Show 70 - Twilight of the Aesir II

In The Silk Roads, historian Peter Frankopan identifies Central and Western Asia as the crossroads of human civilization, the birthplace of the world’s major religions, the battleground where the great empires of history rose and fell, and the garden from which today’s global economy first sprouted. He argues that understanding the East is crucial to our understanding of the world—particularly for Westerners who have lost this global perspective.

In ancient times, trade routes known as the Silk Roads first brought European merchants to the luxury markets of the East, enabling the flow of both material goods and ideas from East to West. According to Frankopan, the Silk Roads have always been history’s crucial connection point, spreading not just luxury goods like silk and spices, but also technology, religion, languages, cultures, ideologies, and even conflicts and diseases. In this guide, we explore Frankopan’s history of the Silk Roads, while also incorporating insights and feedback from other scholars to supplement his analysis.

Join the hosts of the 'Last Podcast On The Left'—Marcus Parks, Ben Kissel, and Henry Zebrowski—as they dig deep into the nuts and bolts of historical storytelling with guest Dan Carlin from the acclaimed "Hardcore History" series. This episode peels back the layers on the art and complexity of narrating the past: from the necessity of context for comprehension to the craft of creating enthralling historical narratives with philosophical depth. Carlin shares his intricate process for evaluating the reliability of sources and intertwines this discussion with his personal experiences, including his initial reservations about podcasting and his transformation into a pioneering figure in digital history-telling.

The conversation doesn't shy away from speculative and lighter topics, either. Dan, alongside the show's notable personalities, indulges listeners in 'what-if' scenarios about figures such as Rasputin, interjects humor into the serious business of history, and even ventures into cosmic speculation about extraterrestrial life. In a tribute to Carlin's commitment to his craft, the episode wraps up by guiding listeners on how to delve even deeper into the "Hardcore History" archives, integrating support for sustaining passionate content creation. The pairing of the Last Podcast Network’s irreverent charm and Carlin’s expertise promises a fascinating blend of insight, education, and entertainment.

Dive into the depths of our planet with "Stuff You Should Know" hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant as they skillfully unearth the history and significance of plate tectonics. From the foundational myths of figures like Helena Blavatsky to the groundbreaking scientific contributions of Alfred Wegener, they explore the tumultuous journey toward accepting the theory that profoundly changed our understanding of Earth's dynamic crust. This episode not only charts the early conception of continental drift but also pays homage to the indomitable curiosity that propels scientific discovery.

The conversation ventures into the present-day mechanics of tectonic movements, detailing the monumental role they play in sustaining Earth's habitability. The duo elucidates how shifting plates shape our landscapes, influence global climates, and even craft cultural narratives, including our storytelling and speculative future geological formations like 'Pangea Proxima.' The hosts' engaging narrative transcends geological discussion, unexpectedly delving into the realm of pet nutrition and the credibility of veterinary expertise, further demonstrating their commitment to addressing listener curiosities and fostering an invaluable educational experience.

Join the hosts of the 'Last Podcast On The Left'—Marcus Parks, Ben Kissel, and Henry Zebrowski—as they dig deep into the nuts and bolts of historical storytelling with guest Dan Carlin from the acclaimed "Hardcore History" series. This episode peels back the layers on the art and complexity of narrating the past: from the necessity of context for comprehension to the craft of creating enthralling historical narratives with philosophical depth. Carlin shares his intricate process for evaluating the reliability of sources and intertwines this discussion with his personal experiences, including his initial reservations about podcasting and his transformation into a pioneering figure in digital history-telling.

The conversation doesn't shy away from speculative and lighter topics, either. Dan, alongside the show's notable personalities, indulges listeners in 'what-if' scenarios about figures such as Rasputin, interjects humor into the serious business of history, and even ventures into cosmic speculation about extraterrestrial life. In a tribute to Carlin's commitment to his craft, the episode wraps up by guiding listeners on how to delve even deeper into the "Hardcore History" archives, integrating support for sustaining passionate content creation. The pairing of the Last Podcast Network’s irreverent charm and Carlin’s expertise promises a fascinating blend of insight, education, and entertainment.

Around 1.5 billion people around the world speak English—roughly 20 percent of the human population. How has our language achieved this global status? How did English evolve over time into the language we speak and write today? What are its unique quirks, strengths, and shortcomings that set it apart from the world’s other languages? The Mother Tongue takes us on a journey through the history of the English language, exploring its richness and variety, and pointing the way toward what the future might have in store for it.

In a compelling installment of the Shawn Ryan Show, former Navy SEAL and Army Ranger, John Lovell, joins host Shawn Ryan and fellow guest Chris Beck for an in-depth conversation that delves into the profound societal influences impacting America. The discussion spans a vast array of topics, from the inherent morality of warfare through a Christian lens to the roles of gender in modern society, offering listeners an intriguing blend of personal philosophy and social commentary that challenges conventional thinking.

As the dialogue unfolds, Lovell illustrates his skepticism towards the state's intervention in education, critiques the strained foundations of conventional American values, and addresses critical issues such as fatherlessness and its societal repercussions. The trio also navigates the turbulent waters of content creation, the unseen battles with social media platforms, and technology's double-edged nature. Balancing these weighty subjects, Shawn Ryan introduces the lighter side of life after service with a nuanced discussion on pursuing a simpler lifestyle, including the rising interest in natural health alternatives like functional mushroom supplements, and the growth of Lovell's Warrior Poet Society, signaling a shift towards community-centric values and self-reliance.

In The Silk Roads, historian Peter Frankopan identifies Central and Western Asia as the crossroads of human civilization, the birthplace of the world’s major religions, the battleground where the great empires of history rose and fell, and the garden from which today’s global economy first sprouted. He argues that understanding the East is crucial to our understanding of the world—particularly for Westerners who have lost this global perspective.

In ancient times, trade routes known as the Silk Roads first brought European merchants to the luxury markets of the East, enabling the flow of both material goods and ideas from East to West. According to Frankopan, the Silk Roads have always been history’s crucial connection point, spreading not just luxury goods like silk and spices, but also technology, religion, languages, cultures, ideologies, and even conflicts and diseases. In this guide, we explore Frankopan’s history of the Silk Roads, while also incorporating insights and feedback from other scholars to supplement his analysis.

In The God Delusion, University of Oxford biologist and anti-religion activist Richard Dawkins seeks to demystify religion and discredit faith. He explores the unlikelihood of God’s existence; how evolution by natural selection explains the centrality of religion to the human experience; and how religion promotes immoral values, impoverishes the human mind, and provides justification for intolerance and persecution. He argues that ultimately, we as humans must free ourselves from our self-imposed shackles by destroying faith and religion and positively embracing the full potential of our species.

Why does inequality exist and when did it start? Is inequality a necessary evil of any large, complex society? In The Dawn of Everything, anthropologist David Graeber and archaeologist David Wengrow attempted to answer these questions by looking at historical and anthropological research. What they discovered instead is that our beliefs about the evolution of human societies have been wrong all along.

Throughout humanity’s long history, cultures have always been much more diverse than we tend to believe, and the presumed evolution of societies from “primitive” to “civilized” is a myth. Armed with this new worldview, the authors challenge us to use our imaginations to envision new possibilities for our world today.

In this guide, we’ll explore different notions of freedom and equality, and we’ll delve into the authors’ thought-provoking questions about the inevitability of inequality and the potential for dismantling and reorganizing social systems. Throughout the guide, we’ll clarify and expand on some of the academic concepts and examine counterpoints by other scholars and authors.

For millennia, humans struggled with three serious problems—famine, plagues, and war—which led to the deaths of millions of people and to the rise and fall of global empires. People coped with these problems and answered life's questions with religion. However, in the modern era, we no longer rely on prayer—we’ve mostly overcome these three problems through the development of technology and medical knowledge.

In Homo Deus, Yuval Noah Harari, a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, envisions a future in which technology replaces humanist ideals and liberal government. Dissecting the concepts of religion, immortality, and technology, Harari argues that the world of the future may be run by advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, not human beings.

The Hero With a Thousand Faces explores the common themes and story elements that define the world’s mythologies—the hero’s journey. Through the cycle of initiation, separation, and return, the hero undergoes great trials and tribulations, experiences death and rebirth, and gains new powers that enable mankind’s ultimate redemption.

Far from being obsolete relics from long-extinguished civilizations, the myths of the ancients have profound lessons for today’s reader. By studying the struggles, transformations, and redemptions of the great heroes, we come closer to discovering the universal truths of the human condition and unlocking the divine potential that lies inside us all.

Do you want to understand books better, and remember more of what you read? Do you want to better understand the author’s goal and be a better critic of what you read?

How to Read a Book is the classic guide to reading effectively. It teaches how to understand the crux of a book within 15 minutes, how to analyze a book intelligently, and how to synthesize multiple books together. If you read a lot of books, then it makes sense to learn how to read better and increase the value of your reading.