The hottest Literature Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 39

Why is this interesting? • 241 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. David Lynch is known for his strange movies, but he also had a love for his Scion xB car as he lived in Los Angeles.
  2. A man in Oregon shared that he created viral googly eye sculptures as a way to deal with heavy emotions.
  3. Many artists are covering the classic song 'A Long December' by Counting Crows, showcasing its lasting impact.

Ground Beef Ashtray

Opaque Hourglass • 199 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Sculpting an ashtray from ground beef fulfilled a need for unsanctioned belief through a unique and drastic act.
  2. The ground beef ashtray, though initially disgusting, became a feature to be protected as a symbol of creative power and cultural uniqueness.
  3. The final act of giving the meat ashtray an elaborate pagan burial in the grease bin symbolized letting go but also respecting the unique creation.

The Litverse Saturday Stat: Gen Z Phone Use

Litverse • 199 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Gen Z individuals spend a significant amount of time on their phones, with some averaging up to 12 hours a day.
  2. The rise in phone use could impact traditional academic interests, potentially contributing to declines in humanities enrollments.
  3. There is a discussion and anticipation of a shift towards a post-literate generation, influenced by high phone usage and changing preferences.

Thanatos sent you a friend request

The Leftovers • 199 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Consider unfriending or unfollowing deceased individuals on social media as a healthy way to cope with death and keep a distance from it.
  2. When writing about someone's death online, it often turns into an opportunity for self-centered displays, termed as 'mebituaries,' especially common among authors.
  3. In today's digital age, the concept of being forgotten after death has transformed drastically, with the algorithm immortalizing individuals and sometimes hindering the right to be truly forgotten.

Landmarks of London

Cosmographia • 199 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Literature
  1. London is known for its iconic landmarks like red buses, black cabs, the Underground, and telephone boxes.
  2. The enduring symbols of London are its many architectural landmarks, which reflect the city's rich history and culture.
  3. This post explores 9 of London's architectural landmarks through various artistic lenses like art, poetry, cartography, literature, and photography.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Tasmania

Cosmographia • 199 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Literature
  1. The post is about Tasmania and part of the Atlas' Notes series on Cosmographia, focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography related to a specific place.
  2. The content seems to be for paid subscribers only, as indicated by the mention that the post is for paid subscribers and the option to subscribe or sign in.
  3. The author, M. E. Rothwell, shares content related to Tasmania through images and likely detailed insights into the area's culture and geography.

Netflix's Witcher Controversy: When Creative Meets Committee

Litverse • 279 implied HN points • 06 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Decisions in the entertainment industry are often made in committee rooms, limiting creative freedom for actors and creators.
  2. The involvement and loyalty of creators to the source material can clash with the commercial interests and decisions made by studios and committees.
  3. The entertainment industry operates on a complex system of finances, survival instincts, and audience metrics, often prioritizing completion rates and profitability over creative vision.

Soul Bits

Tessa Fights Robots • 21 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. The author reflects on their birthplace, highlighting that it no longer exists. It's a strange feeling to acknowledge a place that has disappeared.
  2. They describe a significant change from ordinary Soviet life to a chaotic, free era filled with colorful commerce. This transformation felt like liberation from past burdens.
  3. The piece captures a mix of nostalgia and complexity about change and memory, blending personal experience with larger historical events.

Anxieties about kids and screen time, train vs. submarine movies, crime-novel recommendations, and other questions

Read Max • 1080 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. The writer discusses concerns about raising kids with technology, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and modeling healthy behaviors.
  2. Submarine movies and train movies are compared, with a humorous take on cinematic transportation in films.
  3. The intersection of AI, writing, and labor is explored, emphasizing the social aspect of writing and the potential impacts of AI on the craft.

Some Notes on Hate-Watching

Banana Peel Pirouette • 197 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. The practice of hate-watching involves watching shows or movies that are disliked, without enjoying them but still keeping up with the content.
  2. Hate-watching can stem from strong emotional responses like umbrage or aversion, leading viewers to engage with content they dislike on a sub-rational level.
  3. Hate-watching has evolved with modern media, offering a safe way for audiences to consume and critique content remotely, often leading to online discussions and shared sentiments.

What I've Been Reading | October 2023

Caleb’s Newsletter • 176 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🚌 Education Literature
  1. Education is essential for living well, and continuous learning is important for a liberal life
  2. When parenting, communicate directly with kids and set clear boundaries in a firm yet friendly way
  3. Some books provide reasoned critiques of societal norms, like traditional sexual morality

He So Horny

Mister Slang • 196 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Cuckoldry in history is related to natural history and terms like 'horny' stem from old German farming practices.
  2. The concept of 'wearing horns' generated a vocabulary around cuckoldry and male infidelity.
  3. Slang terms for male reproductive organs and impotence reveal societal attitudes about virility and masculinity.

Young Lords and Their Traces

Regress Studies • 196 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Literature
  1. The novel 'On The Marble Cliffs' by Ernst Jünger is highly praised and considered a favorite read of the year with its allegorical brilliance and intense narrative.
  2. Artist Theaster Gates focuses on salvaging precious items in a paradoxical approach blending black radicalism with conservative preservation.
  3. Two essays discuss the concepts of modernization theory in global development and the challenges faced by nations transitioning to a service-based economy, particularly in comparison to China.

Helen Garner's 'How to End a Story'

Kvetch • 77 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Helen Garner writes honestly about the struggles of aging, especially for women. She shares her feelings about insecurity and the challenges of being in a failing marriage.
  2. Her observations about men and relationships highlight the emotional toll that their egotism can take on women. Garner's reflections are relatable and show a shared experience of disappointment.
  3. Garner's life and writing illustrate the tough realities of being a writer in Australia. Despite her fame, she faces financial struggles and reveals the passion that drives her to write regardless of money.

Stolen plants always grow

Austin Kleon • 919 implied HN points • 22 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Plants taken from their original spot can still grow and thrive. This shows that sometimes, taking a chance can lead to something positive.
  2. Many myths exist around publishing and what it takes to succeed. It's important to separate fact from fiction in the industry.
  3. Life after fame can be challenging for pop stars. Some find that the attention they craved comes with heavy burdens and unexpected changes.

A Requiem for Techno-Optimism

Banana Peel Pirouette • 138 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. The song '1995' by Molly Nilsson, initially thought to be about nostalgia, turned out to be an ode to Windows 95, showcasing how technology can evoke nostalgic feelings.
  2. The release of Windows 95 marked a significant shift in computing accessibility, making home computing more user-friendly and marking a pivotal moment in the technological revolution.
  3. The 1990s era of techno-optimism, characterized by the rise of consumer technology like Windows 95 and the early internet, reflected an atmosphere of overall optimism and excitement for the possibilities of the digital future.

What I Learned Reading London: The Biography

Londonist: Time Machine • 99 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. The post shares insights on reading 'London: The Biography' highlighting stats and bloopers.
  2. The author thanks new paying subscribers and mentions a successful feature on London: The Biography that attracted many new readers.
  3. There was a recent drinks night with a dozen readers, creating a sense of community and engagement among the subscribers.

Seville

Cosmographia • 199 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Literature
  1. The post is part of a series called Atlas’ Notebook and features art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography centered on Seville.
  2. To access the full content, readers need to be paid subscribers to Cosmographia.
  3. The post includes a link for readers to subscribe to become paid subscribers.

Are internet friends "real" friends?

The Novelleist • 1281 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Internet friends can understand us in a unique way through our shared interests and writings.
  2. Finding 'our people' who truly know and connect with us can be challenging in real-life friendships.
  3. The online community can offer a space for meaningful connections that resonate deeply with us, potentially even more than some real-life friendships.

Birdsong

The Commonplace • 1120 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Take time to observe the beauty around you, like birdsongs and nature, instead of being consumed by technology.
  2. There is enchantment in the everyday environment if we open ourselves to see and hear it.
  3. Utilize technology, like bird identification apps, to learn more about the world around you and the beauty of nature.

Setting up my new blogging engine

Overthinking Everything • 314 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Using a typewriter is a unique and physical writing experience. It feels different from typing on a computer or handwriting because you have to hit the keys hard to get the letters to show up.
  2. Setting up a typewriter can be complex but satisfying. You may need to fix things like the ribbon, which teaches you about how mechanical objects work.
  3. Writing on a typewriter can help you focus better. Unlike computers, which distract you with notifications, a typewriter keeps you engaged in the writing process.

Why Am I Talking?

Austin Kleon • 959 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Consider asking yourself, 'Why Am I Talking?' to focus on the purpose of your conversations. This can help make your words more meaningful.
  2. Riding a bike can bring joy and a sense of adventure. It's a great way to explore and stay active.
  3. Sharing stories can connect us to objects and memories. Writing about items we own or have lost can create deeper reflections.

What Is Beauty?

Life and Letters • 59 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Sexual attraction plays a big role in art and beauty. It has been important in history but seems less central in today's discussions about aesthetics.
  2. Richard Prum's theory explains that beauty in the animal world, like a peacock's tail, comes from sexual selection rather than just survival needs. Animals choose mates based on beauty, which shapes what traits get passed down.
  3. Culture and biology are deeply connected when it comes to beauty and desire. This idea can be seen in literature from ancient times, where beautiful characters are often depicted as more desirable than strong ones.

Dune 3: Planetary Regeneration?

Surfing the Future • 59 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. The Kynes family in 'Dune' is crucial, with Pardot, Liet-Kynes, and Chani playing significant roles in planetary regeneration.
  2. The complex characters and the family business of planetary regeneration add depth and memorability to the 'Dune' story.
  3. Herbert's ecological themes in 'Dune' explore the aim of all life to maintain coordinated patterns of greater diversity, emphasizing the importance of sustaining life.

Phone booths

The Leftovers • 139 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Phone booths in the UK were used for advertising sexual services with flyers, with interesting transformations over time, highlighting cultural shifts.
  2. Superheroes like Superman and British vigilante fantasies have unique associations with phone booths, showcasing creative interpretations of iconic imagery.
  3. The song "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" captures themes of confusion, existential observation, and beauty, resonating with the complexities of life.

The Plays About the End of the World

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 222 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. New plays about AI are popping up everywhere, showing how people respond to new technologies. They don't predict an apocalypse, but they reveal our emotions and reactions.
  2. Theater might seem like a strange place to talk about complicated tech ideas. But these plays manage to make tough topics more relatable and human.
  3. Rather than traditional, boring themes, these plays bring fresh perspectives on current issues with technology that are important to us today. They offer entertaining yet thoughtful reflections on our future.

More Men Made of Miscellaneous Materials

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 661 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Different types of argument representations exist, like straw man, steel man, and gold man, each serving unique purposes in discussions.
  2. Beyond the classic argument representations, there are variations such as glass man, diamond man, and pyrite man, each with distinct characteristics and impacts.
  3. Some argument representations, like lead man, uranium man, and wax man, may have negative effects on discussions by either polluting the debate or ascribing malicious intent to the opponent.

Elysian gatherings around the world

The Novelleist • 271 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. There will be informal gatherings called Elysian picnics in different cities like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and San Francisco. They're open to anyone who wants to join.
  2. These picnics are a chance to meet new people and talk about interesting topics, especially literature and community improvement.
  3. If many people show interest, the event will be held in a larger space; if not, it may be canceled. It's about bringing people together in fun, public spaces.

Would I do it tomorrow?

Austin Kleon • 859 implied HN points • 29 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Independent Bookstore Day is a great occasion to support local bookstores. It's also a chance to enjoy special events and new releases.
  2. A good question to ask before accepting invitations is, 'Would I do it tomorrow?' It helps you decide if the opportunity is worth your time.
  3. Exploring creative work and art discussions, like the new film about Brian Eno, can inspire and deepen your understanding of art and its impact.

Welcome to Your Doomsday Cabin, a Weekend Paracosmic Getaway

OK Doomer • 106 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Paracosm is a creative way to escape reality by imagining your own vivid world. It's a safe space that helps to relieve stress and process emotions.
  2. While thinking in a paracosmic way can be helpful, too much of it can lead to problems. It's good to stay grounded and recognize the difference between fantasy and reality.
  3. Engaging in activities like prepping or gardening can be part of paracosmic thinking. They help us think critically and improve our mindset, even if they don't fully save us.

The Germanic Thunderweapon Part I: Mjollnir’s True Power

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 119 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Literature
  1. Mjollnir from Norse mythology might not be as heavy as commonly believed, and doesn't require a strength-girdle to wield.
  2. There is no requirement of worthiness to lift Mjollnir, and it can be used by characters other than Thor.
  3. Iron gloves are mentioned in only one story, hinting they might not be necessary for using Mjollnir, despite Snorri's assertion.

Lake Wakatipu

Cosmographia • 199 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🏝 Travel Literature
  1. The post is about Lake Wakatipu and is part of the Atlas' Notebook series focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography.
  2. To access the full content of the post, one needs to be a paid subscriber to Cosmographia.
  3. The post includes images but requires payment for full access.

Five Books on China

The Library of Alexandria Ultima • 28 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. China's rapid economic growth is shaped by strong government support for industries, which contrasts with the U.S. approach to free trade. Learning from China's industrial policy could be important for America's future.
  2. Literature can provide a deep insight into China's past and present, highlighting how individual stories reflect broader historical trends and challenges faced by the country.
  3. Understanding China's history helps explain its current policies and attitudes, especially concerning foreign influence and internal stability, as shown through key events like the Taiping Rebellion.

There And Back Again

Soaring Twenties • 92 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. There are two different realities that people can experience, but they don't overlap and you feel different in each one. It takes time to appreciate how these realities affect your mind and feelings.
  2. In Finland, silence is very calming and the way people interact often doesn't involve much talking. It's a culture where personal space matters a lot and actions can speak louder than words.
  3. Nature in Finland is rich and vibrant, especially in spring and summer. It has a unique beauty that evokes strong emotions and memories for those who have lived there.

Links for June

By Reason Alone • 110 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. It's important to understand how trade agreements really work because they involve many details beyond just tariffs. Knowing the ins and outs can help you talk smarter about trade.
  2. Dublin's water infrastructure has been poorly managed for decades, with no new sources being built since 1940. This shows a serious need for investment and improvement.
  3. Exercise can help you feel more connected to your body and improve your mental health. Many people overlook the importance of physical activity and its positive effects on life.

sunday memepool two

bad cattitude • 83 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Solutions for today's problems are out there. It's all about finding the right ones.
  2. Being clear and direct can resolve many issues. Speak softly but be firm when necessary.
  3. Humor and memes can lighten heavy topics. They help people connect and think differently.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Castalia • 179 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is more about the human cost of espionage than the spy work itself. It shows how pressure and ambition can wear people down and impact their lives.
  2. The series emphasizes the theme of waste, highlighting how many characters dedicate their lives to ideals without any reward. Their struggles often lead to feelings of emptiness and loss.
  3. While George Smiley and others navigate a morally gray world, the show suggests that maintaining one's dignity and doing your best work can be meaningful, even if the larger system feels corrupt.

Hormesis

Becoming Noble • 179 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. In order for a civilization to thrive, there must be a strong connection between the environment, the people, and the individual, leading to the creation of exceptional individuals who can shape the culture and environment.
  2. Living in a harsh environment can breed strength, discipline, and resilience, as seen in the example of the Avar people who thrived in the challenging Caucasus mountains.
  3. The Avars, through their culture and upbringing, developed a community of warriors who could endure suffering and hardship, using their pain as a tool for personal growth and societal strength.

Unboxing videos, cover quotes, acknowledgement pages

The Leftovers • 179 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Literature
  1. Unboxing videos, cover quotes, and acknowledgment pages in the Anglophone scene are criticized in the post for being disliked authorial rituals.
  2. The author started the day with reflection and writing, but an encounter with an unboxing video led to an angry rant about aspects of the contemporary literary scene.
  3. Subscribers need a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives on The Leftovers.