The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Preorder Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit & Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

Stripe Press • 275 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🚌 Education Investment Philanthropy Ethics History Decision-making
  1. The book shares timeless lessons on investment strategy, philanthropy, and living a rational and ethical life
  2. It emphasizes the importance of learning from history to prepare for the present and future
  3. The book's goal is to help readers become broad learners with a greater understanding of the world

Memorial Day: Of Time and Tommy

Bastiat's Window • 275 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🎭️ Culture Music History Vietnam War
  1. Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who sacrificed their lives for their country.
  2. Personal acts of kindness and generosity can have a lasting impact on others, even if it may seem small at the time.
  3. Music and art can be powerful ways to memorialize and honor those who have served and sacrificed in wars.

💦 Exciting Activities to Enjoy During the Songkran Holiday

Digest // Storefronts of Bangkok • 79 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🏝 Travel Activities Sightseeing Markets History
  1. Plenty of exciting activities to enjoy during the Songkran holiday in Bangkok, from cultural workshops to food tours and day trips to attractions.
  2. Experience breathtaking views and adventure at the Mahanakhon Skywalk in Bangkok for a memorable experience at 314 meters above the city.
  3. Embark on tours like the Tuk Tuk Tour in Chinatown or visit markets like Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Railway Market for an immersive cultural experience in Thailand.

The Last Newsletter (for a bit) 🎲

The David Charles Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Faith & Spirituality Science History Humor
  1. Using chance to reduce decision fatigue can be compelling and make productivity playful.
  2. Sometimes, when stuck on good options or feeling overwhelmed, using a random choice method like rolling a die can help move forward without second-guessing.
  3. Taking a break or sabbatical from obligations, like writing, can create space for new opportunities and growth.
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Alexandra Olympia Peristeraki: Enaboukaligala

Do Not Research • 139 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Memory Labor History Social Issues Documentary
  1. The story features a 93-year-old retired factory worker from Greece reminiscing about his time in a highly toxic environment.
  2. Google Street View is used as a time capsule to show the remains of the worker's narration captured from 2009 to 2019.
  3. The narrative combines found footage from different industrial settings to showcase the struggles of the working class past and present.

November 8, 2024

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Voting Media Policy Immigration Economy History
  1. Many Trump voters are surprised to find out that tariffs will increase prices, like gaming consoles going up significantly in cost. This raises questions about the effectiveness of Trump's policies.
  2. Voters who chose Trump for economic relief are unhappy with his harsh immigration policies that threaten their undocumented friends and family. This highlights a disconnect between voter expectations and the reality of Trump's agenda.
  3. Right-wing media plays a major role in shaping how voters perceive issues, often spreading misinformation. It's important to understand how this affects political choices and voter awareness.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 137 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Literature History
  1. Jack London, known for "Call of the Wild," worked as a photojournalist and took thousands of photos during his travels.
  2. London captured photos in London's East End during the coronation of Edward VII in 1902.
  3. Living among the poor changed London's views, leading him to write about social issues and eventually become a socialist.

French 1790s Disco, and Other Excesses

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 627 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Fashion History Art Society Aesthetics
  1. Cultural excesses, like the French 1790s Disco and Directoire fashion, represent brief bursts of extravagant creativity.
  2. These periods of excess, though short-lived, have a lasting impact on culture and fashion.
  3. While moderation is important, occasional indulgence in extravagance and eccentricity can bring vitality and richness to life and civilization.

The Many Muses of Taylor Swift

Litverse • 259 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Music Art & Illustration Literature Philosophy History
  1. Taylor Swift's art is deeply inspired by her relationships, turning her ex-partners into muses for her songs.
  2. Taylor Swift's ability to create a shared reality through her music on the theme of love resonates with a wide audience.
  3. In the world of popular art, artists like Taylor Swift offer a 'plane of illusion' where audiences can transcend individuality and escape fears while enjoying universal themes like love.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities

The Jolly Contrarian • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture History Books Social Issues Urban planning Community
  1. Jane Jacobs challenged 1960s urban planning policies that sought to reorganize communities from the top-down, advocating for a bottom-up approach that respects local knowledge and decision-making.
  2. Jacobs' observations highlighted the importance of streets over buildings, the negative impact of planned parks, the value of mixed-use spaces, and the benefits of incorporating diversity in communities to promote vitality.
  3. She emphasized that the richness and adaptability of a community depend on real diversity, which may conflict with the drive for efficiency and homogenization in modern management and city planning.

The Pointlessness of Punk

Litverse • 259 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Music History Art Philosophy Literature
  1. Punk rock emerged as a rebellion against mainstream culture and conventional ideas, born in a decaying New York City in the late seventies.
  2. The authenticity of punk as a movement is questioned as its rebellious acts become mainstream and profitable, raising the issue of whether its purpose is lost amidst commercial success.
  3. The essence of punk lies in the performance, where the actions and symbolic gestures carry more weight than the individuals themselves, creating a form of rebellion that transcends traditional definitions.

The 2018 "Slouching" Draft "Themes" Chapter

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 15 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
📚 Literature Non-fiction Critique Narrative History Culture
  1. The discussion explores multiple important themes that happened alongside the main events of the 20th century. It's important to look at history from different angles instead of just one big story.
  2. There are at least six significant things that shaped our world that often get overlooked. These aspects help us better understand the complexities of history.
  3. Widening our perspective helps us appreciate the richness of our past and how it affects our present and future. Recognizing these different themes can lead to a deeper understanding of society.

How I observe Independence Day

The Recovering Academic • 257 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture National Identity Literature History Music Patriotism
  1. Independence Day is a time for reflection on what America has been and could be, not just a celebration for many.
  2. Texts like Frederick Douglass's speech and Handsome Lake's story make it difficult to observe Independence Day without sorrow, balancing any pride with grief.
  3. There are multiple interpretations of Independence Day, ranging from reclaiming American greatness to critiquing the national experiment, with a middle ground found in Barack Obama's speech 'A More Perfect Union.'

Who Are We in This World? What Would Make Our Ancestors Proud of Us?

Tessa Fights Robots • 23 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Identity History Family Unity Ancestry
  1. Real unity means understanding and accepting ourselves and others. It's about connecting with people honestly and recognizing everyone is doing their best.
  2. It's important to reflect on our ancestors and the history that shapes us. They want us to heal and thrive, not linger in pain.
  3. We are all connected through our shared ancestry. When we hurt or degrade others based on their background, we hurt a part of ourselves.

Five... Pieces of London's Kubrickian History

Londonist: Time Machine • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture History Film Travel
  1. London offers locations where you can explore and experience Kubrick's legacy, as he spent much of his career working around London.
  2. Beckton Gas Works in London was a notable filming location for movies like Full Metal Jacket, For Your Eyes Only, and 1984, showcasing its versatility on the silver screen.
  3. John Rogers' book 'This Other London' highlights how certain areas in London have changed over time, offering a unique perspective on locations featured in Kubrick's films.

Perceptrons, XOR, and the first "AI winter"

The Counterfactual • 139 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Neural Networks History Philosophy
  1. AI systems are getting better, but there are still limits to what they can do. For example, some tasks might just be impossible for current AI technology.
  2. The history of AI shows that there have been times of excitement followed by periods of reduced interest, called 'AI winters'. This happens especially when expectations exceed reality.
  3. Early AI models, like perceptrons, were limited in their abilities, which led to skepticism about their potential. Understanding these past limitations helps us think more critically about today's AI capabilities.

We live in a time of anti-feminist backlash

Men Yell at Me • 367 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Feminism Gender Equality Activism History Social Issues
  1. We are currently experiencing an anti-feminist backlash, and this issue has been persistent throughout history.
  2. Feminists face challenges in fighting for equality, with movements like Me Too being depicted negatively by anti-feminist forces.
  3. To combat the backlash, feminists must continue demanding equal rights and creating a world where gender doesn't limit opportunities.

Making the Micropipette

Asimov Press • 322 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🔬 Science Biology Innovation Technology Research History
  1. The development of the micropipette was driven by the hazards and limitations of mouth pipetting.
  2. Innovators from different parts of the world each contributed to the modern micropipette's design and features.
  3. The history of the micropipette highlights the importance of simple tools and incremental improvements in scientific breakthroughs.

Defining Leftism

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 678 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology History Philosophy
  1. The terms 'Left-wing' and 'Right-wing' originated from the French Revolution seating arrangements, with the radical sitting on the left and the conservative on the right.
  2. Over time, 'Left' became associated with progressive, socialist, and revolutionary ideas advocating for change and equality, while 'Right' with conservatism and tradition.
  3. Leftism encompasses political ideologies focusing on social equality, aiming to reduce social hierarchies based on race, class, gender, and other factors.

November 3, 2024

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections History Democracy Political parties Social movements
  1. History shows that small groups can seize power, but ordinary people can rise up and reclaim democracy. We need to remember that average citizens have the strength to push back against injustice.
  2. The fight for democracy is ongoing. Just like in the past, it's important to unite and defend our rights, creating coalitions to stand against those who want to take away our freedoms.
  3. We have a choice in shaping the future of our democracy. It's up to each of us to decide whether we will support those who believe in equality or those who want to rule over others.

The Hypothetical Image

Cybernetic Forests • 199 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Technology Memory AI History Culture
  1. Diffusion models in AI strip images and rebuild them from noise, creating fictional, incomplete resurrection of images based on training data.
  2. The aestheticization of AI-generated images can erase the social meaning and historical significance of the original images, impacting memory and cultural value.
  3. The use of generative AI blurs the lines between reality and fiction, creating hypothetical images that remix past cultural forms without acknowledging the traumas or historical context they are built upon.

Oppenheimer The Movie

Life in the 21st Century • 235 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film Science Technology History Politics
  1. The movie 'Oppenheimer' sheds light on the brilliance and quirks of J. Robert Oppenheimer, but falls short in addressing the broader story of science and technology.
  2. Scientific and technological developments are independent of personal character flaws and traits, focusing on facts and discoveries instead.
  3. The film 'Oppenheimer' struggles with its third act by overly emphasizing Oppenheimer losing his security clearance, losing depth in addressing the broader political context of the Cold War era.

Shareholder Primacy Culture and American Decline

America in Crisis • 59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Culture Politics History
  1. The current economic system in the US, based on shareholder primacy culture, is facing challenges due to extreme asset valuations and one-sided interventions by the Federal Reserve.
  2. The decline of American civilization is attributed to a shift towards monumental financial architecture under shareholder value pursuit, leading to a lack of capacity for real production.
  3. Under shareholder primacy culture, America may struggle to compete with rising global powers like Russia and China due to a focus on financial gains over tangible achievements.