The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

The American Secular Cycles

America in Crisis • 39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Policy Political theory Economic Analysis Demographics
  1. America's history follows cyclical patterns of expansion, stagnation, crisis, and resolution, influenced by population growth, economic inequality, and elite competition.
  2. Secular cycles have been identified in American history from 1780 to 1930 and a current ongoing cycle since 1930, driven by demographic mechanisms and economic inequality.
  3. The resolution of past cycles involved significant events like the Civil War and the Great Depression, with policy responses playing a crucial role in resolving economic and political crises.

Fukuyofuturism

Reactionary Feminist • 7 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Ideology International relations Cultural Trends History Economic Policy
  1. The future we expected, like the rise of technology and economic growth, hasn't turned out as we imagined. Places like Skelmersdale show how plans for a better world can fail.
  2. Events like Trump's 2024 election have made people rethink ideas about democracy and global progress. It seems history isn't finished yet, and changes could happen fast.
  3. The views of thinkers like Fukuyama and Faye highlight differences in how Europe might shape its future. These differences are important to consider, especially as Europe's political landscape changes.

Baldwin vs Buckley

Holodoxa • 59 implied HN points • 15 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Debate History Literature Politics Race
  1. The 1965 Cambridge Union debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley is considered significant in the discourse about race in America, despite some limitations in its impact on racial politics at that time.
  2. Nicholas Buccola's book, 'The Fire Is Upon Us,' provides a detailed analysis of the Baldwin vs Buckley debate, focusing on their biographical sketches, written works, and positions on race and politics.
  3. Baldwin's and Buckley's ideas on race, politics, and society from the mid-20th century still resonate in contemporary discussions, though there are critiques about their approaches and implications for modern racial discourse.
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What was Drake?

Never Met a Science • 22 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Music Philosophy Politics History Literature
  1. Drake's approach to music, devoid of street cred, emphasized personal confession over braggadocio, making his music relatable through authenticity.
  2. Poptimism influenced the creation of pop-rap, with Drake embodying the move towards more universally palatable music, detached from local rap scenes.
  3. Taylor Swift, in contrast to Drake, creates subjective histories through her music, allowing fans to relate to themselves and construct their own identities.

Why Humans Created Technology

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🕹 Technology History Evolution Social Impact Future Imagination
  1. Technology originates from human imagination and the need for survival, evolving from simple tools to complex inventions over time.
  2. There are two main types of technology: those that harness natural phenomena like fire, and those that build upon existing technologies like smartphones.
  3. Technology is essential for human existence, aiding survival and shaping future development, with cultural adaptation and societal norms influencing its use.

War Crimes

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture History Art Literature Violence Ancient
  1. The epic of the Iliad explores the limits of violence, with scenes like advocating for infanticide and portraying extreme brutality during war.
  2. The depiction of violence in ancient Greek art, like the Mykonos Vase, reflects the harsh realities of warfare and societal practices of that time.
  3. The breakdown of social conventions in the Iliad leads to brutal, dehumanizing violence, showcasing how individual actions can disrupt norms and unleash chaos.

meaning silk, or rags

let them eat cake • 379 implied HN points • 02 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Bakery Ingredients History Culture
  1. Chiffon cake was a new and innovative creation in the 20th century, incorporating baking powder and vegetable oil unlike traditional foam cakes.
  2. Pandan chiffon cakes are popular in a certain age group in Singapore for being less sweet and light due to their airy texture.
  3. Neighborhood bakeries selling pandan chiffon often maintain a traditional, artisanal approach, using industrial mix but employing handcrafting techniques.

We are as gods

Kvetch • 50 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Engineering Manufacturing Innovation Materials History
  1. The evolution of technology has allowed for incredible precision and complexity, such as the growth of jet engine blades from a single crystal of metal.
  2. The history of precision engineering is intertwined with the rise of different nations, from Britain to America to Japan.
  3. Advancements in engineering have led to mind-blowing feats, like printing transistors at atomic scales using extreme ultraviolet radiation.

THE FALL OF JAMES JESUS ANGLETON

Seymour Hersh • 63 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence Foreign Relations Nuclear Weapons Government History
  1. The article discusses the refusal of the Biden administration to declassify 48-year-old Senate testimony by James Angleton, the notorious onetime head of CIA counterintelligence.
  2. Pervez Musharraf criticized US efforts to monitor Pakistan's nuclear arsenal due to the US policy of denying Israel's membership in the global nuclear club.
  3. The text mentions Seymour Hersh's encounter with James Angleton, who was in charge of the CIA's illegal domestic spying program and part of Washington's Old Boys network.

The Bomb, the Man, the Morality

Skeptic • 49 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History Politics Film War
  1. Christopher Nolan's film 'Oppenheimer' renews debate on the use of nuclear weapons to end World War II and the nature of moral conflicts.
  2. Human conditions are rarely black-and-white, and approach-avoidance conflicts are common in life, culture, and politics.
  3. The dropping of the atomic bombs, while not a moral act, was the least destructive option at the time and likely saved lives by ending the war and preventing a potentially higher death toll from prolonged conventional bombing or invasion.

Why doesn't Masters of the Air work?

Kvetch • 19 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows War Entertainment History Cinematography
  1. Stories about bombers might feel repetitive and confining, making it challenging to create engaging content.
  2. Creating great television like 'Band of Brothers' sets a high bar that is difficult to match.
  3. The challenges of portraying the realities of war, character development, and moral dilemmas in 'Masters of the Air' result in some storytelling and thematic issues.

When Birds Mean Death

Bird History • 19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture History Folklore Beliefs Symbolism Nature
  1. Owls have historically been associated with death and fear by different cultures, with beliefs about their calls foretelling misfortune or demise.
  2. The arrival of European settlers in America brought over beliefs about birds, like owls, being evil omens, creating a sense of fear and superstition towards them.
  3. The intimidating and mysterious nature of owls, especially their nocturnal habits and unique physical characteristics, contribute to their reputation as ominous symbols.

#79 Design in ruins

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 02 Aug 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Creativity History
  1. In design, historical elements like spolia can add depth and connection to the past, bringing a sense of continuity and richness to modern creations.
  2. Everyday objects can be repurposed creatively in design, transforming the mundane into something unique and intriguing.
  3. Just like cities are built on top of ruins, digital technology and computer code have layers of complexity and history woven within them, reminding us that things are not always as sleek and clean as they seem.

Feminisation

Kvetch • 55 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Society History Media Politics Literature
  1. The conversation highlighted the concept of 'feminisation' as a social force.
  2. The discussion explored the idea of societal changes affecting gender roles.
  3. The dialogue delved into the impact of cultural shifts on various aspects of society.

Turkish ice cream vendors

This week I am curious about? • 19 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine History Culture Travel Fun
  1. Turkish ice cream, known as Dondurma, has a unique texture and resistance to melting due to ingredients like salep and mastic.
  2. The Dondurma vendor attire includes a Kaftan robe and Fez hat, creating a distinctive look that symbolizes Turkish ice cream culture.
  3. Turkish ice cream vendors play tricks on customers as a fun sales technique, which has become popular especially through social media.

Spring in February

Thinking about... • 94 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
📚 Literature Poetry History Culture
  1. Valentine's Day initially was connected to birds and the concept of spring by Chaucer.
  2. Chaucer's poem suggests that the celebration was linked to the transition into a hopeful spring.
  3. February, the month in which Valentine's Day falls, marked the beginning of various agricultural activities signaling the start of spring.

#88 Go reconfigure

Design Lobster • 119 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
🪑 Design UX Philosophy Product Design History
  1. Designs are becoming more personalized, like Google's Material You design language that adapts system colors based on the user's wallpaper choice.
  2. Designers may need to embrace flexibility to allow users to contribute to the end result, as seen in the unique design approach of Material You.
  3. Creating a delightful user experience involves making the process of configuring designs enjoyable, like the adjustable Tizio lamp designed by Richard Sapper.

#62 A design by Florence Nightingale

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 05 Apr 21
🪑 Design History Furniture Visual communication
  1. Florence Nightingale made an important contribution to data visualization through the Rose Diagram during the Crimean War. Communicating data effectively is key in design.
  2. Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair is an iconic piece of furniture design from the mid 1950s. Reinterpreting traditional shapes can create modern classics.
  3. Consistency in design, both visually and behaviorally, is crucial for usability. Users should know what to expect when interacting with a design.

Seven Hills of Seattle

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 59 implied HN points • 06 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Geography History Literature Urban Studies
  1. Seattle is famously said to be built on seven hills, but there’s some debate about which hills should be counted. Some people agree with the original list of hills, while others suggest different ones.
  2. The hills of Seattle have been both a source of pride and challenges for the city. They created scenic views but also made travel and construction difficult.
  3. Over time, the idea of Seattle's 'seven hills' has changed. Today, the commonly accepted hills reflect a mix of history and geography, with names that have transitioned through the years.

Am I The Most Notable David Charles In The Whole Entire Universe?

The David Charles Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Identity Celebrity Philosophy Education History
  1. The question of being the most notable David Charles leads to exploring notability on Google and Wikipedia.
  2. Notability is subjective and everyone, including various David Charleses, contributes in their own way.
  3. Considerations about public health and motornormativity regarding smoking and driving in populated areas.

Free Electricity Out Of The Air! Did Nikola Tesla Have It Right All Along?

Resiliency Tech • 19 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🔬 Science Inventions Electricity Energy Research History
  1. Nikola Tesla is revered for his inventions and experiments with harnessing electricity from the air.
  2. Scientists are now exploring hygroelectricity, generating electricity from humidity in the air using nanotubes.
  3. Projects like CATCHER aim to commercialize the concept of hygroelectricity, which could potentially exceed Europe's power requirements by 500 times.

Saturday Curiosity Links

Grist Potentia • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
💰 Finance Economics History
  1. On July 1, 1941, Myron Scholes, the Canadian-American financial economist, was born in Ontario.
  2. Myron Scholes began his journey into Economics early through his Uncles' businesses and investments in the stock market.
  3. Myron Scholes is known for developing the Black-Scholes model with Fischer Black.

"Optimism Is For Cowards"

Apposition • 19 implied HN points • 20 May 23
📖 Philosophy History Science Culture Politics Technology
  1. Oswald Spengler believed that all civilizations have a life cycle and will eventually decline.
  2. Spengler's work focuses on the concept of Technics, outlining the development of tools and processes in human history.
  3. Spengler warns against optimism, arguing that every civilization will ultimately face decline and destruction.