Sublime
An inspiration engine for ideas
An agrarian surplus sustained urban elites and their elaborate high culture. In the towns, an artisan class of legendary skill had sprung up to cater for these elites’ material demands.
John Darwin • After Tamerlane: The Rise and Fall of Global Empires, 1400-2000
In 1997, historian David Banks argued in “The Problem of Excess Genius” that, “The most important question we can ask of historians is ‘Why are some periods and places so astonishingly more productive than the rest?’"
Packy McCormick • Conjuring Scenius — Packy McCormick
Hypothesis 1: The "golden age" hypothesisThe "golden age" hypothesis says there are one or more "golden ages" from the past that were superior at producing innovation compared to today. Perhaps understanding and restoring what worked about those "golden ages" would lead to an explosion in creativity today.
Holden Karnofsky • Where's Today's Beethoven?
In 1820, if you wanted to discover a new idea, you’d probably sail to a new continent
Anthony Pompliano • Writing for Leverage, Teenage Billionaires, The Problem with Mainstream Media, and More - David Perell on Off the Chain, Hosted By Anthony Pompliano • Podcast Notes
Historical Inflection Points
Colossus • Universal Music Group: The Gatekeepers of Music
Are we overproducing elites and instability? - Niskanen Center
niskanencenter.orgdoes not account for exponentially growing historic processes of human development and economic expansion over time,
Luis M. A. Bettencourt • Introduction to Urban Science: Evidence and Theory of Cities as Complex Systems
Certain features of the modern academic system, like underpaid PhDs, interminably long postdocs, endless grant-writing drudgery, and clueless funders have lowered productivity. The 1930s academic system was indeed 25x more effective at getting researchers to actually do good research.
Scott Alexander (slatestarcodex) • Is Science Slowing Down?
“The economic returns to being in cities are increasing” – David Perell