Wood From Eden

Wood From Eden explores the intersections of evolutionary psychology, societal norms, and human behavior. It delves into topics like fertility rates, patriarchal structures, the philosophy of happiness, and the impact of modern technologies and economies on human societies. The substack also touches on current events, historical analyses, and personal improvement through evolutionary psychology.

Evolutionary Psychology Societal Norms Human Behavior Fertility Rates Patriarchal Structures Philosophy of Happiness Impact of Modern Technologies Economic Influences on Society Historical Analysis Personal Improvement

The hottest Substack posts of Wood From Eden

And their main takeaways

Wood in danger

480 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Human Impact
  1. Dutch elm disease has devastated elm tree populations worldwide due to a unique destructive fungal infection.
  2. The industrial revolution has facilitated the spread of tree pathogens globally through transportation networks.
  3. Efforts such as vaccination and selective breeding show promise in combating tree diseases, highlighting the importance of human intervention in preserving tree species.

Burying wood chips to solve the climate crisis

480 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
  1. Carbon dioxide removal is a key focus in addressing climate change.
  2. Traditional methods like reforestation have limitations in scaling up for large carbon dioxide removal.
  3. Innovative solutions like burying wood chips underground may offer a cost-effective and scalable approach to carbon removal.
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Religion of today

576 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Climate change Monotheism
  1. People often believe in things just because many others do, like in a religious way
  2. There are different perspectives on climate change, with debates on data interpretation and policy urgency
  3. It's crucial to give attention to various potential disasters, not just focus on a single issue like carbon dioxide emissions

Mongols of North America

528 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
💾 History American history Colonialism
  1. The Comanche people used the arrival of horses on the plains to develop a new way of life centered around horses and hunting bison from horseback.
  2. The Spanish colony of New Mexico had to resort to cooperation and appeasement with the Comanche, offering lavish gifts in exchange for peace and stopping raiding.
  3. The decline of the bison population due to hunting by commercial buffalo hunters in the 1870s was a decisive blow to the Comanche economy, leading to their ultimate decline and confinement to reservations.

Paid content: Food for n00bs

192 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking
  1. The post is about cooking for beginners and trying to address the challenges faced by those who struggle in the kitchen.
  2. The content is reserved for paid subscribers only, indicating that it offers specific, valuable information that might not be accessible otherwise.
  3. The author emphasizes the idea of coming together to solve problems, highlighting a sense of community and shared support among individuals with similar challenges.

It was the end of the world as they knew it

432 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🔬 Science
  1. 66 million years ago, an asteroid caused the end of the dinosaurs and led to mass extinction.
  2. The impact caused immense destruction, including a tsunami, shockwave, and impact winter.
  3. Humanity faces challenges in asteroid deflection due to the need for early action and space travel limitations.

Paid content: On the division of labor

192 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy
  1. The post is about paid content regarding the division of labor.
  2. The content is available for paid subscribers only.
  3. There are options to subscribe or sign in if you are already a paid subscriber.

Make sex useful again

816 implied HN points • 22 Sep 22
  1. People are having less sex despite more sexual freedom and openness.
  2. The shift from a clan-based society to modern institutions has made sex less important.
  3. Sexual desires can be negotiated to build better relationships and prioritize social connections over individual desires.

How I cured myself with evolutionary psychology

768 implied HN points • 21 Oct 22
  1. Evolutionary psychology can offer insights into mental health and well-being.
  2. Consider how modern life differs from ancestral life to understand potential sources of psychological discomfort.
  3. Reflecting on evolutionary history may provide guidance on personal fulfillment and happiness.

Games people play, public version

576 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
  1. Communication can often involve playing games with fixed outcomes.
  2. People might play games to maintain social interaction or alleviate loneliness.
  3. The dynamics of defending obviously stupid ideas to create social status and provoke reactions in public contexts.

Why are all the ladies chasing the Chads?

576 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
  1. The dating scene is experiencing a shift towards polygamous mating.
  2. Commitment is becoming less common as societal norms change.
  3. Some men are resorting to dominance tactics to navigate discomfort in modern dating.

The life and works of the apefant

480 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
  1. Apefants are not more instinctual than humans; they just have different things to learn in life.
  2. There are limited resources available on apefants, indicating a gap in knowledge on their development.
  3. Observing apefants can provide insights into the evolutionary origins of baby behavior.

Violent enough to stand still

444 HN points • 19 Jan 23
  1. Human societies did not develop much in 300,000 years due to male reproductive greed and lack of resources.
  2. War among the Yanomamö was primarily driven by conflicts over women, rather than resources.
  3. The Yanomamö's violent culture and focus on reproductive success helped maintain a pre-Malthusian condition in their society.

Trial by a lying media

384 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
  1. Media can sometimes lie to shape a story.
  2. Public often seeks entertainment from news, even if it involves lies.
  3. Challenging established narratives can be difficult and media may resist change.

The history of Montaillou

384 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
  1. France has a rich history with extensive written records, making it a treasure trove for historical insights.
  2. The Albigensian Crusade in Occitania sheds light on the power struggles and religious conflicts in Medieval France.
  3. Life in the village of Montaillou reveals surprising details about social dynamics, relationships, and daily living in the Middle Ages.

The anti-blog blog post

384 implied HN points • 14 Dec 22
  1. Three common types of blogs: successful, started but never written, shut down due to disinterest.
  2. Books and traditional media offer more value and quality content compared to most blogs.
  3. Blogs often prioritize authentic opinions over well-researched information, attracting readers seeking connection.

Dressed for success, gorilla and whore style

336 implied HN points • 05 Jan 23
  1. Men in power wear suits to symbolize physical strength, regardless of their actual appearance.
  2. Women in power dress in a way that symbolizes sexiness, focusing on hourglass shapes and suggestive clothing.
  3. Female executives and prostitutes often wear similar high-heeled shoes to convey a sense of manipulation from a position of physical weakness.

Overcoming male reproductive greed

384 implied HN points • 04 Nov 22
  1. Geographic conditions and population density influence the development of societies.
  2. Cultural evolution involves a dynamic between individual and group selection.
  3. Overcoming male reproductive greed is crucial for the advancement of civilizations.

Why autism exists

432 implied HN points • 29 Aug 22
  1. High social abilities may hinder original thinking and creativity.
  2. Geniusness may require a lack of social abilities.
  3. Autism could be nature's way of fostering curiosity and skepticism towards social conventions.

The ambivalent nature of female desire

336 implied HN points • 26 Nov 22
  1. There is ambiguity and debate around female desire, with conflicting views on what women truly want
  2. Female sexuality is influenced by evolutionary history, where females faced challenges like infanticide and paternity uncertainty
  3. Human females may have retained old ape-like desires but evolved inhibitions to navigate modern societal mating dynamics

Amish in space

288 implied HN points • 29 Jan 23
  1. Space colonization can align with human nature and traditions
  2. Working to reshape the world to fit human instincts is essential
  3. Space expansion offers a path to peaceful evolution and endless growth

Paid content: Help the baby find a name

96 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
  1. The post is about helping a baby find a name
  2. It is paid content on woodfromeden.substack.com
  3. You need to be a paid subscriber to access the content

A letter from Hitler

288 implied HN points • 28 Dec 22
  1. The letter from Hitler to Daladier requested an honorable peace, showing a different side of Hitler.
  2. The similarities between Hitler's letter and Putin's actions in Ukraine are striking, both blaming the invaded for the conflict.
  3. Lessons from history show the importance of diplomacy and consequences of escalating conflicts.

Why do women have breasts?

432 implied HN points • 18 May 22
  1. Some theories about why women have breasts include attraction, fat indication, and fertility signals.
  2. The MILF hypothesis suggests that breasts mislead males about a female's child-bearing status.
  3. Breasts may have evolved to indicate self-reliance in females and successful child rearing, rather than fertility.

In love with the state

288 implied HN points • 09 Nov 22
  1. The Swedish Theory of Love suggests that financial independence is crucial for true love.
  2. Scandinavian child protection services can be problematic due to high trust in government workers.
  3. Blindly trusting experts and government actions can lead to questionable decision-making.

Old tricks in NewSpace

240 implied HN points • 23 Jan 23
  1. NewSpace refers to young private companies competing in the space industry, making space exciting again.
  2. Old space industry practices centered around NASA's control, but the rise of private companies like SpaceX has brought changes.
  3. Lowering launch costs is a significant achievement of NewSpace, but the demand for space access and manufacturing space-worthy equipment remain challenges.

Hexagonal cities

288 implied HN points • 19 Sep 22
  1. Roman city planning favored square grids, which have been the norm for centuries.
  2. Hexagonal street grids are more efficient at maximizing built-up area compared to streets.
  3. Hexagonal cities have advantages like local climate benefits and improved traffic safety, but face challenges like navigation and building costs.