this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026

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Makan@lemmygrad.ml

The bastardization of literature in the 21st Century should be studied for years to come. (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 week ago by Saymaz@lemmygrad.ml to c/books@lemmygrad.ml

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This is what 'bestseller lists' have done to reading.

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[–] sovietsnake@lemmygrad.ml 32 points 1 week ago (2 children)

wtf is wisdom per page, fucking shit

[–] Saymaz@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 1 week ago

Chat shit.

[–] muad_dibber@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Charlie from its always sunny: "It's simple, I just count how much wisdom is on each page."

[–] TankieReplyBot@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 1 week ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

[–] DefectingToDPRK@lemmygrad.ml 26 points 1 week ago

Holy shit, the fact that Zero to One is on this is CRAZY. I actually unwittingly read that book after finishing high school, when I foolishly believed American tech was blazing a progressive path forward for society.

That book is a techno-fascist manifesto. In it, Thiel flat out says society should be ran by tech CEOs acting as kings. He lays the groundwork for what Silicon Valley has been trying to do recently with Próspera in Honduras, the Trump plan for Gaza, and there's been murmurings of a similar idea being pushed for Greenland.

With his involvement in Palantir (among other things) I think there's a real argument for this being comparable to a Mein Kampf.

[–] ghost_of_faso3@lemmygrad.ml 20 points 1 week ago

I just ran das kapital thru the wisdom density algo, it came out above 200%

[–] Kultronx@lemmygrad.ml 15 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Sapiens was one of the most annoying and vapid books I've ever read

[–] invent_the_future@lemmygrad.ml 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

All the 'A brief history of' books are stupid, starting with their concept

[–] Kultronx@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

mmm I did enjoy 'a short history of nearly everything' by bill bryson, i found its scientific info tying geology to our understanding of modern science rather interesting, without going into the harari's zionist pro tyranny bs in the other book.

[–] Mantiddies@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The worst thing is he milked that series. He has so many spin offs, and he even made an illustrated version of it.

[–] Saymaz@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 1 week ago

They will be teaching this shit in school instead of actual peer reviewed studies!? 💀

[–] REEEEvolution@lemmygrad.ml 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

How tf do you quantify wisdom?

[–] MasterDeeLuke@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 1 week ago

[–] Mantiddies@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

as someone who studied archaeology just be aware that sapiens is extremely sensationalist

[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Iirc sapiens is like a pitiful attempt at rediscovering historical materialism, anyways ill never bother reading it since its written by an israeli

[–] bobs_guns@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 1 week ago

That there are no impenetrable bastards of books on here is a crime. Where is Ulysses. Where is Phenomenology of Spirit.

[+] KoloradoKoolAid75@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

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[–] ghost_of_faso3@lemmygrad.ml 15 points 1 week ago

shitlib reading list

[–] Mantiddies@lemmygrad.ml 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Hi there I studied archaeology and have read half of the book and critically reviewed it in a class. basically in the book he is trying to give a brief history of the earliest stages of humanity. His takes are very liberal, sensationalist and it doesn't take he history of other parts of the world into account. He also tends to mix chronologies up a little, like its not written in a linear order which just further helps to confuse the reader. Also for people who study history, archaeology or anthropology it feels a bit hollow.

[+] KoloradoKoolAid75@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

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[–] Mantiddies@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh, my bad I have read your question wrong.

As for your question regarding the book by Jared Diamond “Guns, Germs, and Steel” I have not yet read it (Maybe I should). Jared Diamond was very briefly covered in my “human evolution minor” though so not sure if that helps but it should signal to you that he is definitely talked about in those circles.

I have met Rutger Bregman though, the author of another book that covers similar things. He had a presentation/talk with the EU greens. So, he is more so libbed up though he at least admits that he writes in a very sensationalist way.

Sadly, the professor that taught the lectures about reviewing and criticising certain historical/archaeological media has passed away in 2023, and with this I believe our faculty has lost the ability/channel to think critically about issues like that.

[–] ProudCascadian@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 1 week ago

In this case, when one finds, such a book, it is fertile soil for criticism.