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Tranquilizers and the Age of Anxiety: Capitalism's Drug Problem

2025-09-21

Tranquilizers and the Age of Anxiety: Capitalism's Drug Problem

This article explores the intricate relationship between drug consumption and modern capitalism. Through personal experience and historical review, the author traces the evolution of anti-anxiety medications, from Miltown in the 1950s to Klonopin today. These drugs, the author argues, are not simply treatments for anxiety, but also products of a capitalist society that generates widespread stress and precarity. The article posits that the pressures, instability, and uncertainty of modern life lead to pervasive anxiety and trauma, with drugs serving as a coping mechanism. The author's personal journey illustrates this, prompting reflection on the complex interplay between drug use and societal structures.

(lithub.com)

Misc History of Drugs Anxiety

Small Town Baseball: A Fight for the American Soul

2025-08-28

Small Town Baseball: A Fight for the American Soul

Journalist Will Bardenwerper's new book, *Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America*, explores the consequences of Major League Baseball cutting 40 affiliated minor league teams—each costing roughly the equivalent of a single major leaguer's salary. Following the Batavia Muckdogs in New York, Bardenwerper highlights how affordable and accessible minor league baseball fosters community in working-class towns. He celebrates the resilience of the Muckdogs' fans and owners who revived the team after its initial elimination. The book emphasizes the unique intimacy and affordability of minor league games, fostering strong community bonds and intergenerational connections rarely seen elsewhere in modern American life. Bardenwerper argues that the cuts represent a loss of vital community values.

(lithub.com)

Misc Minor League Baseball American Culture

Rope: From Mocha Dick to Industrial Production

2025-08-17

Rope: From Mocha Dick to Industrial Production

This article explores the crucial role of rope in maritime history, particularly in whaling, and its evolution towards industrial production. Starting with Jeremiah Reynolds' 1839 account of the legendary white whale "Mocha Dick", it highlights the immense demand for rope in the whaling industry. The article details the 18th-century revolution in rope-making technology, including the invention of the register plate and forming tube, the rise and development of ropewalks, and concludes by emphasizing rope's importance as "naval stores" and its indispensable role in seafaring and shipbuilding.

(lithub.com)

Misc rope

AI Writing Assistant: The Future of College Writing Classes?

2025-08-05

AI Writing Assistant: The Future of College Writing Classes?

A college English professor conducted an experiment in their classroom, allowing students to freely choose whether to use AI to assist with their writing. The results showed that while students widely used AI for brainstorming and editing, they appreciated the depth and originality of human writing more. The experiment also revealed the limitations of AI writing, such as its lack of personality and creativity, and its tendency to produce similar results. Ultimately, students voted to affirm the continued need for human instructors, but held an open attitude toward the role of AI in the writing process. This raises profound questions about the role of AI in higher education and whether AI can replace teachers.

(lithub.com)

Education

The Lawyer Who Unmasked the Ethanol Myth: A Story of Food, Farming, and Climate Change

2025-07-28

The Lawyer Who Unmasked the Ethanol Myth: A Story of Food, Farming, and Climate Change

In 2003, lawyer Tim Searchinger found flaws in a report claiming corn ethanol reduced greenhouse gas emissions. His deeper investigation revealed the report underestimated the climate costs of using grain for fuel, neglecting the land-use changes needed to replace lost food production. Although climate change wasn't a major issue then, Searchinger's skepticism led him to delve into the complex interplay of agriculture, land use, and climate change, ultimately exposing the significant environmental impact of biofuels and paving the way for solutions to global food and climate problems.

(lithub.com)

Tech land use

Musil's Plays: A Tension Between Utopia and Reality

2025-05-22

Musil's Plays: A Tension Between Utopia and Reality

This article examines Robert Musil's two plays, *The Utopians* (1921) and *Vinzenz and the Mistress of Important Men* (1923), written during a period of intense engagement with theater. These works reflect Musil's dissatisfaction with contemporary theater and his exploration of utopian ideals. His utopias are not fixed systems but rather a resistance to rigid conventions and a pursuit of creative openness, mirroring themes in his unfinished novel, *The Man Without Qualities*. The characters' struggles symbolize the loneliness and uncertainty of the individual within a world of limitless possibilities, reflecting Musil's profound reflections on art's social role.

(lithub.com)

Misc Musil

US Professors Condemn ICE Abductions of Foreign Students

2025-04-06

US Professors Condemn ICE Abductions of Foreign Students

Professors at multiple US universities released a joint statement condemning the illegal arrests of foreign students and faculty by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They describe the arrests as “abductions by ICE cowards” and highlight the silencing of dissent under the current administration. The statement calls for academic resistance against this culture of silence and a fundamental change to the university system that allows such actions.

(lithub.com)

Misc Academic Freedom Political Persecution

The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Narrative Journalism: The This American Life Story

2025-04-05

The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Narrative Journalism: The This American Life Story

This American Life (TAL) revolutionized news reporting with its narrative style, using compelling storytelling to engage listeners and win a Pulitzer Prize. Its success hinged on transforming complex social issues into gripping human stories, exemplified by "The Out Crowd," its report on asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border. However, the Mike Daisey scandal tarnished TAL's reputation, exposing fabricated elements in a popular episode and sparking criticism of narrative journalism. Despite this, TAL persevered, adopting stricter fact-checking measures and reaffirming its commitment to narrative storytelling.

(lithub.com)

Misc narrative journalism

Pink: A Surprising History of a Color

2025-03-14

Pink: A Surprising History of a Color

This book explores the surprising history of pink, tracing its evolution from an 18th-century aristocratic favorite to its association with femininity and eventual decline into a color considered dowdy and bourgeois. Using the 'Pink Prince' as a starting point, the narrative reveals how pink's meaning shifted across different periods, reflecting societal norms and cultural changes in fashion, cosmetics, and beyond.

(lithub.com)

Misc color history social culture

Anticipatory Obedience: A Warning from the Rise of Nazism

2025-02-12

Anticipatory Obedience: A Warning from the Rise of Nazism

Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" highlights that the success of Nazism wasn't solely due to force, but also to citizens' "anticipatory obedience." People proactively adapted to the new regime, acting even without explicit orders. The annexation of Austria showed how this compliance emboldened the Nazis, leading to the Jewish tragedy. The Milgram experiment corroborated this, demonstrating people's surprising willingness to obey authority, even when it meant harming others. This warns us that blind obedience to authority can have catastrophic consequences, underscoring the importance of upholding one's values.

(lithub.com)

Misc political philosophy nazism obedience

Science Confirms: Libraries Make Life Better

2025-01-29

Science Confirms: Libraries Make Life Better

A New York Public Library study reveals the positive impact of libraries on people's well-being and community development, especially in lower-income areas. Over 90% of respondents reported that using the library enhanced their love of learning, personal growth, and ability to cope with life's challenges. Libraries offer more than just books; they provide calm spaces, a sense of community, and an optimistic outlook, serving as an antidote to negativity.

(lithub.com)

Misc libraries well-being community development

Meta's AI Trained on Pirated Books: A Copyright Catastrophe

2025-01-21

Meta's AI Trained on Pirated Books: A Copyright Catastrophe

Meta is embroiled in a major copyright lawsuit after court documents revealed its AI was trained using a massive database of pirated books. Internal communications expose Meta employees admitting to using the notorious piracy site LibGen, even uploading pirated files to torrent networks. While Meta claims fair use, the blatant disregard for copyright and ethical sourcing raises serious concerns. This scandal highlights the ethical blind spots of tech giants prioritizing progress over intellectual property rights, sending shockwaves through the AI industry and beyond.

(lithub.com)

Tech

Roman Coins: A Human Story Forged in Metal

2025-01-19

Roman Coins: A Human Story Forged in Metal

This article delves into the fascinating history of Roman coins, revealing not just economic history but also a compelling social narrative. From the Gallic sack of Rome in 390 BC to the establishment of the Temple of Juno Moneta (later the Roman mint), the author traces the coin-making process, highlighting the lives and labor of miners, artisans, and other societal groups. Each hand-crafted coin, a testament to human sweat and ingenuity, bears witness to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, providing invaluable insight into the social dynamics of the era.

(lithub.com)

History Ancient Rome Coins

2024's Most Scathing Book Reviews: Literary Heavyweights Face the Critics

2024-12-22

2024's Most Scathing Book Reviews: Literary Heavyweights Face the Critics

The most brutal book reviews of 2024 are in, and even literary giants didn't escape unscathed. From Melania Trump's clichéd memoir to Haruki Murakami's disappointing magical realism, Lionel Shriver's clumsy satire, and Malcolm Gladwell's hollow brand extension, critics delivered scathing critiques. The reviews dissected the shortcomings of these works, pointing out bland writing, shallow character development, and tired plots, offering readers a thought-provoking glimpse into the literary landscape.

(lithub.com)

Misc book reviews literature criticism

Confronting Shipwreck: Maritime Disasters and Ecological Collapse in Literature

2024-12-19

Confronting Shipwreck: Maritime Disasters and Ecological Collapse in Literature

A nature writer battling a debilitating genetic kidney disease finds solace and healing in reading about maritime disasters amidst the backdrop of ecological collapse. The article lists ten books exploring shipwrecks and environmental devastation, ranging from Melville's *Moby-Dick* to Grann's *The Wager*. These narratives not only depict the harrowing events but also delve into humanity's relationship with nature, resilience, and the spectrum of human behavior during crisis. The author advocates for confronting adversity head-on and drawing strength from the experience as a vital step in overcoming personal and ecological challenges.

(lithub.com)

Misc maritime literature ecological collapse healing