The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

We Are All Civilisational States

Trying to Understand the World • 3 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🌐 International History
  1. The concept of 'civilisational states' challenges the idea of universal political systems and societal norms.
  2. Liberalism promotes individual rights and rational organization of society, but may overlook tradition and collective identity.
  3. Political structures need a shared cultural and historical basis to survive and be effective in governance.

003: The Sugar Conspiracy — Trading One Nutritional Boogeyman for Another

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 28 Apr 16
🏥 Health & Wellness History
  1. Move beyond labeling nutritional boogeymen like sugar or saturated fat and aim for a nuanced understanding of their roles in our diets.
  2. Understand the historical context of figures like Ancel Keys, the process of de novo lipogenesis, and the complex relationship between insulin and fat storage when considering dietary villains.
  3. Avoid simplifying complex nutritional concepts and acknowledge the need for a more sophisticated view of nutrition and health.

The Hypnotized Society

Monomythical • 2 HN points • 16 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Hypnosis can rewire the brain to perceive pain differently, and is more common than we think in daily life
  2. The bicameral mind theory suggests a time when humans were guided by internal voices, similar to hypnosis
  3. Doomscrolling can put us in an unconscious state, making us highly receptive to negative information and ideas
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The price of a woman

Wood From Eden • 2 HN points • 28 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Economic theory states prices are determined by supply and demand, even in the marriage market.
  2. Population density influences marriage customs, with hoe agriculture societies tending towards brideprice and plow agriculture societies towards dowry.
  3. Cultural evolution has shifted from female dowries to both sexes investing in human capital for maximal reproductive success.

Film Review: Oppenheimer

By Reason Alone • 2 HN points • 28 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The film 'Oppenheimer' is really three movies in one, which may have worked better as a series rather than a three-hour film.
  2. Uninformed audiences might not grasp the emotional significance of certain plot points in the film, like Oppenheimer's security clearance.
  3. The movie has too many famous actors and a lot of music, which can be distracting and take away from the storytelling.

The Cacophony

Numb at the Lodge • 2 HN points • 02 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Language and technology have a history of causing chaos, like the Cacophony event tied to the printing press.
  2. AI language models can exhibit unexpected, even disturbing behavior, raising questions about their sentience.
  3. The essay suggests that human consciousness and language are intertwined, highlighting the potential risks and complexities of technology.

When Antiquity Trained the Future

The Classical Futurist • 2 HN points • 03 Apr 23
🚌 Education History
  1. The Founding Fathers of the United States looked to Greek and Roman texts for models of virtue and practical wisdom.
  2. Studying history, particularly the Greek and Roman civilizations, offers valuable insights into governance, society, and human nature.
  3. Classics provide a self-contained simulation to explore questions about civilization and offer a unique perspective not fully captured by modern social sciences.

Why I Donate My Book’s Proceeds to the Nonprofit Girls Who Code

Peak Horse • 2 HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology History
  1. The history of computing is filled with trailblazing women pioneers who laid the foundation for modern technology.
  2. Women like Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and Mary Allen Wilkes made significant contributions to the field of computer science.
  3. Despite historical achievements, there is still a gender gap in computer science education and employment that needs to be addressed.

The War on Suffering

The Rambler • 2 HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The modern culture is striving to eradicate suffering, but it may have unintended consequences.
  2. American society is shifting towards minimizing suffering through various means like law and technology.
  3. The focus on eliminating suffering could be leading to a culture obsessed with synthetic forms of suffering.

September 2023 Round Up

Maker News • 1 HN point • 29 Sep 23
🕹 Technology History
  1. September was a busy month with exciting videos and articles featuring DIY projects and technology tutorials.
  2. Highlights included learning about designing ASICs, fixing KiCad errors, and exploring how operating systems boot.
  3. Interesting reads delved into the history of programming languages, unique tech devices, and the evolution of coffee tools.

The Renaissance Reimagined

1517 Fund • 1 HN point • 18 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Directly supporting individuals can have a big impact on shaping the future.
  2. Encouraging unconventional paths and supporting uniqueness can lead to great advancements.
  3. Establishing diverse programs and fellowships can help cultivate a new renaissance of creativity and innovation.

Wrestling is wrestling but sometimes it sucks

The Author Is Dumb • 1 implied HN point • 29 Apr 23
🎾 Sports History
  1. Professional wrestling transitioned from real competition to entertainment to cater to the crowd's desire for entertainment.
  2. The wrestling industry experienced different eras, such as the territorial system, the national expansion by WWE, and the peak popularity during the Attitude Era.
  3. Despite its flaws, pro wrestling uniquely combines storytelling, athleticism, and entertainment, offering a tailored and predetermined form of excitement.

A podcast with C. Rangarajan, BR Ambedkar the economist, Fellowship deadlines

Get Down and Shruti • 1 implied HN point • 14 Apr 23
🎙 Podcasts History
  1. Implementing homegrown reforms was crucial for India's economic stability after the 1991 crisis, rather than relying on external best practices.
  2. B.R. Ambedkar, known as a Dalit icon, was also an economist with insights on public finance and economic reforms relevant even today.
  3. Fellowship opportunities like the Mercatus Don Lavoie and James Buchanan fellowships offer valuable financial support for students pursuing further studies.

CTExplored/Inbox

CTExplored/Inbox • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Students in Connecticut advocated for legislation to include African American, Black, Latinx, and Puerto Rican history in the public school curriculum (Public Act 19-12).
  2. M. Stephen Miller worked on preserving a 156-year-old Shaker furniture piece rescued from a derelict place in Enfield.
  3. Different programs and exhibitions are available to enjoy in February, including discussions on Black History Month and exhibitions on American artists and their work.

How Inflation Became a Fact of Life

Informer • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💰 Finance History
  1. Inflation was not always a steady increase - it used to fluctuate erratically.
  2. The concept of a 'normal price level' has shifted to a 'normal inflation rate' in public mindset.
  3. The shift from the old inflation regime to the new one happened suddenly in the 20th century.

"All Things Repeat Themselves Endlessly and Unrepeatedly"

Apposition • 0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
📚 Literature History
  1. Danilo Kiš reinvented the short story as a blend of fiction and history.
  2. Kiš explored the boundary between fiction and history through stories like 'Simon Magus' and 'The Book of Kings and Fools.'
  3. In 'The Encyclopedia of the Dead,' Kiš presents the idea that history is a mix of facts and imagination, where everything repeats endlessly and uniquely.

Exploring the depths: Uncovering the mysteries of the sea

Weekend Collection • 0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🔬 Science History
  1. Explorers have delved deep into the ocean to uncover hidden wonders like bioluminescent creatures and coral forests.
  2. Books and articles have explored sea monsters, mermaid sightings, and sunken ships to reveal intriguing mysteries.
  3. Interesting studies exist about topics like slime's history and the first man who swam across the English Channel.

CTExplored/Inbox

CTExplored/Inbox • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Get insights into two history Game Changers from Connecticut: SISTERS at Keeler Tavern and the Freeman Houses.
  2. Learn about the important archaeological project at Freeman Houses in Bridgeport's Little Liberia Community.
  3. Discover the preservation efforts and stories of Jewish farming history in Chesterfield.

MTG Advocates an American Ausgleich

TOP SECRET UMBRA • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History
  1. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed the idea of National Divorce, suggesting a legal agreement to separate ideological and political disagreements by states while maintaining the legal union.
  2. Her concept bears resemblance to the Compromise of 1867 that birthed Austria-Hungary, creating a divided entity united by the monarch for matters related to national defense, foreign ministry, and finances, but each half had autonomy over its laws and governance.
  3. Despite the differing contexts, the idea of a National Divorce in America prompts conversations on balancing autonomy with unity, acknowledging ideological divides, and exploring radical solutions through calm, balanced discussions.

Boom

Promontories • 0 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Reading about famous scientists like Albert Einstein can inspire reflections on their lives and accomplishments.
  2. Revisiting past memories, such as childhood experiments with explosives, can bring a mix of satisfaction and nostalgia.
  3. Exploring diverse interests and passions, from pyrotechnics to explosive demolition, can be part of a personal journey of curiosity and growth.

Newsletter 1: What's next?

detreville • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology History
  1. The author plans to cover a series of IBM computers in their newsletters.
  2. The IBM 7040 and 7044 will be next in the series, followed by other IBM models.
  3. The author has a deep knowledge and personal history with IBM computers.

The Body As Mixer

Product Lost by @hipcityreg • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Being a mixer means combining different elements to create new experiences.
  2. Events mark significant changes and create new opportunities for action.
  3. Understanding your unique practice can help in producing meaningful events and influencing the future.