The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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10 Beautifully Designed 1980's Sony Computers That Never Quite Delivered

Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 08 Aug 24
🕹 Technology History
  1. Sony was a key player in creating the MSX standard for home computers in the 1980s. This platform aimed to unify computer use and consumer electronics.
  2. Sony's MSX computers had creative designs and various models, but they faced tough competition and technical limits.
  3. Although they didn't change the home computing landscape as hoped, these Sony computers are still cool examples of 1980s tech innovation.

A note on the great Ann Leslie.

Letters from Suzanne • 2771 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Dame Ann Leslie lived a huge and adventurous life as a renowned foreign correspondent.
  2. She was known for her wit, humor, and fearless approach to reporting major events and wars.
  3. Despite her tough exterior, she had a depth of caring and passion that drove her to report the world's complexities.

⚡ Tracking a 200-year energy wager

Faster, Please! • 274 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment History
  1. Herman Kahn’s long bet is that cheap, effectively limitless energy would unlock widespread human abundance and economic growth.
  2. The technological tools to pursue cheap, inexhaustible energy have largely arrived or are within reach.
  3. Politics and institutions haven’t caught up, and political obstacles remain the main barrier to realizing that energy-driven abundance.

A Few Things You Won't Learn About Lee Miller From the Recent Biopic

Paris Unlocked Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration History
  1. Lee Miller was a significant surrealist photographer, not just a model or muse. She created her own impactful art rather than just inspiring others.
  2. The biopic focuses on her role as a WWII photojournalist, but it doesn’t fully cover her complex legacy and contributions to art.
  3. Miller also documented the horrors of Nazi death camps, highlighting her important work in photojournalism during a crucial time in history.

4.2.2 Fluid Theories of Electricity

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 03 Jul 24
🔬 Science History
  1. Electricity was thought to behave like a fluid that could flow through conductors, which helped scientists understand how it could be transmitted over distances.
  2. Benjamin Franklin proposed a one-fluid theory of electricity, categorizing electricity into 'positive' and 'negative' charges, which laid the groundwork for future electrical theories.
  3. Alessandro Volta created the first battery, making it possible to study electricity as a continuous flow, leading to advancements in electrical science and technology.
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On the greats and mathematical style

Infinitely More • 15 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🔬 Science History
  1. Greatness in mathematics is hard to rank because insights can come from many people and eras, and being the first often involves luck since ideas are sometimes "in the air."
  2. Simple, clear, easy-to-understand arguments are especially valued because they are easier to check and to learn from, and playful thought experiments or metaphors help visualize problems and reveal strategies.
  3. There are different successful working styles—long solitary grinds on one problem versus collaborative, social approaches that switch problems—and many practitioners pursue mathematics for the love of the subject rather than for prizes, with online collaboration regularly sparking new work.

Backcountry Coffee n' Donuts

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 319 implied HN points • 20 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Finding old objects in nature, like the donut insulator, can remind us of the people who built things in the wilderness. It's interesting to think about their challenges and dreams.
  2. Many trails in the mountains were created by miners and builders long ago, showing how humans have changed the landscape. These paths help modern hikers enjoy nature today.
  3. Nature has a way of recovering even after human impact. This is a hopeful reminder that the forest can bounce back despite our past actions.

The Front Page: Pilgrims, Past and Present

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 338 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Immigrant stories show America as a place where people fleeing tyranny can find safety, opportunity, and freedom.
  2. A critique of land acknowledgments argues that treating territory as belonging to races is dangerous and that extreme calls for ‘decolonization’ could lead to ethnic cleansing.
  3. The edition collects Thanksgiving-themed pieces—personal gratitude, historical reflections, and profiles of new citizens—offering varied perspectives on the holiday.

The Miracle of the Light

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3909 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality History
  1. In tough times, we look for hope and inspiration, often represented by light. The stories and symbols of Jewish history highlight the fight for life and dignity.
  2. A famous image from 1931 shows a menorah shining bright against a swastika, symbolizing the struggle between good and evil. It reminds us of what we stand for in the face of opposition.
  3. Some people mock traditional beliefs, like the miracle of Hanukkah, but these beliefs underline important values like human equality and the sanctity of life. Our spiritual heritage teaches us about more than just history.

How did the Holy Land come to be holy?

Cosmographia • 1577 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality History
  1. The Holy Land holds significant cultural, political, and spiritual importance for 3.8 billion people of different religions.
  2. The land has seen the rule of various empires throughout history and is central to the beliefs of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
  3. The association of a physical place with values and identity shapes our sense of self, and nowhere is this link more profound than in the Holy Land.

Sparta and… Scotland?

Classical Wisdom • 2653 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Spartans and Scots share hidden wit and sarcasm in their cultures
  2. Both cultures are known for their laconic wit, expressing ideas concisely
  3. Humour can be found in unexpected places, like in historical exchanges and responses

Women have an essential role to play in dissident movements

Becoming Noble • 1813 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Women play a crucial role in dissident movements by fostering deep bonds, warmth, and alliances in unofficial spaces like social gatherings and dinner parties.
  2. Creating welcoming and warm environments, particularly through shared events like dinner parties, can help in forming connections, shaping society, and nurturing goodwill.
  3. In times of challenge and turmoil, such as during 'civilizational winter,' building strong relationships and providing security through shared experiences like shared meals becomes essential for survival and strength.

Your Computer Interviewed Chris Curry (1981)

Computer Ads from the Past • 1152 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🕹 Technology History
  1. Chris Curry helped develop the Acorn Atom, a popular computer in Britain, and was involved in the BBC's computer literacy project. This project helped shape computer education in the UK.
  2. Acorn computers focused on creating reliable and speedy products, highlighting the importance of quality in their designs. Their computers, like the Atom and Proton, gained traction due to good production and design.
  3. Collaboration and the need for standardization were key themes, especially when developing programming languages like Basic. Acorn aimed to create a version of Basic that combined the best aspects of existing languages, which could become widely adopted.

Eloise's Legacy

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith • 2614 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The reason for the trip was afternoon tea at The Plaza - inspired by the iconic picture book "Eloise."
  2. Eloise represents a girl who has adventurous experiences that are often reserved for boys in children's books.
  3. The Plaza's Eloise branding has evolved into an American Girl dolls-Barbie fusion, catering to a different idea of American girlhood.

RKUL: Time Well Spent, 1/1/2026

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 154 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Read a few rigorous interdisciplinary books this year; they are a small, high-value way to learn durable ways of thinking about science, history, and culture.
  2. Political activism is reshaping academic norms and sometimes sidelines traditional methods like philology; the worth of scholarship should rest on the usefulness of its methods and insights, not scholars' personal politics.
  3. New ancient DNA and genomics studies are steadily sharpening our view of human history by revealing deep regional roots, admixture, and selection, but in some regions more modern samples give diminishing returns so careful interpretation matters.

A Child's First Lesson in Prejudice

Holly’s Newsletter • 2718 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The story highlights how prejudice can be learned at a young age.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing all individuals as deserving of care and concern.
  3. The need to address and end hatred, despite challenges, and support those who are victims of violence.

RKUL: Time Well Spent, 12/13/2025

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 228 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
📚 Literature History
  1. Reading biographies can help you understand history better by focusing on individual lives rather than just facts. Stories about people make the past feel more relatable and alive.
  2. Some historical figures, like Charlemagne and John Brown, have had lasting impacts on their societies in different ways. Their unique choices shaped their times and the future.
  3. Education systems face issues like grade inflation and too much focus on amenities. This makes degrees less valuable, and schools need to rethink their purpose and best practices.

What is Plagiarism?

Classical Wisdom • 1552 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🚌 Education History
  1. Plagiarism is a serious issue in academia and has led to high-profile scandals.
  2. The concept of plagiarism has ancient roots, dating back to Roman times.
  3. The debate over plagiarism raises questions about originality and the balance between forming our own ideas and drawing inspiration from others.

Q&A: What Would You Do with $43 Million to Fight Racism?

Glenn Loury • 1845 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The Center for Antiracist Research raised $43 million with little to show for it in terms of research on racism.
  2. One approach suggested to fight racism with $43 million was to start a center for the rigorous study of race in America with elite scholars and promising grad students.
  3. Another proposed idea was to use the money to fund a movie dramatizing the shift in black political thought in 1966, which would showcase how certain ideas contributed to present-day racial divisions.

How To Choose Your Nemesis

The Ruffian • 288 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Personal, repeated, and evenly matched rivalries raise motivation and often boost performance and creativity.
  2. Rivalry can also be destructive: it can encourage unethical behavior, waste resources, and make lower‑skilled or status‑anxious people perform worse.
  3. The healthiest rivalries are non‑zero‑sum “nemeses” where each competitor has strengths the other admires and learns from, and confidence lets the contest push both to improve.

Sleep well my love

Letters of Note • 2299 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics History
  1. The love letter is a touching memory of two soldiers falling in love during WWII
  2. The letter captures beautiful moments shared between the two soldiers in North Africa
  3. The emotional parting and unfulfilled promise of reuniting paints a poignant picture

A Reading List for America's Birthday.

Breaking the News • 1295 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History
  1. The book 'Breakneck' by Dan Wang offers a fresh perspective on the similarities and differences between American and Chinese systems. It makes you think twice about the way we view international relations.
  2. The film 'Facing Tyranny' explores Hannah Arendt's ideas on totalitarianism and their relevance today. It reminds us of the importance of truth in governance and how it's often twisted for political gain.
  3. Bill Moyers, a respected journalist and former press secretary, recently passed away. His reflections on the changing standards of honesty in politics serve as a poignant reminder of the integrity needed in public communication.

The stone walls of Ireland and human insight

The Leap • 299 implied HN points • 19 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The stone walls of Ireland reflect human creativity and resilience. They show how people adapt and use local materials to build something lasting.
  2. The idea of spontaneous human insight is important. Sometimes, communities naturally find solutions to problems without needing a formal process.
  3. Traveling can offer new perspectives. Exploring different places, like the hills of Ireland, can inspire deep thoughts and insights about life.

Inside my commonplace diary

Austin Kleon • 5155 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Keeping a commonplace diary is a fun way to collect quotes and thoughts. Instead of writing about daily life, you can enjoy capturing interesting things you hear or read.
  2. Over time, a commonplace diary can reveal themes and connections between quotes, making it a creative project. It can even help inspire new writing pieces or ideas.
  3. Writing things down by hand helps you remember them better, and it feels like a little adventure in time. Looking back at your quotes can bring back memories and show how your thoughts have grown.

Things Worth Remembering: ‘A New World Order’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2851 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History
  1. George H.W. Bush's 'Chicken Kiev' speech was seen as controversial at the time but is now viewed as an exemplary model of diplomacy.
  2. The speech illustrated how America could support democracy in other countries without taking on the role of a global policeman.
  3. Reflecting on past leadership can help us understand and navigate current political issues more effectively.

Seventieth anniversaries. 1955 was a very good year.

The Common Reader • 3295 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
📚 Literature History
  1. 1955 was an important year for literature, with many significant books published. It featured works from renowned authors like Nabokov and Tolkien.
  2. Beyond literature, 1955 marked key moments in American history and science, including the approval of the polio vaccine and the start of McDonald's.
  3. We should celebrate anniversaries, not just of centenary events, but also of important years like 1955 that shaped culture and society.

What Florida Is (and Isn't) Teaching Students about Slavery

Glenn Loury • 3551 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History
  1. The Florida Board of Education's guidelines for teaching African American history include lessons on the Underground Railroad, slave rebellions, and the harsh realities of chattel slavery.
  2. The controversy on the Florida curriculum involves a debate between emphasizing victimization or acknowledging the agency of enslaved individuals.
  3. Some researchers argue that recognizing the agency of enslaved blacks does not downplay the inhumane aspects of slavery and can provide a more nuanced understanding of their experiences.

Party Animals

Mister Slang • 2378 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The 'party record' genre, featuring raunchy adult content, was popular in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
  2. Prominent entertainers in this genre included African American and Jewish comedians, who pushed boundaries with their humor.
  3. These comediennes were highly successful and played at top venues, challenging societal norms and providing a platform for risqué humor.

What was the gothic revival?

The Common Reader • 1311 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. The Gothic revival was a movement that brought back medieval art and architecture, blending it with modern ideas of the time.
  2. Jane Austen made fun of Gothic themes in her work, questioning why a writer in the 1790s would choose to focus on old-fashioned medieval elements.
  3. The shift from Gothic to classical styles reflected a change in thinking during the Enlightenment, where reason and science became more valued than the mystery of the past.

Tom Holland on How Christianity Remade the World

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3482 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality History
  1. Christianity has had a huge influence on the Western world, shaping many ideas and values we hold today.
  2. Despite differing beliefs about specific miracles, the message of Jesus is recognized as incredibly powerful and enduring.
  3. Within just a few centuries, Christianity became the main religion of the Roman Empire, showing its rapid spread and acceptance.

The Battle Between The Inner Life and The Outer Life

Sparks from Culture by David Roberts • 1179 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture History
  1. Modern American capitalism has constrained many lives, leading to angst and a pursuit of more slow-paced lives.
  2. E.M. Forster's 'Howards End' explores the conflict between inner and outer ways of life, highlighting the impact of capitalism on personal relations and daily duties.
  3. There is resistance to hyper-capitalism in modern America, with a growing push for a slower life, nature, and emphasis on inner values.

Book review: "Power and Progress"

Noahpinion • 8706 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
📚 Literature History
  1. The impact of technological innovation on human welfare depends on how society chooses to use these innovations, highlighting the importance of social decisions.
  2. The book discusses how power dynamics in society influence the choices made regarding technology, with recent decisions leaning towards negative impacts.
  3. Society can shape technology to distribute benefits more widely by focusing on inventions that complement workers instead of replacing them, presenting a controversial but essential concept.

Goethe and Faust for a New Age

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 3167 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture History
  1. J.R.R. Tolkien might be compared to Goethe due to their deep knowledge and the large, influential works they created. Both men built complex worlds in their writings that resonate with deeply human themes.
  2. Tolkien's character Elendil is seen as a modern hero similar to Aeneas, embodying survival, duty, and the preservation of culture. Both characters face the challenge of keeping their people's traditions alive in the wake of disaster.
  3. Tolkien's influence goes beyond literature; it is shaping political movements today. His themes of resilience and tradition are resonating with various groups, especially in Italy and among certain political factions in the U.S.

London's First Vegetarian Restaurant

Londonist: Time Machine • 539 implied HN points • 01 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink History
  1. London had its first vegetarian restaurant as early as 1879, way before the trend of vegetarianism became popular in the 1960s.
  2. The Alpha Food Reform Restaurant reflected eccentric health beliefs of its founders, Dr. Thomas Low Nichols and Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols, who also promoted questionable health practices like using water baths for curing diseases.
  3. The success of London's first vegetarian restaurant led to the rise of many more vegetarian restaurants across the city, marking the start of a sustained movement that continues today with a growing number of vegan and vegetarian eateries.

About Being of Two Minds

Technohumanism • 79 implied HN points • 15 Aug 24
📖 Philosophy History
  1. The shift from Fortune to Reason marks a big change in how people see themselves and the world. People started to believe they could improve themselves instead of just relying on luck.
  2. The rise of new ideas and technology during the Renaissance helped create this sense of self-awareness. It changed how people thought about their place in the world and their ability to impact it.
  3. Even with all the changes, many old ideas and beliefs still linger. Our present largely builds on the past, showing that even with progress, the past isn't completely gone.