The hottest History Substack posts right now

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Tina Turner, The Link Between Legends, 1966: Phil Spector's "River Deep-Mountain High"

Front Row & Backstage • 353 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🎶 Music Legends Production History
  1. Tina Turner was a legendary artist who inspired other musicians like Phil Spector.
  2. The song 'River Deep-Mountain High' marked a significant collaboration between Tina Turner and Phil Spector, showcasing their talents.
  3. The recording process for 'River Deep-Mountain High' was intense and intricate, leading to a masterpiece in pop music history.

Audio Autopsy 1975: Head East "Never Been Any Reason," A&M Records (+ Petra, John Schlitt)

Front Row & Backstage • 353 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🎶 Music History Bands Musicians Albums Genres
  1. Head East's hit song "Never Been Any Reason" caught the attention of A&M Records and lead to a re-release of their album.
  2. Lead singer John Schlitt's musical journey with Head East and Petra showcases a career transformation from rock band to Christian music.
  3. The song features unique Minimoog solos and vocal arrangements that contributed to its classic rock success.

A new day in Green Bay

Go Long with Tyler Dunne • 353 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Football Rivalry Quarterbacks History
  1. A historic rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears is deeply rooted and continues through the generations.
  2. The new central figures in this rivalry are Jordan Love and Justin Fields, who face a different kind of game compared to past matchups.
  3. Aaron Rodgers's absence due to injury has shifted the dynamics, potentially leading to a challenging period for the Packers.
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Hamilton, Hip Hop, and the Culture of Dueling

Glenn’s Substack • 353 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture History Music Politics Society Violence
  1. Dueling was a common practice among the gentry in early America, with social pressure making it almost inevitable to accept challenges or issue them.
  2. Attempts to outlaw dueling in the 19th century were largely unsuccessful, with laws not effectively curbing the practice due to cultural norms and individual reputations at stake.
  3. As the culture changed post-Civil War, dueling declined, with the experience of the war making the ritualized violence seem outdated and less acceptable.

Capital Birds

Bird History • 139 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture History Education
  1. Washington, DC has a rich history of bird lovers, researchers, educators, and lobbyists, along with a diverse bird population that has been observed for over 125 years.
  2. The city's residents in the past were heavily involved in Audubon Societies, advocating for bird protection through education, classes, and enforcing laws to preserve birds from threats like market hunters and feather use in fashion.
  3. Changes over the years, such as urban development and climate shifts, have affected bird populations in Washington, with some species becoming scarcer while others have become more common. However, key areas like Rock Creek Park remain popular birding spots.

The Most Nuanced Take You Will Ever Read About Sparta (and North Korea)

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 390 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture History Political Reality TV Entertainment Literature
  1. Sparta and North Korea were both reactionary societies that lacked free flow of ideas, causing harm to their people.
  2. Nuanced narratives like _Three_ and _Crash Landing on You_ provide valuable insights into life in closed-off societies like Sparta and North Korea.
  3. Striving for nuance rather than strong opinions is important when discussing societies that are unable to respond, like Sparta or North Korea.

Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs

Internal exile • 12 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Music Film Art History Literature
  1. The film 'A Complete Unknown' surprisingly succeeds in portraying Bob Dylan's rise to fame in a fresh way. It focuses less on his life story and more on the idea of talent and genius.
  2. Instead of trying to explain Dylan's personality, the movie treats him as a unique force of nature. It shows what it's like to witness true talent instead of just a biography.
  3. The film assumes that viewers already understand Bob Dylan's significance and legacy. This makes it feel odd to make a movie about someone who is still alive and actively creating.

Hometown Heroes

HIDDEN.RSRCH • 176 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration History
  1. The Yankee logo has become an iconic symbol of New York City.
  2. Jay-Z referenced the Yankee hat in his 2009 song 'Empire State of Mind'.
  3. The enduring style of the Yankee logo has made it a popular fashion statement.

Amusing Ourselves To Death

Austin Kleon • 1258 implied HN points • 16 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Literature Media Philosophy History Society
  1. Neil Postman believed that our society, influenced by technology, is more about entertainment than meaningful communication. This shift can lead us to be less critical thinkers.
  2. He compared the dangers of losing ourselves to a world full of distractions to the warnings in classic literature, arguing that we might love technology too much, which can hinder our growth.
  3. Postman felt that we're living in a 'peek-a-boo world,' where information appears and disappears quickly, leaving us without a strong sense of coherence or connection to deeper ideas.

Combining 143 World War II movies into one series

ww2supercut’s Substack • 3 HN points • 14 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Film Media History Education Art
  1. The World War II Supercut combines 143 movies into a 12-hour series. It aims to make the timeline of the war easier to understand by using clips from popular films.
  2. Creating this supercut was a huge task that involved a lot of research, editing, and watching movies quickly. It's important to break big projects into smaller, manageable parts.
  3. The project highlights a bias in films, as many popular WWII movies mainly reflect Western perspectives. The creator tried to include a variety of viewpoints but found it challenging.

Levellers

Life and Letters • 99 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Literature History Inequality Philosophy Social Change
  1. Economic inequality has been an ongoing issue, and mass death is seen as a way to create equality. Big events like wars or pandemics can reduce the gap between the rich and poor.
  2. Throughout history, societies tend to grow more unequal over time, and only major disasters can disrupt this trend. Events like wars or plagues change social dynamics and create new opportunities for survival.
  3. Literature has often reflected these themes of social hierarchy and equality, especially during times of crisis like the Black Death. Writers were influenced by the social changes and questions of equality during these periods.

Essay Club: Myth, History, and Pagan Origins by John Michael Greer

Mind & Mythos • 199 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Mythology History Spirituality Philosophy Literature
  1. Myths help people understand who they are and how the world works. They are not just stories, but reflect deeper truths and beliefs.
  2. Modern views often separate myth and history into 'true' and 'untrue' but this limits how we see the importance of myths. Myths can shape our behaviors and beliefs even if they can't be proven.
  3. Many cultural conflicts stem from enduring myths like the struggle between good and evil. Rethinking these myths might help us find new ways to relate and resolve conflicts.

George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Rock 'n' Roll with Me • 79 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
🎶 Music Rock History Artists Songwriting Culture
  1. George Harrison's song 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' was not just about music; it shows how the Beatles were starting to drift apart. Harrison faced challenges getting his songs recognized while John and Paul took the spotlight.
  2. Eric Clapton's contribution to the song was significant, as he was invited to play guitar, something that hadn’t happened with other artists on Beatles records. This added a new dynamic and was part of Harrison's growth as a musician.
  3. The song represented a shift in rock music during the late 1960s, marking a divide between the pop music of the past and the heavier, more political sound that was emerging. This change in style played a role in the band's eventual breakup.

#136 Design on fire 🔥

Design Lobster • 339 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🪑 Design Innovation Fashion Art History Quotes
  1. In the past, unique devices were created for fire escapes, like a helmet-worn parachute, but ultimately changing building designs was more effective for safety.
  2. During the 17th and 18th centuries, pole screens were used to prevent makeup melting near fires, showing that design can solve practical problems.
  3. Design should not only function but also consider how it makes users presentable to others, as seen in the evolution of pole screens for makeup protection.

America's Novus Ordo Seclorum

The Redneck Intellectual by C. Bradley Thompson • 334 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Philosophy Revolution Constitution Citizenship
  1. Different political communities shape distinct ways of life based on principles, values, and customs unique to them.
  2. Constitutions and forms of government play a central role in determining a society's way of life and cultural mores.
  3. The American Revolution and Founding transformed American society, promoting principles of individualism, meritocracy, and freedom.

In Defence of Israel

The Prism • 571 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Israel Palestine Conflict History Peace
  1. Israel's history is complex and involves legitimate victimhood, negotiations, and conflict with Arab states.
  2. Israel's relationship with Palestinians is not accurately described as apartheid, but rather on security grounds.
  3. The Israeli government is held in check by institutions and faces different moral challenges compared to extremist groups like Hamas.

Huson Soft HuCAL

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Software Gaming History Translation
  1. Hudson Soft was a Japanese company that started as an electronics store and later moved into game development.
  2. Hudson Soft created popular games like Bomberman, Adventure Island, and Bonk for various gaming systems.
  3. HuCAL, a product by Hudson Soft, was initially thought to be a word processor but was actually a spreadsheet used on Sega systems.

RTF Lecture invitation: Of Minds and Men- ON UNIVERSAL HISTORY & THE CREATION OF ARISTOCRATIC MEN (Feb. 11 at 2pm ET)

Matt Ehret's Insights • 157 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🚌 Education History Philosophy Culture
  1. Plato and Confucius emphasized the importance of true education for the development of a culture with sovereign citizens.
  2. Historically, society's cyclic corruption hindered humanity's progress, highlighting the need for a culture promoting moral, spiritual, and intellectual excellence.
  3. The aim is to establish educational systems that cultivate the best attributes in individuals, fostering sovereign citizens without regard to social status or breeding.

Blood and Soil

KERFUFFLE • 57 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Nationalism Identity Culture History Right-wing
  1. Many people today feel a loss of connection and trust in their communities. This feeling of dislocation has led some to seek meaning and identity in traditional or nationalistic roots.
  2. The idea of America as just an abstract idea is fading. More people are starting to see it as a nation with a shared culture and history.
  3. The current political movements often focus on identities that divide rather than unite. There is a need for a renewed sense of national identity that brings people together instead.

Lessons from History: The Rise and Fall of the Telecom Bubble

Mule’s Musings • 558 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
💼 Business Technology Finance History Economy Telecom
  1. The Telecom bubble had compounding levels of leverage throughout the value chain, which is a defining difference from today's AI companies.
  2. The barrier to entry in the Telecom industry seemed lower than in the AI industry, allowing for more new entrants.
  3. Supply is reactive to demand, and the telecom bubble showed that supply can quickly outstrip demand, leading to a glut.

Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 299 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🔬 Science Paleontology Geology Ecology History Education
  1. The book 'Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales' explores the rich fossil history of Washington State, showcasing a vast timeline of plants and animals that lived there over hundreds of millions of years.
  2. It features twenty-four profiles that connect specific fossils with their geological and human history, making the science behind them more engaging and accessible.
  3. The authors include beautiful fossil photos and aim to deepen readers' appreciation for the paleontology and geology of Washington State through these stories.

The Limits of Science: Why Einstein Believed Science Needs the Humanities

Humanities in Revolt • 319 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🚌 Education Philosophy Science Literature Art & Illustration History
  1. Einstein believed that a holistic education balancing science and humanities is essential for cultivating fundamental human values and morality.
  2. He emphasized that over-specialization and narrowly technical competencies can lead to lopsided thought and hinder human development.
  3. Einstein highlighted the importance of ethical values guiding scientific knowledge to maintain a healthy and humane society.

James Burnham’s managerialism eighty years later

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 558 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🚌 Education Theory History Politics Economics Ideology
  1. James Burnham proposed the concept of 'managerialism' as a replacement for capitalism, where managers rule while capitalists take a passive role.
  2. Burnham's predictions were proven wrong, but his analysis of the shift towards managerialism and the role of state in the economy remains relevant for reflection.
  3. Despite Burnham's inaccuracies, his ideas on managerial revolution and the potential for alternative economic systems in the future can still offer valuable insights.

Learning from the Past

The Memory Palace • 39 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Memory Learning Testimony Mistakes History
  1. Learning from past mistakes is important. We need to know what went wrong and be ready to act differently to avoid making those mistakes again.
  2. Personal memories make it easier to learn from the past. When we remember past events ourselves, we can understand them better than if we only hear about them from others.
  3. Testimony from others can help us learn, but it requires effort. We can't just hear about something once; we need to actively engage with the information to truly learn from it.

⬜ Studio Ghibli vibes vs. history

One Thing • 217 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation History Film Literature Philosophy
  1. The film The Boy and the Heron by Studio Ghibli offers a fantastical, immersive experience for viewers of all ages.
  2. The movie carries historical depth, drawing inspiration from a 1937 novel addressed to counter militant nationalism in Japan.
  3. The director, Hayao Miyazaki, encapsulates profound themes through abstract storytelling and dreamlike elements, challenging conventional standards of ambition in art.

Fossil records and paper trails

Austin Kleon • 1159 implied HN points • 12 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Music Education History Design
  1. Museums can go paperless, which makes us think about the importance of both fossil records and how we document our lives.
  2. Trilobites are fascinating creatures, and there's a lot we can learn from their history and the work of scientists like Richard Fortey.
  3. Sometimes, dreaming of a simple life, like living on an island, can inspire us to appreciate art and literature more deeply.

A Year in Books

ChinaTalk • 326 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
📚 Literature Biographies War Technology Strategy History
  1. Enjoyed using Audible and Voicedream app to power through a lot of text this year.
  2. Trended towards reading about war and technology rather than China books due to current events.
  3. Found 'The Social History of the Machine Gun' and 'Eye-Deep In Hell' insightful and impactful in understanding warfare.

End-of-Year Self-Congratulatory Gala

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 424 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Art Literature History Fiction Comics
  1. The Figurative-to-Abstract Art Pipeline was the most popular post of 2023 with significant views, likes, comments, and subscribers.
  2. The Gold-Plated Man was acknowledged as the most under-appreciated post, despite being short, it made a strong, elegant point with good cover art.
  3. The post 'One Thousand and One Notes on 'One Thousand and One Nights'' was crowned as the best post of 2023 for its rich, aesthetic, and narrative qualities.

Pylons

The Commonplace • 809 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Art History Literature Design Philosophy
  1. Pylons have left a significant mark on the modern world and landscape.
  2. The countryside before pylons represented a timelessness and deep continuity that has been altered by progress.
  3. There is a complexity in the impact of technological advancements, with every step forward carrying consequences.

Tano Dragon

Computer Ads from the Past • 640 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Computers History Reviews Operating System Bankruptcy
  1. Dragon Data Ltd was a Welsh company that released the Dragon 32 and Dragon 64 computers in the early 1980s.
  2. The Dragon 32 was known for using the Motorola MC6809E processor and included an extended version of Microsoft BASIC.
  3. Despite initial success, Dragon Data faced financial challenges, underwent ownership changes, and eventually filed for bankruptcy.