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I've just been listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast and it's amazing. I'm listening to Blueprint for Armageddon, which is a 6 part series (3+ hour

by cletus 9y ago

I've just been listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast and it's amazing. I'm listening to Blueprint for Armageddon, which is a 6 part series (3+ hours each!) About the First Works War and it's fascinating and horrifying. He speaks at length about the Battle of Verdun. And it toss house list of places and battles he's never want to be at.

tenaciousDaniel 9y ago
It's the best. I love Dan Carlin.
- prawn 9y ago
  I was a late Carlin convert. For anyone on the fence, give it a shot - his material in Blueprint is rarely over the top, it never feels unduly expanded, etc. He shows it respect, but you can feel his passion for the subject and he makes every detail interesting. I also enjoyed Celtic Holocaust, which is a more approachable length.
  - refurb 9y ago
    I have one of his Blueprint for Armageddon episodes a try and couldn't get through it. Seemed very long winded and too much literary flourish. Maybe I picked a wrong episode or need to give it another try.
    - mstade 9y ago
      He does get long winded at times, but it’s worth sticking with it. There’s a lot of detail in there that is often lost in <hour long documentaries, including a fair bit of comparison to modern times. The first episode, where he discusses the importance of Gavrilo Princip and how his actions depends on the eye of the beholder is particularly enlightening. There are some comparisons to the Kennedy assasination which can feel like a stretch at times, but definitely thought provoking. I think if you come into the series believing you’ll hear a straight up factual recount of events without bias, you’ll be disappointed. It’s more of a discussion (albeit in monologue form) than documentary. That said I find he treads the topic very carefully, trying hard to present the case in different lights – I think this might be why it’s a bit long winded at times. At the same time, this is what gives it color in my opinion. He’s also a very good narrator I feel. I wouldn’t base a history paper off of these episodes, but I’d be comfortable in using them as a starting point for deeper dives.
ansible 9y ago
Related to this, there is a video series called "The Great War" hosted by Indy Neidell, which covers the war on a week-by-week basis: http://www.thegreatwar.tv http://www.thegreatwar.tv
Clubber 9y ago
Seconded. I've listened to the entire series 2 or three times now. I put it on when I go to sleep. His other stuff is good too. He puts out a lot of material.

by cletus 9y ago

tenaciousDaniel 9y ago

It's the best. I love Dan Carlin.

prawn 9y ago
I was a late Carlin convert. For anyone on the fence, give it a shot - his material in Blueprint is rarely over the top, it never feels unduly expanded, etc. He shows it respect, but you can feel his passion for the subject and he makes every detail interesting. I also enjoyed Celtic Holocaust, which is a more approachable length.
- refurb 9y ago
  I have one of his Blueprint for Armageddon episodes a try and couldn't get through it. Seemed very long winded and too much literary flourish. Maybe I picked a wrong episode or need to give it another try.
  - mstade 9y ago
    He does get long winded at times, but it’s worth sticking with it. There’s a lot of detail in there that is often lost in <hour long documentaries, including a fair bit of comparison to modern times. The first episode, where he discusses the importance of Gavrilo Princip and how his actions depends on the eye of the beholder is particularly enlightening. There are some comparisons to the Kennedy assasination which can feel like a stretch at times, but definitely thought provoking. I think if you come into the series believing you’ll hear a straight up factual recount of events without bias, you’ll be disappointed. It’s more of a discussion (albeit in monologue form) than documentary. That said I find he treads the topic very carefully, trying hard to present the case in different lights – I think this might be why it’s a bit long winded at times. At the same time, this is what gives it color in my opinion. He’s also a very good narrator I feel. I wouldn’t base a history paper off of these episodes, but I’d be comfortable in using them as a starting point for deeper dives.

ansible 9y ago

Related to this, there is a video series called "The Great War" hosted by Indy Neidell, which covers the war on a week-by-week basis: http://www.thegreatwar.tv http://www.thegreatwar.tv

Clubber 9y ago

Seconded. I've listened to the entire series 2 or three times now. I put it on when I go to sleep. His other stuff is good too. He puts out a lot of material.