The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Doing "The Twist" with Chubby Checker

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 179 implied HN points • 14 May 24
🎶 Music Rock Dance Culture History Entertainment
  1. Dancing is for everyone, no matter your age or skill level. You can move to your favorite music in any way that feels good.
  2. Chubby Checker's song 'The Twist' became a huge hit twice, and it's a dance that anyone can do easily and with fun.
  3. Over time, people often lose their confidence to dance, but it's important to embrace joy and creativity, just like we did as kids.

The Eternally, Irreplaceably Vulnerable: Aircraft Carrier at War - with Dr. John T. Kuehn on Midrats

CDR Salamander • 432 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌐 International Military History Warfare
  1. Aircraft carriers are highly vulnerable due to their design and the nature of their operations.
  2. Aircraft carriers play a crucial role in projecting power and national will globally at sea.
  3. Proper utilization of aircraft carriers involves managing their limited resources effectively to maximize their value.

Green Seduction

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 459 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Nature Literature History Plants Environment
  1. Plants are amazing and can be found everywhere, even in unexpected places. They are essential for life and create environments where other creatures can thrive.
  2. Experiencing and enjoying plants can really connect us to nature, especially in cities. Whether it's in our backyards or parks, plants can bring us joy and comfort.
  3. It's important to keep the language around nature alive. Losing words related to plants and nature can dull our connection and understanding of the world around us.

John Logie Baird: Why So Many Plaques?

Londonist: Time Machine • 219 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration History
  1. John Logie Baird, TV pioneer, has four plaques in Soho/Covent Garden commemorating his achievements in the television industry.
  2. The plaques on different buildings in the area celebrate various milestones in Baird's work, from first demonstrated television to his first broadcast.
  3. The existence of multiple plaques for John Logie Baird within a short walk raises the question of why there are so many commemorations to the same individual.

Five Links for December 2024

Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman • 56 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media History Art Books Film
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THE MIND OF SONNY ROLLINS

The Nelson George Mixtape • 452 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎶 Music Jazz Musician Biography History
  1. Sonny Rollins was obsessed with study and rehearsal, enjoying practice more than performing for an audience.
  2. Sonny Rollins' music and philosophy were influenced by Buddhism, yoga, and the streets of New York.
  3. To learn more about Sonny Rollins, recommended readings include 'Saxophone Colossus' by Aidan Levy.

JIMMY CARTER’S MIXED LEGACY

Seymour Hersh • 37 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents History Political Legacy American Society Conflict
  1. Jimmy Carter was seen as a peace-seeker after his presidency, but during his time in office, he often acted like a hawk. He had a complex approach to foreign policy, trying to balance peace with military actions.
  2. Carter's legacy includes efforts to support human rights, which he championed more as an ex-president. His post-presidency work focused on humanitarian efforts around the world.
  3. His time in office faced many challenges, like the Iran hostage crisis, which affected how people viewed him. Carter's presidency was marked by both significant achievements and controversies.

Transcript: Katherine Brodsky

Lean Out with Tara Henley • 432 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Books Psychology History Social Issues Personal experiences
  1. Guest Katherine Brodsky shares insights on speaking out against orthodoxies in the age of outrage.
  2. Brodsky's personal experience of being mobbed online led her to write her book, 'No Apologies'.
  3. Growing up in a household that talked about self-silencing under communism shaped Brodsky's perspective on censorship and free speech.

'Gone With the Wind': The Explosive Lost Scenes

The Ankler • 884 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Film History Race relations Social Impact
  1. At the Atlanta premiere of Gone With the Wind, there was a hidden civil war over how slavery should be depicted in the movie, leading to the exclusion of some intense scenes.
  2. Gone With the Wind, a highly successful film, faced criticism for its romanticized portrayal of slavery, which influenced perceptions of race relations worldwide.
  3. The legacy of Gone With the Wind is complex, with debates surrounding its portrayal of slavery, the impact on culture, and the role of key figures like Hattie McDaniel in the movie's history.

The books that moved me in 2023

The Shift With Sam Baker • 758 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
📚 Literature History Memoir Fiction Women Humor
  1. The article discusses the author's favorite books of the year, focusing on ones that left a lasting impact on them emotionally.
  2. The books mentioned cover a range of topics, from a unique perspective on history to candid memoirs, and thrilling fiction with humor and rage.
  3. The author reflects on the importance of books that evoke strong emotions and provoke new thoughts, highlighting the power of storytelling.

Araminta Hall on living post-MeToo

The Shift With Sam Baker • 399 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Gender History Society Literature
  1. Araminta Hall questions if the MeToo movement has lost momentum or needs a fresh perspective, sparking thought-provoking discussions.
  2. Growing up in a time of evolving views on women, the author reflects on the societal changes she has witnessed, highlighting the challenges and contradictions faced by women over the years.
  3. The post emphasizes the ongoing importance of discussions around gender equality and the complexities of navigating societal expectations.

The Civil War on the campaign trail

steveinskeep • 511 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Culture Leaders Ideology Presidential Campaigns
  1. Presidential candidates discussed the cause of the Civil War, revealing the contested history and beliefs about slavery.
  2. Nikki Haley and Donald Trump's differing views on the cause of the war highlight the cultural and historical perspectives around slavery.
  3. The conversation around the Civil War and negotiation reflects broader cultural beliefs and perspectives on conflict resolution and compromise.

Is Wikipedia Reliable? (2023 Redux)

Everything Is Amazing • 1479 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Knowledge Humor Internet History Social Issues
  1. Wikipedia is admired despite occasional inaccuracies because it provides constructive and inspiring information on the internet.
  2. Some Wikipedia articles have turned out to be elaborate hoaxes that fooled editors for years.
  3. While Wikipedia may have flaws and prank edits, its communal and updatable nature highlights a more dynamic and diverse approach to knowledge sharing compared to traditional encyclopedias.

Does The Past Exist?

Castalia • 579 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Existence Literature History Critique Rationalism Aesthetics
  1. Some people believe that the past doesn't matter as much because they think progress leads to better results today. They argue that everything improves over time, like athletes breaking records.
  2. However, the author argues that past achievements in areas like literature and chess have their own unique value and should not be dismissed. The past has lessons and beauty that are still relevant today.
  3. It's important to respect the past and recognize its significance. It shouldn't just be seen as a stepping stone for the present.

Between Race Abolition and Racial Essentialism

Glenn Loury • 793 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Identity Society Race Politics History
  1. Race is a social construct that some are trying to do away with, aiming towards a future of racelessness.
  2. We live in a society where race is a reality and needs to be addressed, finding a middle ground to identify with racial or ethnic communities without confining oneself to them.
  3. Creating opportunities for interaction across different racial groups is key to breaking down prejudices and building understanding.

A brief history of AI, visually explained 🎢

Year 2049 • 15 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI History Computing Learning Innovation
  1. AI has a long history, with many ups and downs, before becoming popular recently. It didn't just happen overnight with tools like ChatGPT.
  2. Understanding AI involves knowing its different types, how it learns, and how it can be biased. Each of these topics has a lot of depth.
  3. Creating engaging content about AI takes effort and a balance between being informative and accessible. Feedback is welcome to improve future topics.

How The Modern World Lost & Found Its Newest Continent

Everything Is Amazing • 1398 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🔬 Science Geology Geography Cultural Studies History Oceanography
  1. Zealandia is a potential new continent, mapped in 2023, with its status still debated.
  2. Continents are typically identified by convention rather than strict criteria, leading to inconsistencies in definitions.
  3. There are millions of islands around the world, with many being uninhabited despite significant populations on some continents.

Can We Please Have Some Honesty About Trump’s Lockdowns?

COVID Reason • 1487 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Health Policy Leadership History
  1. The document drafted by Trump's Department of Health and Human Services guided government at all levels in dealing with COVID-19 in 2020.
  2. The consequences of lockdowns implemented in response to COVID-19 were devastating, leading to various societal and economic issues.
  3. DeSantis challenges the narrative on Trump's response to COVID-19, advocating for individual liberty and responsibility over lockdowns as the new-normal response.

The Mission Burrito...

illyanna Maisonet's Newsletter • 452 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine History Subscription Recipes Culture
  1. The history of the Mission burrito and its connection to the creation of Chipotle by a person named Steve.
  2. Instructions on how to engage on social media platforms like leaving comments and clicking hearts under a video.
  3. Benefits of being a paid subscriber to the newsletter, including exclusive content and perks like recipes, videos, and a list of places to eat.

Cyc: history's forgotten AI project

Outsider Art • 220 HN points • 17 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Research History
  1. The Cyc project has been working on building a massive knowledge base since 1984 for human-like reasoning, spanning millions of entries and rules.
  2. Cyc's approach of using common-sense knowledge and a vast database contrasts with the trend of machine-learning-driven AI solutions dominating the field today.
  3. Despite being overshadowed by newer AI technologies, there is potential for Cyc to complement modern systems like large language models, showcasing a possible synergy between different AI approaches.

Seven Glass Beads

Outlandish Claims • 199 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
📚 Literature Fiction Philosophy Science History International
  1. Herman Hesse's novel 'The Glass Bead Game' explores a world where different fields merge through a game played with glass beads, but ends in a tragic twist when the protagonist tries to share his wisdom and fails.
  2. The stories of trinitite, MENACE (Matchbox Educable Naughts And Crosses Engine), and the Valdice Monastery show how abstract ideas like nuclear weapons, early AI models, and forced labor intertwined with concrete consequences, shaping the 20th-century mindset on science and philosophy.
  3. The shift in mindset between Hermann Hesse's and Neal Stephenson's work reflects the evolution of the perception of abstract and concrete ideas over the 20th century, influenced by events like the Cold War, science advancements, and societal changes.

"Sunny" - The inspired song that has, in turn, inspired so many other artists

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 199 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
🎶 Music Songwriting Influence History Performance Production
  1. Bobby Hebb's song 'Sunny' became a huge hit in 1966 and has been covered by over 500 artists. Its unique sound influenced many songs across different genres.
  2. The inspiration for 'Sunny' came to Bobby after a personal tragedy and seeing a beautiful sunrise, showing how powerful creativity can arise from tough times.
  3. Bobby's career was deeply influenced by his musical family and key figures in music, highlighting the importance of support and mentorship in achieving success.

Smith of Heaven

Becoming Noble • 817 implied HN points • 19 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology Religion History Christianity
  1. The medieval Icelandic hymn 'Hear, Smith of the Heavens' reflects a blend of Christian and pagan elements, showing the process of inculturation.
  2. Catholic doctrine encourages the transformation of cultures without destroying them, aiming to purify and restore in Christ.
  3. Figures like Bishop Guðmundur Arason in Icelandic history embody the transition from pagan to Christian beliefs, showcasing the superiority of Christian spiritual power.

The Arm Story Part 2 : Archimedes to Advanced RISC Machines

The Chip Letter • 2839 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🕹 Technology History Computers Innovation Startups Mobile
  1. Acorn built a fast microcomputer called ARM but struggled to sell it, leading to Apple acquiring the technology and creating a separate company - ARM.
  2. The Acorn team focused on keeping manufacturing costs low for ARM, making it affordable and power-efficient compared to other designs at the time.
  3. The Archimedes, powered by ARM chips, received positive reviews for its speed and performance, offering a cost-effective alternative to other computers available.

Suiting up, making the case, and guess who’s coming to dinner

The Pillar • 805 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Church Events Justice History
  1. Pope Francis is creating new cardinals in a consistory this weekend, and it's a tradition full of pomp and pageantry in Rome.
  2. Wearing fancy uniforms and titles like 'cardinal' signify belonging to a greater purpose and celebration of collective work.
  3. The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is urging Church leaders to prioritize reforms for abuse survivors during upcoming events like the Synod of Bishops.

Peggi Blu on Singing with (and Cooking for) Bob Dylan

Flagging Down the Double E's • 786 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🎶 Music Interview Collaboration History Cooking Friendship
  1. Peggi Blu had a personal and musical connection with Bob Dylan, singing duets and background vocals for him.
  2. Despite their close friendship, Peggi Blu kept Bob Dylan's personal life private, including his marriage to Carolyn Dennis.
  3. Bob Dylan enjoyed singing with backing singers like Peggi Blu, creating harmonious and enjoyable performances.

Lessons in Excellence from the Tuskegee Airmen

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 816 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Military Leadership History
  1. The Tuskegee Airmen were groundbreaking African American military pilots who excelled in their roles despite facing discrimination. They proved their capabilities and earned numerous honors.
  2. Brigadier General Charles McGee, one of the Tuskegee Airmen, exemplified resilience, excellence, and selflessness throughout his military career, becoming an inspirational figure.
  3. The Tuskegee Airmen's story reflects the importance of unity, hard work, and shared values in overcoming challenges. Their achievements emphasize the significance of traditional values and meritocracy.