The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Deserving

New Means • 1611 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Society Ideology History Myths Beliefs
  1. Capitalism thrives on the dangerous faith that everyone deserves very little except for the wealthy elite.
  2. The concept of deserving is deeply ingrained in society and has evolved to emphasize extreme luxury and material possessions.
  3. In a capitalist society, rights and needs are not guaranteed but must be fought for through struggle, organization, and collective agreement.

James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" + "You Can Close Your Eyes" with his son Henry Taylor

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 239 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🎶 Music Artists Songs History Performance Culture
  1. James Taylor's song 'Fire and Rain' was inspired by his struggles with addiction and the loss of a friend. He wrote it during tough times in his life.
  2. The song became a huge hit in the 1970s, helping to launch the singer-songwriter movement and leading to James' successful music career.
  3. Over the years, 'Fire and Rain' has been covered by many artists and is considered a classic, recognized for its emotional depth and beautiful sound.

True Detective and the Challenge of Nihilism

The Bigger Picture • 679 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows Philosophy Religion Psychology History
  1. True Detective's first season remains relevant today, exploring the exhaustion of history and society's cyclical nature.
  2. The show delves into the themes of suicide and nihilism, reflecting on the prevalence of such ideas in contemporary culture.
  3. Christianity, nihilism, and the notion of a 'flat circle' universe are intertwined in the philosophical discourse of the series, challenging viewers to ponder human nature and spiritual ambiguity.
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Essay Club: Wotan by Carl Jung

Mind & Mythos • 299 implied HN points • 17 May 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Psychology Mythology History Literature
  1. Carl Jung believed that the rise of the Nazis in Germany was tied to a spiritual crisis, which he symbolized with the ancient god Wotan. He saw this as a sign of a deeper psychological unrest rather than just economic problems.
  2. Jung introduced the idea of the 'collective unconscious', suggesting that everyone shares certain archetypes or collective thoughts that can influence entire cultures. Wotan, for Jung, represented a part of the German psyche that could manifest in times of crisis.
  3. Jung argued that rather than being purely responsible for their actions, people could be seen as victims of these powerful archetypes. He thought this could help explain the extreme behaviors of nations, especially in challenging times.

A library of words

Austin Kleon • 3497 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
📚 Literature Writing Books Linguistics Genres History
  1. Roget's Thesaurus is more than a simple list of synonyms; it's organized by ideas. This unique layout helps you think about what you want to say instead of just finding a word.
  2. Roget's life was all about organizing information, which influenced how he created his thesaurus. He wanted it to be a tool that helps users explore language in a deeper way.
  3. Using Roget's Thesaurus can be really helpful before you write. It can inspire you and help you find the right words for your thoughts, rather than just swapping words around.

William Penn's Statue of Limitations

Society & Standpoint • 923 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture History Politics Ideology Society
  1. Progressives want to remove William Penn's statue for not being inclusive enough, despite his past efforts towards tolerance.
  2. The concept of a 'statue of limitations' is coined to illustrate how progressives judge historical figures based on contemporary standards.
  3. Progressives view history as a forward arrow towards a utopia, leading them to constantly reassess and potentially tear down statues as standards change.

An Introduction to UPA

Animation Obsessive • 4664 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Design History TV Comics
  1. UPA studio revolutionized animation in the 1940s and 1950s with modern art influences and unique storytelling.
  2. The UPA animation style focused on emotion over anatomy, leading to groundbreaking visuals and storytelling.
  3. UPA's work extended beyond well-known films like Mr. Magoo, encompassing TV commercials, series, and experimental shows.

Group chats, AI girlfriends and algorithmic culture

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 838 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Influencers History Religion Art
  1. Mormon women have had a significant impact on internet culture, particularly through the popularization of products like the Stanley tumbler.
  2. The shift in caffeine consumption among Mormons in 2012 led to the growth of a soda culture, influencing trends like 'dirty sodas' and impacting products like Stanley tumblers.
  3. Mormon women's strong emphasis on family, combined with the openness of the internet, allowed them to become influential mommy bloggers and shape internet content with a focus on lifestyle and family values.

3.4.7 What is “Free Space?”

Fields & Energy • 299 implied HN points • 15 May 24
🔬 Science Physics Electromagnetism Energy Theories History
  1. Free space is a place where electromagnetic waves can travel without any barriers. It has properties that support these waves, even if it seems empty.
  2. In history, scientists debated whether something could exist in a vacuum. They realized that the vacuum still has physical qualities, leading to the idea of the 'æther' as a medium for wave propagation.
  3. Modern physics shows that even a vacuum is rich in properties, meaning it's not truly empty. We should recognize that there's always something there, supporting energy and wave movement.

MASHUP: Aboriginal Smokeless Nicotine, Quinine & Caffeine Therapy, African G6PD Deficiency

Grey Goose Chronicles • 786 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🔬 Science Biology Medicine Genetics Pharmacology History
  1. Aboriginal Australians have a unique way of consuming tobacco with varying effects and health benefits.
  2. Quinine has a rich history in colonial expansion and fighting malaria, while caffeine might hold potential as an antimalarial drug.
  3. Genetic conditions like G6PD deficiency in sub-Saharan Africans show adaptations to malaria, impacting medical treatments and outcomes.

'Ferrari' And Fascism

Daily Dreher • 864 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film History Religion
  1. The post discusses the movie 'Ferrari' and its portrayal of Enzo Ferrari's life crisis in 1957.
  2. The author praises the film for its clever utilization of Catholic sacramentalism.
  3. There is a mention of another person's reaction to the movie, showing different perspectives.

I wrote the coolest tree hugger in popular culture

storyvoyager • 5 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Technology Environment History
  1. Trees and humans have a deep connection that goes back for centuries. Many people feel a natural bond with trees, and losing them can be very emotional.
  2. As climate change continues, certain areas of the world may become more livable, while others will suffer. This could change where people live and how we survive as a species.
  3. The portrayal of tree huggers in media is often negative, but attitudes are changing. There's a growing appreciation for nature and the importance of protecting it.

4.2 Early Models of Electricity

Fields & Energy • 179 implied HN points • 19 Jun 24
🔬 Science Physics Electricity Electromagnetism Models History
  1. Electricity can be understood in two ways: as a fluid traveling through wires or as fields in the space around electric charges. This is still a big question in physics.
  2. Different cultures have unique approaches to explaining scientific concepts. For example, English physicists use hands-on models, while French scientists prefer abstract theories.
  3. Benjamin Franklin was key in shaping the idea that electricity is a single fluid. This foundational concept helps us still today in understanding electricity and electronics.

Crime in the USA

Patterns in Humanity • 943 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Demographics History Law enforcement
  1. Homicide rates in the USA have fluctuated over the last century, showing large variations instead of a consistent downward trend.
  2. The USA has a high homicide rate compared to other highly developed countries, with the rate being 6.4 times higher than the average of 24 other nations.
  3. The high incarceration rate in the USA is mainly driven by violent crimes, not mass incarceration of drug offenders, and is unmatched by other highly developed countries.

Not writing, but typing

Austin Kleon • 2677 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Technology Writing History
  1. Using typewriters can make writing more fun and slower, helping you pay better attention to your words. They allow you to enjoy the writing process rather than rush through it.
  2. Typing out poems or favorite excerpts can be a great way to connect with the text. It feels like you're playing the words, which can deepen your understanding and appreciation.
  3. You can share your typed poems with friends in a fun way, similar to how restaurants use check pads. It’s a creative method of sharing and enjoying writing together.

Best of the Best: Year End Awards

Range Widely • 1002 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Philosophy Science History Art & Illustration
  1. The awards featured various categories like Best Quote for One's Own Obituary and Best Nobel/Olympic Family.
  2. Interesting fact shared about the empty space in atoms: if atom nucleus was the size of a tennis ball, the electron would be orbiting in New Jersey.
  3. Fascinating insights on different topics, from Saxon riddles to Nobel Prize connections, were shared in the post.

These are the good ol’ days

Austin Kleon • 2158 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia Memory Identity History Art
  1. Nostalgia can bring comfort and happiness, reminding us of good times from the past. But it can also distort how we see things now and make us forget about the present.
  2. While nostalgia can be a way to escape reality, a little bit of it can help us reconnect with ourselves and appreciate who we are now.
  3. We should cherish our current moments because they will turn into nostalgia one day. It's important to enjoy life and make memories while we still can.

Spread your tiny wings and fly away

Disaffected Newsletter • 1099 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🎶 Music Performance Artistry History Genres
  1. The female contralto voice is very special and beautiful, but it's quite rare. Many famous singers, like Karen Carpenter, have this unique vocal range.
  2. As artists grow older and revisit their earlier songs, they often bring new depth and emotion to their performances.
  3. Anne Murray's recent performance shows how time can enhance a song, making it more meaningful than when it was first released.

If You Didn't Comply During COVID You're a Psychopath

Break Free with Karen Hunt • 1454 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology Mental health Medication Influence History
  1. Psychologists can label non-compliance during COVID as psychopathy, justifying 'fixing' individuals as they see fit.
  2. The power dynamics post-COVID have allowed for the manipulation and control of citizens, using psychology as a weapon.
  3. Psychiatry and psychology have a history of coercion, drugging, and inhumane treatments towards those deemed non-compliant or ill.

Gwyneth Paltrow says she is looking forward to her "crone" years.

Changing The Channel • 1435 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Age Gender History
  1. Gwyneth Paltrow is embracing her 'crone' years, a time of wisdom and insight in the second half of life.
  2. The term 'Crone' historically refers to a wise older woman with experience and perspective.
  3. Society lacks a cultural appreciation for Wise Women like it does for Wise Men, and the archetype of the Crone needs to be rediscovered and celebrated.

Why Go Imperial In A World Gone Metric?

Everything Is Amazing • 1371 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🔬 Science History Standards
  1. Imperial and Metric systems both have their advantages and stories behind them, with Metric offering precision in calculations and Imperial reflecting historical ways of measuring based on human experience.
  2. The history of measurement systems shows the challenges in implementing consistent standards, like how France struggled in the 18th century with different measures and Napoleon faced resistance in enforcing the Metric system in the early 19th century.
  3. While Metric is efficient for scientific and engineering accuracy, Imperial measurements still offer unique perspectives and connections to everyday experiences that make both systems valuable.

Issue 08 – Bar Soap

Unbox Inbox • 852 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Ingredients Design Gifts History
  1. Bar soap can be a fun and thoughtful gift for people who appreciate design and aesthetics.
  2. Bar soap packaging can offer creative ways to engage customers with typography and design.
  3. Bar soap comes in a wide range of shapes, colors, and scents, making it a versatile and creative product to explore.

New essay: Mystifying the Appearances

Reactionary Feminist • 8 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature History Art Politics
  1. The essay discusses how different thinkers, like Owen Barfield and Jacques Derrida, interpret our connection to what we perceive. Barfield sees it as magical, while Derrida views it as dangerous.
  2. Derrida's perspective has become more dominant, leading to a culture filled with confusion and skepticism. This has created a sense of emptiness in society.
  3. However, there seems to be a shift happening now, with people questioning this dominant way of thinking and exploring new ideas in politics and culture.

An Israel-Palestine Reading List

Glenn Loury • 793 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📚 Literature Conflicts History Politics Middle East Books Israel-Palestine conflict History Colonialism Politics Middle East
  1. The reading list on Israel-Palestine conflict includes diverse perspectives and historical accounts from authors like Norman Finkelstein, Rashid Khalidi, and Benny Morris.
  2. The list delves into topics such as the historical roots of conflict, political dimensions, peace efforts, and the impact on Palestinian society.
  3. Authors like Avi Shlaim and Michael Oren provide insights into strategies, regional context, and key personalities during significant events like the Six-Day War.

Human Shields

Yasha Levine • 845 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Ethnic Cleansing Conflict History Military
  1. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich proposes reducing Gaza population by 90% as a solution to conflict.
  2. Israeli settlements near Gaza were strategically placed as human shields for protection.
  3. The historical military roots of Nahal brigades led to the development of armed pioneer settler communities in Israel.

Syria

backstory • 436 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🏝 Travel History Food Religion Personal narratives
  1. Syria has a rich and complex history with many layers, from ancient Roman influences to the modern political unrest. The country has beautiful places that tell stories of its past.
  2. People in Syria have a unique way of life, filled with vibrant markets, traditional crafts, and warm hospitality. Even in tough times, the culture shines through.
  3. The personal experiences of individuals show how life in Syria has changed dramatically over the years, with many living in fear or facing loss. It's important to remember the people behind the headlines.