
  2. Narratives, whether fiction or non-fiction, play a crucial role in shaping and sustaining a culture.
  3. Stories have the power to define a people, influence political alliances, and inspire social movements.