The hottest Ideas Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

We Live Like Royalty and Don’t Know It

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 129 implied HN points • 26 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Society Education Values History Ideas
  1. Many people don't realize how much they benefit from complex systems that provide food, water, and healthcare. It's important to understand these systems to appreciate the comforts we have.
  2. Events like weddings showcase how ordinary people can enjoy luxuries that were once only for the wealthy. This shows a change in how we live compared to the past.
  3. Understanding and maintaining our modern systems is crucial. If we ignore them, we risk losing the conveniences we've come to expect in daily life.

RKUL: Time Well Spent 1/1/2025

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 211 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
📚 Literature Books Authors Criticism Ideas Theory
  1. Books that challenge the norm can change how we think. Authors who present radical ideas might be dismissed but can spark new creativity.
  2. Parents often believe their choices greatly affect their children's outcomes, but many outcomes are influenced more by genetics and chance than parenting styles.
  3. Science evolves as new discoveries are made. Historical theories can be amazing, but modern techniques allow us to understand life in greater detail than ever before.

Labour is going to be more radical than you think it is

Striking 13 • 2116 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Election Government Progressive Ideas
  1. Labour is proposing genuinely radical and progressive ideas in their policy agenda that are more left-wing than seen in British governing parties for decades.
  2. The Labour policy machine involves a process where radical ideas are presented but then altered by a committee to adhere to electoral concerns and constraints.
  3. Key areas of fresh thinking in Labour's policy program include labor markets with ideas like sectoral bargaining and climate change with ambitious goals like fully decarbonizing the grid by 2030.
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Third Places & Homesteads in the Shadowlands 🏘

The Commonplace • 805 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Community Lifestyle Living Ideas
  1. Living in a humane-sized community or on spacious land fulfills a universal longing for connection and purpose.
  2. Building and maintaining relationships in neighborhoods through communal spaces like third places or regular gatherings is vital for human flourishing.
  3. Creating a more humane living situation requires effort, community involvement, and a willingness to make small, impactful changes.

The Journal of Dangerous Ideas

Secretum Secretorum • 808 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ideas Journal Thought Morality Creativity
  1. The idea of dangerous ideas includes those that can harm the world, pose threats, or are inherently dangerous in various aspects like technology, science, or philosophy.
  2. The concept of 'white balls' representing beneficial ideas and 'black balls' representing pernicious ideas explores human creativity and the potential risks and benefits of various thought processes.
  3. The post challenges readers to consider whether pursuing dangerous ideas, like founding a Journal of Dangerous Ideas, is a bold approach worth taking or if it leads to unnecessary risks.

The Good Life: Buen Vivir, Hygge, Solarpunk & Degrowth.

Sunshine and Seedlings: A Newsletter by HydroponicTrash • 609 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Ideas Sustainability Community Politics Aesthetics
  1. Imagining a postcapitalist, ecological, and equal future is vital for creating change.
  2. Buen Vivir, Hygge, Solarpunk, Social Ecology, and Degrowth are interconnected in promoting community well-being, sustainability, and decolonization.
  3. The concepts of Buen Vivir and Hygge can give insight into a degrowth future, emphasizing interconnectedness, community action, and well-being for all.

Doppelgänger, by Naomi Klein

The Common Reader • 602 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
📚 Literature Books Authors Analysis Ideas Critique
  1. Naomi Klein explores the concept of doppelgängers and her experience of being confused with Naomi Wolf, a conspiracy theorist spreading misinformation about Covid.
  2. Klein delves into the idea that the internet has created doppelgängers of us all, raising questions about online identities and personas.
  3. The book highlights how both Naomi Klein and Naomi Wolf use provocative language and ideas to engage with audiences, emphasizing the impact of strong rhetoric in today's discourse.

You're so smart

Becoming Noble • 398 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ideas Religion Morality Existence Ethics
  1. The author highlights the importance of encouraging readers to engage in thoughtful discussions and voice their opinions.
  2. There is a discussion on academia's need for a more formal network and standards, similar to a sacred order, to enhance knowledge sharing.
  3. The post delves into the complexities surrounding AI and how it impacts society biologically and socially, urging a deeper understanding of the system's dynamics.

Thinking Week

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 16 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Thought Writing Critique Culture Ideas
  1. Writers who publish regularly can become repetitive and lose their edge over time. It's important for them to refresh their ideas to stay interesting.
  2. The author originally chose Substack to share their book because they believed it would reach more people than traditional publishing. They wanted to connect with readers who may have shorter attention spans.
  3. Over the years, the author has noticed that many ideas they discussed early on are now part of mainstream conversations, reflecting a shift in public awareness and discourse.

Reflections on Parfit: A Philosopher and His Mission to Save Morality

Bentham's Newsletter • 314 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Ideas Legacy
  1. Derek Parfit's life was both bizarre and fascinating as a philosopher with a mission to save morality.
  2. Parfit's eccentricities developed over time; he started out as a relatively normal boy who later became obsessed with philosophy.
  3. Those who become truly obsessed with a topic, like Parfit with philosophy, tend to make significant contributions and impact in that field.

The limits of heterodoxy - my review of the Battle of Ideas

The Path Not Taken • 462 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideas Debates Freedom of Speech Liberalism Authoritarianism
  1. The Battle of Ideas festival had some limitations in representing a diverse range of viewpoints.
  2. There is a tension within the heterodox movement between promoting freedom of speech and the values of its supporters.
  3. The heterodox movement plays a crucial role in providing spaces for those marginalized by mainstream perspectives.

Don't Fall In Trap Of Tarpit Ideas, It's Worst Than Bad Ideas, Why? | Consumer Startups - Tarpit Ideas? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Ideas Consumer Pivoting
  1. Tarpit ideas are worse than bad ideas and can trap entrepreneurs into wasted time and resources.
  2. Many consumer startup ideas end up being tarpit ideas, as they seem simple but are challenging to execute successfully.
  3. To succeed in the startup world, founders need to recognize tarpit ideas early, pivot strategically based on supply-demand dynamics, and focus on building high-quality, in-demand products.

The Sensemaking Companion - Section I

The Bigger Picture • 1238 implied HN points • 06 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Sensemaking Ideas Practices Frameworks
  1. The Sensemaking Companion is a resource that gathers useful ideas, practices, and frameworks to enhance the ability to understand complex situations.
  2. There are three sections of The Sensemaking Companion, with Section I being the starting point.
  3. Readers can access the full content and archives of The Sensemaking Companion with a 7-day free trial subscription to The Bigger Picture.

Data-Driven Ideas

Addition • 137 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Research Ideas Content Tool
  1. AI models like ChatGPT can turn research into creative outputs quickly.
  2. Using AI for research and idea generation can help brands stay relevant in fast-paced environments.
  3. By leveraging LLMs for research, teams can create high-quality content and insights efficiently.

Intellectual Seat Belts

Investing 101 • 110 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
💼 Business Investing Company Building Beliefs Ideas Risk Assessment
  1. People often use in-group thinking as an 'intellectual seat belt' to feel safe and avoid critically evaluating their beliefs.
  2. Being open to being wrong promotes the pursuit of truth, as it challenges existing beliefs and pressures ideas for improvement.
  3. Questioning mainstream beliefs and pursuing wrongness can reveal potential weaknesses, leading to a deeper understanding and pursuit of truth.

Chat with Humanities in Revolt

Humanities in Revolt • 99 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Humanities Discussion Creativity Ideas Philosophy
  1. The introduction of a new feature called Humanities in Revolt subscriber chat provides a more private and creative space for subscribers to have informal conversations.
  2. The chat allows for exploration of ideas and perspectives in a relaxed manner, where subscribers can engage with the content creator and each other in a more spontaneous way.
  3. To join the chat, subscribers need to download the Substack app, as the chats will be sent through the app with push notifications enabled to stay updated on conversations.

Book Review: "TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking" by Chris Anderson 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 59 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
📚 Literature Public Speaking Book review Writing Ideas
  1. Being a good public speaker takes hard work and dedication; it's about more than just the final performance.
  2. Public speaking is powerful as it allows us to transfer ideas from one mind to another.
  3. The book offers valuable tips on public speaking, backed by years of TED experience and real examples from TED talks.

11. The Magic of Mimesis and Memes

Insight Axis • 59 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Memes Ideas Desire Transmission Evolution
  1. Replicating memes requires creativity and the ability to extract the core idea from transmitted words or behaviors.
  2. Errors in meme replication are not purely mistakes but can include parts of the source person being transmitted along with the meme.
  3. Compelling memes shape desires and drive imitation, creating a connection between memetics and mimesis.

The unspoken secret to connecting to the "Global Idea Sharing" space (or maybe I’m just making excuses…)

Meaning-Making • 58 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity Globalization Communication Ideas Community
  1. Connecting with people in the 'Global Idea Sharing' space is important for sharing ideas effectively.
  2. Authenticity is key in sharing ideas, even if it means not following traditional sales tactics.
  3. Finding a balance between emotional and intellectual connection in sharing ideas can lead to a unique perspective in the Dutch 'idea market.'

Artifacts

box. • 79 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Media Ideas Education Philosophy
  1. Curate your content wisely to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Pick only a few really good pieces to focus on instead of trying to absorb everything.
  2. Great ideas can change the way you see the world. Take your time with them and let them really sink in before moving on.
  3. Engaging with transformative content can lead to personal growth and new perspectives. Choose pieces that challenge your thoughts and beliefs.

Building a Successful Company, Sharing Ideas Online, and Career Cheat Codes

Austin's Analects • 19 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Success Ideas Career Finance Personal Growth
  1. Key secrets for building a successful company involve getting the right people on board, showing category leadership, creating unique products, and ensuring everyone in the company is focused on sales.
  2. Sharing your ideas online allows you to grow your skills, learn publicly, and become the best version of yourself before pursuing corporate opportunities.
  3. To advance in your career, consider starting an internal newsletter to build relationships and standing out, as well as making a list of what you want out of your company to actively pursue opportunities and skills.

An Evening with John Vervaeke: Live in London

The Bigger Picture • 179 implied HN points • 31 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Event Education Ideas Community
  1. John Vervaeke uses his research to bridge Western philosophy, Eastern wisdom practices, and cognitive science.
  2. Vervaeke aims to create a framework for navigating the crisis of truth, alienation, and lack of wisdom in today's culture.
  3. The live event in London will offer an intimate salon-style setting with dialogos practice, Q&A, and socializing.