The hottest Biography Substack posts right now

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Henry Flagler, Original Florida Man

Litverse • 99 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
💾 History Biography Legacy Florida Mystery
  1. Henry Flagler embodied the spirit of the original 'Florida Man' with his irrational pursuits and relentless drive to leave a lasting legacy.
  2. Flagler's legacy was not just in the railroad he built, but in inspiring a state, a people, and a unique spirit with his reckless determination and unconventional approach.
  3. Despite the commercial failure and eventual destruction of the Overseas Railroad, Flagler's true legacy was the impact of his pioneering efforts and the enduring spirit of the 'Florida Man' he represented.

The 80-20 Rule and the Trickster Archetype

Daoist Methodologies • 216 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
📚 Literature Archetypes Philosophy Historical Fiction Biography Mythology
  1. The Trickster Archetype is a quasi-universal figure known for being amoral, oafish, and ultimately successful despite failures.
  2. In the Stratagems, Qin Shihuang is portrayed as a trickster god figure, providing insightful assessments and charm in his actions.
  3. Individuals who take high-risk, trial-and-error approaches in chaotic situations may appear as 'serene bumblers' but strategically use repeated failures to achieve success.

Ernest Hemingway: Macho Cat Dad

Litverse • 479 implied HN points • 05 Oct 22
📚 Literature Biography Criticism Authorship Writing Style
  1. Ernest Hemingway, known for his macho image, had a deep connection with cats and spent a significant part of his life breeding them.
  2. Hemingway's persona often overshadowed the complexity and sensitivity in his writing, leading to misconceptions about his work.
  3. Through his unusual interactions with cats, Hemingway's true character emerges as a blend of strength and vulnerability, challenging common perceptions of his masculinity.

'Raging Bull' and the Quest for Space Guns

Ulysses • 59 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
💾 History Innovations Warfare Biography
  1. Gerald Bull was a Canadian engineer who aimed to shoot satellites into space using massive artillery pieces.
  2. Bull faced setbacks but persevered, reaching significant achievements like firing projectiles to record-breaking altitudes and building the world's largest operational artillery piece.
  3. Despite his dream of launching satellites into orbit, Bull's involvement in creating 'Doomsday weapons' led to tragic consequences for him.
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The Argentine Dream: Aristotle Onassis

BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets • 196 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
💾 History Biography Wealth Family Argentina Legacy
  1. Aristotle Onassis went from a broke nomad to the world's richest man by making his fortune in Argentina.
  2. Onassis used unconventional methods like insider trading, bribery, and eavesdropping to increase his wealth.
  3. Family tragedies marked the downfall of the Onassis empire, with deaths, divorces, and misfortunes impacting future generations.

George Orwell, Snobby Truthteller

Litverse • 119 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
📚 Literature Biography Criticism Themes Impact Analysis
  1. George Orwell's descriptions of poverty and working-class conditions often came across as snobbish and elitist to some critics.
  2. Orwell's upbringing in a family benefiting from the Empire's sins influenced his perspectives on injustice and societal change.
  3. Through his gardening, Orwell showed a commitment to beauty and resistance, highlighting the importance of finding beauty in life despite its cruelties.

Thomas Hardy, Genius

Autoscriptorium • 99 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
📚 Literature Poetry Author Themes Biography Style
  1. Poetry involves sound and requires a voice. Thomas Hardy believed in conveying meaningful messages through poetry, not just elegant words.
  2. Thomas Hardy, a talented architect turned poet, had a diverse range of influences and taught himself various languages. He was known for his unique style inspired by folk music and rhythm.
  3. Hardy's poem 'The Voice' beautifully conveys deep emotions and longing through its poetic language and structure. Each line reveals layers of complexity and evokes strong emotions.

VOL 67: Nikola Tesla The Visionary Genius: A Man Ahead of His Time

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 14 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
💾 History Inventors Achievements Controversies Legacy Biography
  1. Nikola Tesla was a visionary genius in science and technology, known for revolutionizing domains like electricity and radio.
  2. Nikola Tesla had unique personal traits and exceptional accomplishments, such as mental calculations and fluency in 8 languages.
  3. Nikola Tesla's inventions, like the induction machine, solidify his status as a remarkable pioneer in electrical engineering.

Legibility

The Leftovers • 39 implied HN points • 10 Dec 21
📚 Literature Language Identity Writing Biography Translation
  1. Moving to a new place can make you rethink your identity and rewrite your story, leading to a sense of becoming unfamiliar.
  2. Writing in a second language can influence how you express yourself in your native language, blurring the lines between identities.
  3. In writing, balancing authenticity and legibility can be challenging, as it involves navigating personal identity and how others perceive you.

Film Review: Oppenheimer

By Reason Alone • 2 HN points • 28 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Biography Ethics History Entertainment
  1. The film 'Oppenheimer' is really three movies in one, which may have worked better as a series rather than a three-hour film.
  2. Uninformed audiences might not grasp the emotional significance of certain plot points in the film, like Oppenheimer's security clearance.
  3. The movie has too many famous actors and a lot of music, which can be distracting and take away from the storytelling.

Thursday Curiosity Links

Grist Potentia • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💾 History Events Biography
  1. Today in History: English writer A. A. Milne was born on January 18, 1882.
  2. A. A. Milne attended Westminster School and Trinity College in Cambridge.
  3. A. A. Milne was not just a writer, but also a talented cricketer who played for amateur cricket teams.

Wednesday Curiosity Links

Grist Potentia • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💾 History Events Biography
  1. George Joseph Stigler, an American economist, was born on January 17, 1911.
  2. Stigler was a key leader of the Chicago school of Economics.
  3. He obtained his BA from the University of Washington and his MBA from Northwestern University.

Influential Mathematicians:  Évariste Galois

Quantum Formalism • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 20
🔬 Science Mathematics Quantum Mechanics Group Theory Biography
  1. Evarist Galois developed Galois Theory, revolutionizing abstract algebra, despite facing personal struggles and tragedy in his life.
  2. Group Theory, inspired by Galois' work, plays a crucial role in quantum formalism, with concepts like unitary operators forming a group structure.
  3. Although Galois didn't directly contribute to quantum formalism, his mathematical legacy continues to influence and shape modern mathematical frameworks.

Influential Mathematicians: David Hilbert

Quantum Formalism • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 20
🔬 Science Mathematics Physics Biography
  1. David Hilbert's contributions to geometry and axiomatic methods influenced mathematics and physics significantly.
  2. Though Hilbert didn't directly work on quantum mechanics, his foundational work on integral equations paved the way for the development of quantum formalism.
  3. Hilbert's interest in applying axiomatic methods to physics led to his famous 'Sixth Problem,' advocating for treating physics with mathematical axioms.

The Big Lookback: Christina Stead

And It Don't Stop • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
📚 Literature Novelists Criticism Biography Feminism Writing Style
  1. Christina Stead's novel The Man Who Loved Children is praised for its unique voices and detailed character development
  2. Stead's writing style is described as unorthodox and crafted with a mix of satire and naturalism
  3. Stead, an Australian novelist, was known for her eccentric, unedited prose which explored intolerable situations and characters