The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Supreme Command: Its not a Celebrity Contest

Phillips’s Newsletter • 70 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Military Leadership History Conflict
  1. General Zaluzhny was relieved of his military command in Ukraine, leading to speculation about the reasons behind it.
  2. There were tensions between President Zelensky and General Zaluzhny, with reports of Zaluzhny's imminent replacement circulating.
  3. The situation with General Zaluzhny reflects historical dynamics of leadership and command changes during times of crisis.

The WEF’s Theresienstadt Moment

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 59 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Global Governance Politics History
  1. There is a shift in support for ESG investing among major players like BlackRock and Vanguard, leading to a significant decline in backing shareholder proposals on environmental and social issues.
  2. The decrease in ESG support may be influenced by criticisms of being too 'woke' and the economic feasibility of these initiatives, indicating a growing public awareness and skepticism towards such programs.
  3. The narrative draws parallels between the handling of ESG investing in the financial world and the deceptive practices observed in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust, highlighting the potential dangers of ignoring warning signs and blindly following ideologies.

What the demise of Sears teaches us about strategy

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 59 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
💼 Business Strategy Retail Identity Marketing History
  1. Knowing who you are as a business is really important. Sears changed its identity multiple times, which helped it grow in the beginning, but not knowing who they were later on hurt them.
  2. Sears' shift from a catalog seller to a retail store showed that businesses should adapt to changes in the world. They had to think ahead about where their stores should be to meet customer needs as habits shifted.
  3. When businesses don't have a clear identity, they can make confusing decisions that lead to failure. A strong identity helps guide choices and keeps companies focused on what they do best.

The Peyote Way: Desert Wisdom & The Red Road 🌵

Tripsitter • 59 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Medicine Conservation Ceremony History
  1. True understanding and knowledge are acquired over time, aligning with the growth habits and resilience of the peyote cactus.
  2. Peyote is a medicine with teachings of humility, perseverance, commitment, courage, gratitude, and love.
  3. The history of peyote involves a ban by the United States government, challenges with conservation, and its impact on consciousness and spiritual practices.

The Illusion of Shared Power and the Elite-eat-Elite World

Holodoxa • 59 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🚌 Education Philosophy Science Politics History Literature
  1. The book 'The Machiavellians' explores a unique political tradition that dissects politics pragmatically, focusing on power and manipulation.
  2. Democratic elitism, discussed by figures like Gaetano Mosca, argues all societies are ruled by a minority elite, manipulating the masses through various means.
  3. The idea of the 'iron law of oligarchy' by Robert Michels emphasizes how organizations tend to become oligarchic over time, exploring the dynamics of leadership and power.
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Stories from the Yules of My Life

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
📚 Literature Fiction Art & Illustration Health & Wellness Philosophy History
  1. The author shares fictional Christmas card messages and stories, reflecting on past memories and personal experiences.
  2. The author delves into genealogy and discusses the Scottish Earls, emphasizing the complexity and potential of family histories.
  3. The author shares a detailed, introspective piece on self-reflection, writing, and the pursuit of creativity despite challenges and societal norms.

AI Will Cement Fukuyama’s Legacy

From the New World • 134 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI History Interpretation Randomness
  1. The allegory in the post highlights the importance of accepting dissenting opinions for societal growth and decision-making
  2. Machine learning techniques that introduce randomness can lead to more freedom and subversion within regimes
  3. Taboos and conformity can be tools used by the illegitimate against the legitimate, but confronting these can inspire hope for Western dissidents

Curator

Castalia • 159 implied HN points • 23 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture History Identity Philosophy Literature Art
  1. Native American history is often told as a story of victimization, but a new perspective sees it as a narrative of struggle and resilience. This shift acknowledges that Native Americans are still here and actively shaping their own stories.
  2. The question of whether Jews are considered 'white' reveals larger issues of identity and power. It's not just about skin color; it's about understanding the complexities and variations within ethnic groups and recognizing that identities can be mixed and multifaceted.
  3. Casanova's writings offer a vivid snapshot of 18th-century life, but his personal morals are complex. Instead of judging him by today's standards, we should appreciate how his perspective sheds light on the social dynamics of his time.

Hard Rock & Metal At THE GRAMMYs

Stream N' Destroy • 58 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🎶 Music Rock Metal Awards History
  1. The Best Metal Performance category remained while Best Hard Rock Performance went away after being combined briefly in 2012 and 2013.
  2. There is a mix of genre acts in various rock-related categories at the GRAMMYs, including Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album.
  3. The Academy sometimes misses the mark by nominating legacy acts for cover songs or older work, which can overshadow newer achievements and younger acts in the music industry.

"My Maria," B.W. Stevenson (1973)

The Lost Songs Project • 58 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🎶 Music History Review
  1. The song 'My Maria' was not an original by Brooks and Dunn, but rather by B.W. Stevenson in 1973.
  2. The song 'My Maria' by B.W. Stevenson peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 and has 9.2 million streams.
  3. There is a well-organized archive of Billboard magazines where one can find interesting musical history.

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.

What Yellowstone gets wrong by trying to be too right

The Recovering Academic • 79 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Identity History Environment Literature
  1. Yellowstone strives for truth, but its portrayal of Montana can be misleading and harmful.
  2. The show overlooks economic struggles and industrial history of Montana, focusing more on a romanticized narrative.
  3. Montana is a place of contradictions, where personal experiences and stories may not align with popular narratives like those portrayed in Yellowstone.

Prism Lights

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 239 implied HN points • 26 May 22
🎭️ Culture Architecture History Urbanism Art Light
  1. Prism lights were created after the Great Fire of 1889 in Seattle to bring light to underground spaces under sidewalks. They were designed to let natural light into these areas.
  2. There are thousands of prism lights in Seattle, especially in the Pioneer Square area, but many are damaged or replaced by hard materials. This shows how important it is to preserve these historical features.
  3. Prism lights can also be found in other cities like London and New York, dating back to the late 1800s. However, modern building owners often cover them up because it's cheaper than keeping them intact.

Genre Grapevine’s Smorgasbord of 2023 Leftovers

Genre Grapevine • 39 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Art & Illustration Sci-fi Music History
  1. The article covers news and items from 2023 that were left out of previous columns, providing a quirky collection of interesting tidbits.
  2. There are various topics discussed, ranging from the success of STEM romance novels to the impact of YouTube on book discovery.
  3. Some highlights include insights on literary hope theory, a debunked art piece, and the role of science in countering moral panics.

Curator

Castalia • 99 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Art Media History Politics Creativity
  1. Substack and Twitter are in a conflict. Twitter is blocking links from Substack, causing tensions between the two platforms.
  2. Timothy Snyder, a historian, makes important connections between history and current politics, emphasizing Ukraine's significance. He argues that a historian can and should engage with today's issues.
  3. There is a creativity overflow in art today, but many artists feel lost and unable to compete. As more art is created, the challenge is standing out and being recognized in a crowded market.

How sugaring feeds my soul

The Recovering Academic • 59 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
📚 Literature Fiction Memoir Poetry History Culture
  1. Maple sugaring is not just a culinary tradition but a cultural practice that connects people to nature and history.
  2. The process of syruping serves as a way to mark the changing of seasons and fosters community through shared experiences like tapping trees with friends.
  3. Syruping holds the potential to create lasting memories and connections to a sense of place, offering a way to anchor personal identity in a rapidly changing world.

Ancient Runes and Rune Magic

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration History Mythology Magic
  1. Runes were letters used by ancient Germanic-speaking people to write words and sentences, not symbols for abstract concepts.
  2. The origins of runes are cryptically described in Norse mythology, but they bear resemblance to alphabets used for Latin and Greek languages at the time.
  3. Modern rune magic concepts are rooted in 16th-century occultism and may not align with how runes were used for magic in the pre-Christian Norse era.

Japan’s Vulnerability If There’s A New Recession

Japan Economy Watch • 179 implied HN points • 07 Jul 22
💼 Business Economy Geopolitics Finance History
  1. Japan's vulnerability to economic shocks like a new recession is high, historically showing outsized reactions that affect living standards and geopolitics.
  2. The Japanese economy takes bigger hits from global shocks compared to other rich countries, recovering more slowly and experiencing slower growth.
  3. Japan's economic vulnerability stems from imbalanced growth where GDP growth hasn't translated effectively into wider population benefits like wage growth, creating long-term instabilities.

The Gathering Storm

Diane Francis • 339 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics History International relations Sovereignty Conflict
  1. The fall of the Soviet Union happened 30 years ago and was a big deal in history. It influenced how countries interact today.
  2. Vladimir Putin sees the collapse of the Soviet Union as a major loss for Russia. He believes it affected Russia's power and position in the world.
  3. The USSR's defeat in Afghanistan played a significant role in its downfall. It caused chaos that led to the eventual break-up of the country.

O America

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 10 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Literature Travel History Society Arts
  1. The author has a long-standing love for America, starting from childhood visits to family members there. It's clear that these experiences deeply influenced his view of the country.
  2. The author appreciates America's diverse culture, big food portions, and the lively atmosphere of places like all-night bookstores and sunny streets.
  3. Despite political disagreements and tensions in America, the author remains fascinated and admires the country's history and achievements, like the civil rights movement and space exploration.

The Ultimate Airman

The Radar • 59 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Leadership History Aviation Veterans
  1. Robin Olds is considered one of the most iconic figures in American combat aviation, embodying the spirit of airpower.
  2. Olds' insightful letter to Major Schwalier highlights systemic issues within the Air Force, like loss of authority and leadership diluted by bureaucracy.
  3. Olds' legacy reminds us that a combination of intellectual reflection and warrior spirit is essential in military leadership, and many of the Air Force's issues have persisted over time.

Norse Cosmology Part I: The Nine Realms Are Wrong

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 39 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology Literature History Religion
  1. The traditional notion of 'nine realms of Norse mythology' is a common misunderstanding and not accurately represented in the original source material.
  2. The Old Norse phrase 'níu heimar' is mentioned in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, but it does not necessarily translate to 'nine realms' as commonly interpreted.
  3. There is ambiguity and lack of clarity in the ancient texts regarding the concept of 'nine homes,' with suggestions that it might refer to underworld locations connected to Hel, the goddess of the dead.

The Last of Us: Part II

Adam's Legal Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Judges Presidents History
  1. In the 19th century, there were actively-serving appointees of 12 different presidents at two different times.
  2. Franklin Pierce played a significant role in the number of judges appointed and serving during his presidency.
  3. Senior judges can play a unique role in the judiciary system, contributing to the historical context of concurrently serving judges from different administrations.

31 well known businesses that launched during recessions.

Jon’s Newsletter • 139 implied HN points • 04 Dec 22
💼 Business Startups Economics Entrepreneurship Innovation History
  1. Many successful companies were created during tough economic times. This shows that challenges can spark innovation and new ideas.
  2. Starting a business in a recession often means lower competition and the chance to fill gaps in the market. This can help new businesses stand out.
  3. The stories of these companies remind us that adversity can lead to creativity and growth, proving that tough times can produce great opportunities.

About that ISDA Pt 5: Section 1: Interpretation

The Jolly Contrarian • 19 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
💼 Business Finance Legal History Technology
  1. Section 1 of the ISDA Master Agreement introduces key concepts and rules, important to understand but should not be tampered with.
  2. The hierarchy clause in Section 1(b) establishes a clear order for precedence of documents within the ISDA Master Agreement, preventing inconsistencies.
  3. The 'Single Agreement' concept in Section 1(c) lays the foundation for efficient capital management in master trading agreements, ensuring smooth termination and settlement of transactions.

Our Lying Problem

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 175 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Society Literature History Politics Media
  1. Even the most honest individuals tell up to two lies per day, but the truth has a way of surfacing despite efforts to suppress it.
  2. George Orwell's commitment to telling the truth serves as a valuable example to combat public lies, drawing insights from his work on truth and authenticity.
  3. Putting an end to public lying involves not rewarding it and fostering independent thinking to resist manipulation and misinformation.

5 Weekend Reads: 3 December 2023

Londonist: Time Machine • 39 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture History London
  1. This post features 5 London history links curated for paying supporters, with a focus on a cat theme for the week.
  2. One of the articles discussed 'MONEY SWITCHEROO', touching upon the topic of the Great Re-Coinage.
  3. Readers can opt for a 7-day free trial of Londonist: Time Machine to access the full post archives.

The Thundergod is Humanity's Hero

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 39 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology Humanity Religion History Archaeology
  1. Ancient Germanic people believed Thor, the Thundergod, played a crucial role in protecting humanity from evil creatures like jotuns through artifacts like the Canterbury Charm and Kvinneby Amulet.
  2. Thor was invoked through magical incantations to heal people afflicted by ailments caused by supernatural beings, showcasing his role as a hero and protector.
  3. Pop-culture depictions of Norse gods and jotuns in shades of gray are contrary to historical beliefs, as Thor was seen as a mighty hero who safeguarded humanity against threats from evil creatures.

No More Heroes.

Trying to Understand the World • 6 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Heroes Society Identity Politics History
  1. Society needs heroes to look up to and emulate, but modern culture often prioritizes wealth and fame over true excellence and exceptional achievements.
  2. In today's world, many young people are encouraged to admire those who claim victim status rather than individuals who have achieved greatness through hard work and talent.
  3. The decline of traditional role models has led to a situation where society feels the need to outsource heroism, often idealizing foreign figures instead of finding inspiration within their own communities.

COMING SOON: Comancheria

Kvetch • 50 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture History Literature Film TV shows Entertainment
  1. The rise and fall of the Comanches as a people with their own unique culture and history, and how they clashed with other civilizations over vast lands in violent tribulations.
  2. The portrayal of the Comanche people in the historical epic _Comancheria_ will be morally complex, with a mix of heroes, villains, and grey areas, similar to other historical dramas like _Vikings_.
  3. The outlined episodes for the show _Comancheria_ will cover the rise of Comancheria, conflicts with other groups, interactions with historical figures like Robert Neighbors, Buffalo Soldiers, and events like the Chivington Massacre, providing a detailed and encompassing view of the Comanche history.

Shut Up About The Enlightenment (Part 3)

Cosy Moments • 25 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Enlightenment Religion History Ethics
  1. John Locke, often seen as a key Enlightenment thinker, has many writings that show inconsistencies and outdated ideas, just like religious texts. This means we should question how much we really rely on his thoughts today.
  2. Locke's view on consent and government raises issues. He suggests people agree to rules just by living in a society, but many have no real choice to leave. This makes us wonder if we are truly consenting to be governed.
  3. The Enlightenment, praised for promoting individual rights and democracy, had its share of contradictions, especially regarding slavery and moral beliefs. We must look carefully at its ideas instead of accepting them blindly.