The hottest Academia Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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A Crusading Clerisy

Not On Your Team, But Always Fair • 963 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Marxism is not a religion, but post-Enlightenment progressivism ('Wokery') can be considered as one.
  2. The growth of the human-and-cultural capital class, along with technological evolution, has led to a shift towards jobs less grounded in physical reality, especially in entertainment, media, and education.
  3. Post-Enlightenment Progressivism (

Friday Thread: Can a PhD be "just a job"?

The Recovering Academic • 435 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Academia being viewed as a business can help job seekers transition to industry with a new mindset.
  2. The perception of a PhD as 'just a job' and academic institutions as commercial entities is crucial for adapting academic experience to industry expectations.
  3. For many faculty members, especially non-tenure track ones, the idea of a PhD as merely a job no longer aligns due to low pay and challenging work conditions.

Reflections of an Apostate

Fake Noûs • 542 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Libertarianism is built on skepticism about authority. People believe there shouldn't be government control over things that would be wrong for anyone else to do.
  2. Being a non-leftist in academia can be tough because there is often bias against conservative views. This bias can affect job opportunities and student experiences.
  3. Diverse viewpoints are important in academics. Having different ideas helps everyone to think better and avoid extreme groupthink.

Weekend Listening: From McDonalds Drive-Through to Star Harvard Professor

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3292 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🚌 Education Academia
  1. UATX, a new university founded by Pano Kanelos, has proven to be a real institution set to accept its inaugural class of students in 2024.
  2. Harvard economist Roland Fryer embodies academic excellence, emphasizing the pursuit of truth, admitting his mistakes, and overcoming obstacles.
  3. Fryer's life story showcases resilience, determination, and the importance of staying true to one's mission in the face of controversies and challenges.
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Why I can no longer pursue a career in academia

David’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 20 Sep 24
🚌 Education Academia
  1. You don't need to fully understand the brain anymore to create advanced AI. Recent advancements in machine learning have made it possible to develop useful AI without deep knowledge of neuroscience.
  2. Just knowing things isn't enough; building and creating is important too. The academic world focuses too much on understanding without encouraging actual creation, which feels unfulfilling for some people.
  3. Academic culture often discourages ambition, leading to a focus on small, safe projects rather than bold, innovative research. This can make talented individuals feel stuck and unmotivated.

I am offering mentoring

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 1062 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🚌 Education Academia
  1. A mentoring program is being offered to help people achieve their goals. It's open to anyone, regardless of age or career stage.
  2. The mentor will have three 30-minute video sessions with chosen participants, focused on helping them with their specific challenges.
  3. This program is free and based on an application process to select three people that the mentor believes they can assist most effectively.

Inequality Has Become Its Own Explanation

Journal of Free Black Thought • 50 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. Calling disparities "systemic racism" without naming specific policies or institutional practices and showing they caused the outcomes is circular and not an explanation.
  2. Rare acts of discrimination can produce large group gaps in competitive selection processes, so low measured rates of discriminatory acts can coexist with big disparities—but that dynamic alone does not identify a discriminatory system.
  3. Programs like implicit bias training and generic DEI often have weak effects; a more effective approach is structuring decisions so evaluators must consider concrete, job‑relevant individuating information, which greatly reduces biased judgments.

"Crowned Masterpieces of Eloquence" Introduction

Anarchonomicon • 707 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🚌 Education Academia
  1. The collection 'Crowned Masterpieces of Eloquence' provides a unique window into early 1900s speeches and reveals the power of oratory in shaping history.
  2. While oratory may be a lost art today, historical speeches have the ability to surprise and enlighten readers with perspectives from different eras.
  3. Trump's distinct persona and communication style, though not a classical orator, stand out in a field of polished, scripted politicians, showing a different approach to public speaking.

We Tried to Warn You

Unsafe Science • 739 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Academia has faced significant challenges due to its left-leaning politicization. This could lead to a backlash against academic institutions and funding.
  2. Dissident academics have been warning about the danger of mixing politics with education for many years. Ignoring these warnings has resulted in serious issues within academia.
  3. There is a growing divide and polarization between academics and political figures, which may weaken the credibility and influence of academic work.

Does the Right Have a Stupidity Problem?

sebjenseb • 334 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Right wingers may be slightly less intelligent than left wingers, but the difference is small.
  2. IQ differences between right wingers and left wingers are mostly negligible.
  3. Attempts to promote genetic causes of race differences have historically faced challenges and may not be politically feasible.

Five of My Favorite Papers and the Stories Behind Them

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 372 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🔬 Science Academia
  1. Five chosen papers reflect intense moments of learning and clarity during writing. They are special, not necessarily the most popular ones.
  2. The feeling of being 'in the zone' is compared to a competitive athlete's experience, highlighting hard work leading to success.
  3. Updates include easier access to past writings and resources for paid subscribers, plus discounts for students and military personnel.

On Cultivating “Genius” (Part I)

if not, Paris • 530 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. The term 'genius' and language have been questioned by structuralists and post-structuralists, blurring clear meanings.
  2. Academic discourse can prioritize sounding smart over communicating effectively, leading to confusion and inadequacy.
  3. Academia's cultivation of 'genius' can limit new ideas and perspectives, impacting the understanding of genius in the 21st century.

Losing my Religion, 2e

KCKlatt’s Substack • 2 HN points • 22 Sep 24
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Navigating academic life can create a lot of confusion, especially when you see a gap between the ideals of research and the reality of how things operate. It can feel frustrating when the focus is more on getting published than on genuine discoveries.
  2. The pressure to publish often leads to questionable practices in research, which can hurt the integrity of the work. Many people in academia are just trying to survive in a system that doesn’t set them up for real success.
  3. Finding a supportive environment in academia is tough, and it's important to constantly question what the true mission of academic work is. Many academics feel like they’re in a game where they have to compete rather than collaborate.

Odds and Ends (3)

David Friedman’s Substack • 242 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Columbia University is facing pressure from the federal government, which may affect its funding and independence. The president warns that this could have serious consequences for the school's operations and student support.
  2. Trusting a source of information can be tricky. It’s important to look for evidence that shows someone is honest, like them reporting truth even when it goes against their views.
  3. Consider offering a paid subscription for your writing if readers might appreciate it. However, be careful as it might turn away some current or new readers.

Celebrating the great life

System Change • 393 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. Professor Victoria Chick was a leading economist who fought against mainstream economic orthodoxy.
  2. She emphasized the importance of Keynes's monetary theory and policies in her academic work.
  3. Her legacy continues to inspire and inform future generations in the field of economics.

The cult of positive thinking comes for academe

The Recovering Academic • 356 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Positive thinking originated as an antidote to Puritanism and is about trying to think positively as a practice or discipline.
  2. In academia, positive thinking can enable gaslighting where university leaders may manipulate or undermine faculty concerns to align with their personal visions.
  3. Negative thinking, while often seen in a bad light, can be essential for seeking truth and survival by challenging assumptions and serving as a tool for vigilantly assessing reality.

Whose Lost Decade?

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 21 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. The claim that white millennial men were primarily shut out by “wokeness” is overstated; shrinking humanities and media jobs, elite overproduction, credential inflation, and aging leadership explain much of their diminished opportunities.
  2. Both woke and anti-woke politics have often functioned as elite status games or marketing moves, which distracted energy from concrete material problems and led to elite capture of progressive language.
  3. Real change requires material fixes and collective coordination — more good jobs, reforms to stale hierarchies, and deliberate efforts to shift harmful gender norms — not just fights over elite hiring or word games.

The End of History

The Ruffian • 1241 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Academic historians are facing challenges within their own discipline
  2. Researchers in London studied the impact of the Black Death on people of African descent
  3. There is concern over the misuse of historical narratives for social activism in academic research

Are experts useless?

Samstack • 1422 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🔬 Science Academia
  1. Experts may not be as reliable as we think, with evidence showing they often fare poorly compared to ordinary individuals in making predictions.
  2. There's a growing concern about fraud and publication bias in scientific journals, undermining the credibility of experts' work.
  3. While skepticism towards expertise is warranted, there are strategies for the average person to evaluate research validity and experts can still provide valuable insights.

Reboot's Ins & Outs for 2026

Reboot • 15 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. Corporate beige microsites and other uniform aesthetics are getting tired while AI-generated "slop" multiplies, so people will crave more playful, varied, and weird corners of the web.
  2. AI evaluation is shifting from multiple-choice benchmarks to proving real-world job performance and economic impact, driving demand for roles like forward-deployed engineers who turn models into practical value.
  3. Institutions and communities are reshaping: non-academic labs will need academic muscle, new folk schools will grow, pop-up village hype may fade, and cultural attention will narrow into deeper specialization.

3 Reasons Why You Should Watch Lucky Hank

The Recovering Academic • 257 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. The show brings attention to how higher education has shifted towards treating students as customers, focusing on job outcomes over learning.
  2. It highlights the pressure and pathology in the publishing world, showing how success can lead to narcissism and a relentless pursuit of acclaim.
  3. The series sheds light on the power dynamics and control issues within academia, portraying the absurdity and corporate influences in higher education leadership.

Getting it Right vs. Getting Ahead

In My Tribe • 379 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. In a meeting, people can either aim to show they were on the winning side or focus on what will lead to the best long-term results. These two priorities often clash, especially in organizations.
  2. In academia, flattering important figures may help someone advance, even if it doesn't contribute to real knowledge. This can lead to challenges for those who prioritize truth over personal gain.
  3. It's common for workers to try to guess what their managers want rather than providing honest opinions. This can result in a culture where the truth is overlooked for the sake of advancement.

That Might Have Been The Strangest Thing That Has Ever Happened To Me On Twitter

Singal-Minded • 1670 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
📰 News Academia
  1. A controversy on Twitter erupted when a researcher accused a writer of misinterpreting a sentence in the Standards of Care document
  2. The writer engaged in a debate on social media to defend their interpretation of the sentence
  3. The controversy reached a dramatic conclusion when it was revealed that the writer was falsely accused, leading to public embarrassment for the accuser

Neutral Universities

David Friedman’s Substack • 296 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Universities should strive for neutrality to focus on truth and avoid political distractions. When they take sides, it can harm their ability to explore different ideas and create a closed environment.
  2. Even if universities don't make public statements, their choices still communicate views on controversial topics. They can avoid unnecessary conflicts by being careful about their decisions and who they hire.
  3. The idea of neutrality isn't just for universities but also applies to professional organizations. When these groups take political stances, it can affect their integrity and the public's trust in their expertise.

Guest post: Jenn Zuko

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Academia
  1. The author reflects on the challenges faced as an adjunct theatre professor and the lack of recognition or support received after many years of service.
  2. The narrative highlights the profound impact of the decision to leave, detailing the mixed reactions and emotional moments during the announcement.
  3. Despite the author's anticipation of theatrical reactions to their resignation, the reality was met with unexpected, mostly silent responses during a faculty meeting.

Rolling the DEI

Heterodox STEM • 234 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Bias is present in academia and is often not unconscious. Many feel that men struggle to gain recognition in this environment.
  2. Data suggests that award processes in universities may not truly reflect merit and can be influenced by gender and diversity initiatives.
  3. The academic focus on diversity and inclusion sometimes leads to a lack of male representation in awards, raising questions about the fairness of these systems.

Misinformation Researcher Sander van der Linden Caught Lying and Spreading Misinformation

The DisInformation Chronicle • 670 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. Misinformation researcher Sander van der Linden was caught lying and spreading misinformation, tarnishing his credibility.
  2. The incident sheds light on the concern that 'misinformation research' might be used for political purposes to silence dissent on controversial topics.
  3. Van der Linden's behavior on social media and Wikipedia highlights potential manipulation to create a false image of credibility and promote personal research.

Freedom of enquiry in academia is dead, murdered by Professor Plum in the library with the lead piping of identity politics.

Heterodox STEM • 206 implied HN points • 23 Feb 25
🚌 Education Academia
  1. Academic freedom is under threat, with many professors feeling censored by current identity politics. This makes it hard for them to express differing views openly.
  2. Modern universities are focusing more on adhering to policies rather than encouraging innovation and critical thinking. This shift is harming the quality of education.
  3. There is a call for a return to objective truth and open discussions in academia. Without diverse opinions and debates, intellectual growth is stunted.

Me and Alan Dershowitz

John’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia
  1. The relationship between Alan Dershowitz and Jeffrey Epstein is significant, especially regarding efforts to discredit critics of Israel. This shows how personal motives can play into public debates.
  2. Dershowitz's portrayal of his past actions as merely academic discourse contrasts sharply with the aggressive tactics he used against critics before. This highlights a change in public attitudes toward discussions about Israel.
  3. Dershowitz appears to be on the defensive compared to his previous aggressive stance. This shift illustrates a broader change in the conversation about Israel and its supporters.