Society & Ideas đź—˝
Why color has drained from our lives
French writer Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry recently posted a stunning statistic on his Substack: "In 1952, 3 cars out of 4 sold were either red, green, or blue. Today, 3 cars out of 4 sold are either white, grey, or black."
Nietzsche against second hand adventures
Knowledge of history can stand in direct conflict with one's agency. One can feel so overwhelmed by everything that's been done - laws passed! oppression ended! tech invented! wars fought! - that one feels there's nothing new to be done. There's nothing more toxic than this idea.
Why does Jordan Peterson think Elon Musk is "John Galt"?
On 21st May 2023, Jordan Peterson reposted a video of Elon Musk with a cryptic remark: "John Galt lives." Unpacking this little comment will shed an important light on our current cultural moment 👇
10 Famous Political Memos - and what they revealed
"The Watergate Memo" (1972) - A memo written by G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt outlining a plan to break into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex, which ultimately led to the Watergate scandal.
A North Korean defector’s view on inequality
Many people and organizations advocate for policies and reforms aimed at reducing inequality. But Yeonmi Park, who escaped North Korea, says inequality is not that bad. In one of her speeches, she says: “Inequality is an amazing thing”.
Why Institutions Are Dying
Introduction. The institutions that aren't dead today are drastically less powerful and ambitious. Nietzsche traced institutional decline to the modern indifference towards the future. Nietzsche on strong institutions and how modernity makes them impossible 👇
A Merchant In Search Of Honor
Introduction. John Ruskin was a Victorian polymath - he studied and wrote about birds, plants, human history, architecture, and politics. In his essay Unto The Last, he discusses why the merchant class isn't respected as much as soldiers - and how they can gain honor 👇
Unabomber v/s The Political Left
Introduction. Ted Kaczynski sent mail bombs to people for 20 years before he was caught. He despised the modern world and its technologies that sedate and enslave us. He wanted humanity to return to nature - and thought that the political left in particular stood in his way 👇
The Quantum Physicist Obsessed With Ancient Indian Philosophy
Introduction. You know about Schrodinger's cat. But do you know about Schrodinger's dog? He named him Atman - a Sanskrit word for our soul. Schrodinger, a Nobel prize winning physicist, was a close reader of ancient Indian philosophy and borrowed from it. Read on 👇
Why People Get Their News From Social Media and Its Risks
Social media allows for independent journalism and the fastest disbursement of information. Whereas there used to be a delay and curation, now users can get information at their fingertips nearly instantaneously in real-time.
Understanding Elon Musk via a 20th century novel...
Is art merely a reflection of life, or is life merely a reflection of art? Don't bother looking for an answer, for the question contains a false dichotomy. Why not both? Ideas, beliefs, and behaviors crisscross from art to life and back. Life and art are in a feedback loop.
Ten Great Books on World History
"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari (2011) Israeli military historian's take on the evolution of human beings from the appearance of Homo sapiens to the present day, discussing various aspects of human history including societies & cultures.
Top 10 Famous Essays in History
"The Federalist Papers" (1787-1788) - A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that argued for the ratification of the United States Constitution.
The Philosophy Of Ayn Rand
Very few people in history wrote 1000+ page books, sold 10 million+ copies, were loved as much as hated, and became more influential after dying. Ayn Rand is one of them. Discover the 3 signs your society is doomed, why loving money is NOBLE, and more insights from Rand👇
Built For Another World
A long running tragedy of life is that our environment changes faster than our instincts. In technical terms this is called an evolutionary mismatch. A species evolves for a certain landscape, weather, predator - then the world changes and all old weapons are useless👇
Six types of status games
Introduction. The phrase status-seeker can only be traced back to 1956, but seeking - and being anxious about - status is as old as humanity. What are the ways in which we chase status? In this Memo, I list 6. Further, I ask: What do we really chase when we chase status?👇
The Unabomber's Three Dystopias
Introduction. Ted Kaczynski, a math genius, hated modern technology so much that he sent mail bombs to computer store owners and airline CEOs. He did this from a mountain hut. FBI nailed him after 20 years. Here are the interesting and disturbing ideas of a truly singular man 👇
8 Surprising Insights About Sex From The "Sex Guru"
Osho was an Indian Philosopher and was also known as the "Sex Guru." He had a large collection of Rolls-Royce cars, eventually numbering 93 vehicles. He said, "If you repress sex, the natural outcome is a perverted human being."
John Galt's Moral Worldview
John Galt is one of the most iconoclastic heroes of 20th century fiction. He's the mysterious protagonist of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. In the final pages of this novel, he gives a speech damning the whole world and its rotten morality. He also suggests an alternative. Dig in:
Top Psychology Theories + Examples
Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Imagine a pyramid of cupcakes: you can't enjoy the frosting without the base. Humans must satisfy basic needs (e.g. food, safety) before going after higher needs (e.g. self-esteem, spiritual growth). If you’re hungry you won’t be meditating
Bestselling Nonfiction Books of the 20th Century
The 20th century: era of the print bestseller, before the internet and technology changed reading habits for good. The average person read more than today, and read non-fiction - including a lot of self-help and motivation. 12 books that were massive in the 20th century:
India’s caste system: banned but still very much alive
The caste system is a form of social hierarchy that is unique to India and has existed for more than 3000 years. It has been banned in India since Independence but still exists in Indian society. Let’s understand the caste system and its current application.
Meta-verse: A reality or a reality?
Origin: When coupled with an English noun, the Greek word meta, which means "beyond," suggests alteration or change. A parallel universe that doesn't exist in the real world would be what it would mean if the word "verse" was added.
The Philosopher Terrorist
Introduction. Ted Kaczynski is an odd terrorist. His measured IQ is 167, he was admitted into Harvard at the age of 15, and became the youngest ever math prof at UC Berkeley at 25. The manifesto attacks modern civilization like nothing else before or since. 14 best insights 👇
Rediscovering Austin O'Malley: One of 20th Century's Best Aphorists
Introduction. An eye surgeon and university professor who was infamously poisoned with arsenic by his own wife, Austin O'Malley(1858-1932) today is best known for his timeless book of aphorisms. In this Memo, discover his insights on romance, how to measure our life, and more👇