The hottest Critique Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

A Cagan Critique

The Beautiful Mess • 476 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
💼 Business Critique
  1. Not everyone thinks the same way about success. People have different paths to achieve their personal and collective goals, and that's what makes teamwork rich and creative.
  2. It's important to question and critique ideas, even widely respected ones. This helps us understand different perspectives and encourages an open mind.
  3. Success isn’t just about ambition. Various motivations matter, and we should recognize that each person can contribute in their own unique way.

A bit too wet for me in the end

quite useless • 452 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. The film 'Saltburn' cleverly explores class dynamics through traditional characters and allusions.
  2. 'Saltburn' effectively leverages its setting to provide keen social observation and moral inquiry.
  3. 'Triangle of Sadness' suffers from a lack of cleverness in its script, leading to failed attempts at role reversal and humor.

My brother-in-law is a genius

Thinking about... • 496 implied HN points • 07 Jun 25
🎶 Music Critique
  1. The phrase 'my brother-in-law is a genius' isn't commonly said, but it can be true for some people. In this case, the brother-in-law is an accomplished opera composer with award-winning works.
  2. Dan Shore's music often reflects contemporary themes while drawing from classical styles, making his operas unique and relatable. He uses his talent to express current events through his performances.
  3. In tough times, music can offer comfort and connection. Sharing songs that mix serious themes with humor can help people cope better with challenging situations.

This is not the best we can do

¡Do Not Panic! • 707 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. The need for big transformative ideas and focus on useful knowledge to propel humanity forward
  2. Call to rekindle the spirit of the Enlightenment and focus on meaningful change rather than trivial research
  3. Belief in the possibility of a better future, challenging the current systems and structures for a more equitable world
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Inner Development Goals on Trial

The Joyous Struggle • 671 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) were created in response to the failure to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim to enhance human capacity.
  2. The IDGs are challenged for their perceived emphasis on personal growth as a means of achieving goodness, their modernist perspective, and their alignment with existing power structures.
  3. Critics question whether the IDGs are truly disruptive and transformative or if they reinforce immunity to change by not addressing systemic risks and structural injustices.

A clarification but, crucially, not a correction

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 334 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. The author clarified a theory about online pseudonyms critiquing appearances of celebrities, emphasizing it was just a neutral guess.
  2. The author received feedback from a woman contradicting assumptions about their identity and intentions behind their critique of Taylor Swift's appearance.
  3. The discussion expanded to critique societal norms around women's body image and the impact of judgments on appearance.

Ranking Every "Mission: Impossible"

Obvious Bicycle • 263 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. The 'Mission: Impossible' series is not just for action fans; it has thrilling moments that can surprise even those who usually don’t watch action movies.
  2. Tom Cruise's willingness to perform dangerous stunts himself adds a level of authenticity and excitement to the films, making them stand out in the action genre.
  3. Each 'Mission: Impossible' movie has a fun and engaging structure, allowing them to be enjoyed as standalone films while still offering an overarching storyline.

The English Major is Dead. Long Live... Statistics?

Litverse • 598 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
📚 Literature Critique
  1. The traditional focus on English majors and humanities is declining in college, with more students opting for fields like statistics and focusing on tangible results and financial outcomes.
  2. There is a shift towards valuing passion over privilege in the humanities, while statistics and data-driven analysis gain popularity in educational pursuits.
  3. The current generation is redefining education and career paths, emphasizing skills and practical knowledge over the traditional humanities subjects, reflecting a cultural shift in how knowledge is valued and applied.

Songs My Son Gave Me

So Here’s a Thing • 589 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🎶 Music Critique
  1. It's okay not to like all modern music trends, but there are still artists producing enjoyable material.
  2. Artists like Billie Eilish, UPSAHL, and Nessa Barret are worth exploring for a break from the usual.
  3. Exploring new music, even if it's not your typical genre, can uncover hidden gems and offer a refreshing change.

The Monday Media Diet with Emanuel Derman

Why is this interesting? • 723 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
📚 Literature Critique
  1. Emanuel Derman has had a diverse career, changing paths from theoretical physics to finance and teaching, showing how one can blend different interests into a fulfilling life.
  2. He prefers reading over other media like podcasts, which reflects a desire for control over his pace. His media diet includes mainstream newspapers, literary journals, and financial newsletters, focusing on written content.
  3. Derman highlights the importance of poetry and fiction in his reading, and emphasizes a personal connection to understanding his roots through his writing.

Our Slovenly Willingness

The Absent-Minded Professor • 275 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Critique
  1. Apple's Vision Pro is pushing for a future of computing that may erode our sense of community.
  2. The increasing closeness of technology to us poses a new layer of distraction and potential harm to individual and communal well-being.
  3. Critically examining our reliance on technology can help us preserve our connection to nature and community over a machine-driven lifestyle.

What's Imagination For, Anyway?

Cybernetic Forests • 279 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Critique
  1. Art can either sell systems of power or support technocracy, highlighting the importance of using art to question and challenge technology rather than serve as a tool for propping up power.
  2. Imagination is often linked with AI, but it's crucial to move beyond speculative thinking to consider the real impacts and consequences of AI on our world today.
  3. Artists, when working with and against technology, can play a role in subverting and challenging powerful systems by acting as parasites, critiquing and revealing flaws instead of just showcasing technological prowess.

SHAP Is Not All You Need

Mindful Modeler • 898 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Critique
  1. It's important to avoid assuming one method is always the best for all interpretation contexts when working with machine learning interpretability tools like SHAP.
  2. Different interpretability methods like SHAP and permutation feature importance (PFI) have unique goals and can provide different insights, so it's crucial to choose the method that aligns with the specific question you want to answer.
  3. Research on interpretability should be more driven by questions rather than methods, to ensure that the tools used provide meaningful insights based on the context.

The Year AI Broke

Dada Drummer Almanach • 57 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🎶 Music Critique
  1. The music business is betting heavily on AI as the main future, with no new technology or artist-development plan to replace streaming.
  2. Relying on AI risks pushing music away from real human musicians and the fans who care about them, which is a short-term approach that undermines music's long-term health.
  3. Artists should lead the creative thinking and efforts to protect music's long-term viability, because healthy music ecosystems matter for communities and the economy.

The Unabomber Fallacy

Yasha Levine • 471 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. Revolution against industrial technology may not succeed without global reach.
  2. Ted Kaczynski's revolution against industrial society was ultimately doomed to fail.
  3. Critique of technology being political can apply to various ideologies of the industrial age.

How Not What

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 194 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
📚 Literature Critique
  1. In storytelling, it’s often more interesting to focus on how events unfold rather than just what happens. This shift helps create a deeper connection to the story.
  2. Surprises can be exciting in stories, but relying solely on them can make them feel exhausting over time. Understanding how things happen can be more engaging.
  3. Asking 'how' questions in conversations can lead to richer discussions. These questions help get to know people better and uncover feelings and motivations.

Hyperion and boring techno futures

Yasha Levine • 412 implied HN points • 02 May 23
📚 Literature Critique
  1. The story of Hyperion explores a conflict between a traditional civilization reliant on AI technology and a post-humanist society embracing genetic tinkering and self-directed evolution.
  2. The author questions the idealized futuristic utopia presented in the Hyperion series, highlighting the potential downsides and complexities of a tech-driven society.
  3. There is a comparison drawn between the themes in the Hyperion series and ideologies of technology-driven utopias seen in history, pointing out the different perspectives and potential outcomes.

Fast days, slow company

gen yeet • 373 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
📚 Literature Critique
  1. Memory is like a true fiction, a subjective version of the past that exists in our heads.
  2. Non-linear storytelling and abstraction in fiction can keep readers engaged and intrigued.
  3. Movies like Midnight Cowboy and Past Lives explore themes of unfulfilled romance and longing, leaving room for interpretation.

Contra Hanania: Why Reading Books is Good, Actually

Mind & Mythos • 539 implied HN points • 11 May 23
📚 Literature Critique
  1. Reading books helps with remembering and understanding ideas better than just quick posts or tweets. It's about taking time to fully grasp concepts.
  2. Books can connect new ideas with what we already know, making them more meaningful and easier to recall later.
  3. Not every book is worth reading, but the long tradition of books shows they still have a special value in learning and reflection.

Do You Have Evidence?

Disaffected Newsletter • 1 HN point • 26 Sep 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Critique
  1. Some people don't really care about real evidence; they're just trying to challenge you for show. It's more about their ego than the truth.
  2. When someone demands proof for something obvious, it's usually a tactic to dismiss your point instead of engaging in a real discussion.
  3. Instead of giving in to their demands for evidence, consider ignoring them or showing others how they manipulate arguments. This helps everyone stay aware of these tactics.

Look Who's Talking: G.A. Cohen on Israeli Condemnations of Palestinian Terrorism

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 319 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. G.A. Cohen questioned the equal right of everyone to condemn terrorist attacks, highlighting the complexity of moral standing in such situations.
  2. Cohen's analysis of Israeli-Palestinian conflict suggests that those responsible for injustices may lack the moral standing to condemn actions that result from the grievances they caused.
  3. The argument presents a thought-provoking analogy involving responsibilities and moral condemnations in a hypothetical scenario, challenging the notion of moral authority in certain situations.

Not Funny

Points And Figures • 559 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
😂 Humor Critique
  1. Tony Hinchcliffe's style of humor is seen as harsh and not funny. Unlike comedians like Don Rickles, he doesn't include self-deprecating jokes.
  2. Hinchcliffe's jokes can be cringeworthy and don't seem to resonate well with audiences, especially at events like the Trump rally.
  3. The comparison between Hinchcliffe and Rickles highlights a difference in comedic approach, where Rickles was more inclusive and warm-hearted.

Pessimistic thoughts about the left

Philosophy bear • 328 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. The left often avoids discussing difficult trade-offs because they don't want to upset their supporters. This can lead to a lack of solid plans when they gain power.
  2. There's a problem with administrative spending in universities that the left doesn't address openly. Many unnecessary positions could be cut, but it’s a touchy subject.
  3. Pessimism about the left’s ability to create real change stems from a reluctance to make tough decisions. They need to start thinking about practical economic planning to be effective.

Cohen vs. Trotsky: Is Marxism Without Dialectics Really Like a Clock Without a Spring?

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 239 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. Marxism debates include the significance of the 'dialectical method' and if it's essential to the ideology.
  2. There's a discussion on whether Marxism can do without dialectics or if it's a crucial aspect.
  3. Understanding the relationship between Hegel's dialectical approach and Marxism is a key focus in analyzing theoretical differences.

The End of History

The Ruffian • 1241 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🚌 Education Critique
  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

Hitch and the Philosopher: A Look Back at Christopher Hitchens's Debate with William Lane Craig

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 379 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Critique
  1. Christopher Hitchens had a compelling humanistic critique of Christianity and was skilled in debates, but struggled when debating with a philosopher of religion.
  2. William Lane Craig proved to be a challenge for Hitchens during their debate.
  3. The encounter between Hitchens and Craig highlighted the difference between moral critique and philosophical debate.

The Work of Writing About Taylor Swift

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 137 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. In a world of cultural commentary, perspectives on public figures like Taylor Swift can vary widely.
  2. Public figures like Swift are often appropriated as symbols for different causes, regardless of their personal beliefs.
  3. Swift's broad appeal allows for numerous and often conflicting interpretations, leading to a commodification of opinions in pop culture.

Review: "Brandon Sanderson Is Your God" by Wired

coldhealing • 255 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. The article criticizes popular fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson for his perceived lack of depth in his works and personal life.
  2. The Wired article attacks Sanderson's character through ad hominem attacks rather than engaging with his literary merit.
  3. There is a comparison with a YouTube video that provides better journalism and artistic exploration than the Wired article.

An Unusual Bonus Friday Post

Story Club with George Saunders • 253 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
📚 Literature Critique
  1. Keeping politics out of discussions is important, but sometimes it's necessary to address serious issues affecting governance and society.
  2. It's essential to remember the values of kindness and support for the less fortunate, especially during challenging times.
  3. Staying engaged and critical while maintaining a sense of humor can help us deal with difficult situations and keep hope alive for a better future.

"Unearthed 2008 blog reveals Dobrenko's early genius"

Both Are True • 86 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. Sometimes early work can hint at someone's future talent, like how child prodigies show their skills early on. It's interesting to look back at our own early creations to see if there's something special there.
  2. An unfinished blog post from the past can still hold value and be rediscovered later, surprising the writer with its potential. It's a reminder that even old, unpolished ideas can be viewed differently over time.
  3. Critics can sometimes give new insights into one's work, offering a fresh perspective that the creator might not see. This shows the importance of feedback and collaboration in the creative process.

Review: Michael Robbins on Wild Souls

Book Post • 196 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
📚 Literature Critique
  1. Humans have created challenges for other animals by not knowing how to live.
  2. Some popular books may offer simple solutions but lack depth in addressing complex issues.
  3. Marris's book 'Wild Souls' delves into ethical obligations towards nonhuman animals but falls short on exploration.

T.V. Digest #23 Reveals the Paid Tier

Textual Variations • 66 implied HN points • 23 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. A new paid subscription option is available for $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year, giving access to some older articles behind a paywall.
  2. The publication schedule will be flexible and inconsistent, with posts coming out when there's time and inspiration instead of on a regular basis.
  3. Recent updates include new content and discussions around various topics, such as films and viewer sensitivity to violence.

'Science Fictions' by Stuart Ritchie is a stupid, confused book, polluted with ideology

Heterodox STEM • 85 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🔬 Science Critique
  1. The book highlights major issues in science, like fraud and poor management, but also fails to address the real problems caused by centralization and prestige within scientific institutions.
  2. There's a strong critique of being selectively skeptical about certain scientific areas while promoting others without question, suggesting a bias in the author's approach.
  3. A call for a new role of science critics is made, emphasizing the need for independent reviewers who can help evaluate and communicate scientific ideas better.

Unboxing videos, cover quotes, acknowledgement pages

The Leftovers • 179 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. Unboxing videos, cover quotes, and acknowledgment pages in the Anglophone scene are criticized in the post for being disliked authorial rituals.
  2. The author started the day with reflection and writing, but an encounter with an unboxing video led to an angry rant about aspects of the contemporary literary scene.
  3. Subscribers need a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives on The Leftovers.

Does The Female Gaze Exist?

Paging Dr. Lesbian • 176 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Critique
  1. The concept of the female gaze is not a scholarly term and lacks rigorous evaluation.
  2. The male gaze in cinema is rooted in psychoanalytic theory and apparatus theory, privileging the masculine perspective.
  3. Black feminist scholars like bell hooks critique the lack of intersectionality and representation in traditional feminist film theory.