5 ms·
If you want to learn about the various types of people and how they relate to the world around them, study the French Revolution (in depth, not just a snippet).
by coldcode 6y ago
If you want to learn about the various types of people and how they relate to the world around them, study the French Revolution (in depth, not just a snippet). You will find every kind of person (in much more complex combinations than presented here), and how they participate/change/destroy/terrorize/etc. People today are no different we just have more technology.
- stopachka 6y agoAny books you’d recommend?
- wcarey 6y agoBurke's Reflections on the Revolution in France is a great read. I wonder which quadrant Graham would put Burke in?
- zozbot234 6y agoThe French Revolution, A History by Thomas Carlyle. It is a truly massive undertaking, an 'in depth' account if there ever was one; and Carlyle's focus on the 'various types' of people involved is quite clear.
- martythemaniak 6y agoMike Duncan's Revolutions podcast, season 3. Probably about 30-40hrs of content (a lot of history happened!) and I find his content is a real good for first-timers.
- coldcode 6y agoA New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution by Popkin was very good.
- gstomi 6y agoI am mildly interested in history but never really looked into the French Revolution. Can you suggest a starting point?
- seneca 6y agoAbsolutely. Really, look at major events in history period. The fall of the Roman republic should be a regular topic of study in every western school. Understanding history is the greatest tool there is to understand people and the patterns we find ourselves in.
- rurp 6y agoI'll strongly second the recommendation to read about the Roman republic for anyone interested in history. The number of parallels to modern America are striking.
- baron_harkonnen 6y agoIt's pretty clear from PG's writing that he doesn't do a lot of reading.
- erichocean 6y agoIt's literally a meme where <startup founder> announces on Twitter their excited discovery of <banal thing that everyone else already knows>.
- solmans 6y agoFunny how most people in this thread consider themselves aggressively independent minded, but when the silicon valley prophet releases his monthly creative writing piece disguised as a scientific discovery they defend and praise it tooth and nail.
- dang 6y agoYou could not be more wrong. pg reads more, and more widely, than almost anyone I've met. And I've met a lot of well-read people. It eternally boggles my mind how people jump to completely false conclusions like this.
- CoolGuySteve 6y agoHe reads everything except hacker news comment sections, I'm guessing.