Want to dive into Scott Alexander's work and his thousands of blog posts? This fan website lets you sort and do semantic search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

See also Top Posts and All Tags.

Minutes:
Pick a custom range (minutes). Leave a field empty for no limit.
Blog:
Year:
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Tags:
Filter by tag...
Exclude tag...
5252 tags
Links:
Filter by linked site (twitter, substack…)
11 posts found
Compact Mode
Save Reads
Jan 21, 2026
acx
Read on
59 min 9,104 words 824 comments 302 likes podcast (51 min)
Scott responds to comments on his Scott Adams obituary, defending his mixed tone while making some updates based on feedback about Adams' podcast reach and influence. Longer summary
Scott Alexander responds to comments on his Scott Adams obituary, addressing criticisms about the post's timing and tone, defending his characterization of Adams' interest in manipulation, discussing the reach of Adams' podcast, and (reluctantly) clarifying his position on Adams' controversial race-related comments. The post includes updates acknowledging that Adams' podcast was more influential than initially stated and that his manipulation techniques coexisted with genuine helpfulness to many people. Shorter summary
Jan 02, 2025
acx
Read on
23 min 3,504 words 672 comments 379 likes podcast (21 min)
Scott examines a prediction about eternal wealth inequality after the Singularity, analyzing potential counterarguments, prevention strategies, and ways to prepare for such a future. Longer summary
Scott analyzes a prediction that post-Singularity society will have eternal stagnant wealth inequality, with pre-Singularity capital determining wealth forever. He explores three angles: why this prediction might fail (eight counterarguments including AI killing humans, government intervention, and space colonization), how to prevent it (mainly through corporate structures like early OpenAI that limit investor returns), and how to maximize one's chances of being in the wealthy class (mostly concluding that traditional wealth-building advice applies). The discussion includes OpenAI's recent structural changes and their implications for wealth distribution post-Singularity. Shorter summary
May 10, 2022
acx
Read on
52 min 8,006 words 600 comments 178 likes podcast (54 min)
Scott Alexander reviews 'The Gervais Principle', a book offering insights into organizational dynamics through a classification of three personality types, finding it thought-provoking but not entirely convincing. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews 'The Gervais Principle' by Venkatesh Rao, a book that claims to offer insights into organizational dynamics and human behavior through a classification system of three types: Sociopaths, Losers, and Clueless. The book combines elements of psychoanalysis, developmental psychology, and status economics to explain workplace dynamics and personal development. Scott finds the typology interesting but not entirely convincing, appreciating the book's ability to provoke thought and provide a framework for understanding organizational behavior, while questioning its universal applicability and some of its core claims. Shorter summary
Jan 29, 2019
ssc
Read on
17 min 2,584 words 542 comments
A diverse collection of news items and interesting links covering science, technology, politics, and culture, with brief commentary on each. Longer summary
This post is a collection of interesting links and news items from various fields. It covers topics such as animal behavior, space exploration, technology, politics, environmental issues, and scientific research. The post includes brief summaries or commentary on each item, often with a touch of humor or personal reflection. Some notable items include the story of the Soviet space shuttle Buran, a new California law on pet shops, developments in AI and cryptocurrency, and concerns about insect population decline. The post also touches on social issues like racial approval ratings for Trump and the controversial Gillette commercial. Shorter summary
Dec 19, 2018
ssc
Read on
5 min 759 words 286 comments podcast (7 min)
Scott Alexander proposes viewing culture as a fourth branch of government to highlight its importance in societal function and governance. Longer summary
Scott Alexander proposes a thought experiment where culture is considered the fourth branch of government alongside executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This 'refactoring' of how we view culture helps to understand its importance in societal function and governance. He illustrates this concept through examples such as nation-building efforts in Iraq, the governance of hunter-gatherer societies, and debates about censorship and immigration. The post suggests that this perspective could clarify discussions about libertarianism, free speech, and the role of cultural norms in society. While acknowledging the idea is hypothetical, Scott argues it serves as a useful counter to overlooking the significance of culture in governance and social structures. Shorter summary
Jul 19, 2018
ssc
Read on
6 min 822 words 51 comments
Scott Alexander showcases and advocates for 'sentimental cartography', the art of creating geographic-style maps for non-geographic concepts, presenting various modern examples and lamenting its relative obscurity. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the art of 'sentimental cartography', which involves creating geographic-style maps of non-geographic concepts. He presents several examples of modern sentimental cartography, including his own map of the rationalist community, James Turner's Map of Humanity and Map of Love, the Atlas of Experience, Martin Vargic's maps of the Internet and Literature, and maps based on song titles and films. Scott expresses frustration at the difficulty of finding these works and the lack of a proper name for this art form. He advocates for a revival of this Renaissance-era practice, which he finds valuable and underappreciated. Shorter summary
Aug 31, 2017
ssc
Read on
14 min 2,162 words 243 comments
A collection of interesting links covering science, technology, culture, and economics, including updates on DNA malware, AI gaming, prison censorship, and various scientific studies. Longer summary
This is a link roundup post covering various interesting news and studies. Topics include DNA-encoded malware, AI in gaming, prison book bans, studies on therapy effectiveness, global inequality trends, and various scientific and cultural curiosities. The post follows Scott's typical link roundup format, providing brief commentary and context for each item, often with a mix of serious analysis and humorous observations. He covers both academic research and popular culture, maintaining his characteristic balance of intellectual rigor and accessibility. Shorter summary
Dec 23, 2016
ssc
Read on
15 min 2,219 words 585 comments
A collection of interesting links covering various topics from Judaism and science to media bias and hate crime hoaxes, with Scott's commentary on each story. Longer summary
This is one of Scott's regular link posts, where he shares interesting articles and studies he's found with brief commentary on each. The links cover a wide range of topics including religious practices, scientific research, healthcare policy, media bias, and social issues. Among the notable items are studies on early school starting age and crime rates, fake hate crime reports after Trump's election, and research on gender differences in medical care. The tone is analytical and sometimes skeptical, with Scott often providing additional context or pointing out methodological issues. Shorter summary
Dec 06, 2016
ssc
Read on
13 min 1,974 words 837 comments
A links post featuring various news and articles about politics, science, and culture, with Scott's commentary on research papers and current events. Longer summary
This is a links post compiling various interesting news and articles from around the web. Topics range from climate change and politics to scientific studies and charitable giving. Scott comments on several research papers, including ones about non-citizen voting and healthcare in Cuba. The post also includes interesting side notes about geography, prison marriages, and literary references. Many of the links are accompanied by Scott's brief commentary or witty observations. Shorter summary
Oct 29, 2015
ssc
Read on
20 min 2,965 words 639 comments
A collection of interesting links covering science, education, politics and culture, with Scott Alexander's commentary and analysis on each. Longer summary
This is a links post collecting various interesting articles and studies. Notable topics include: an IQ study predicting US gains, a social site called Omnilibrium trying to improve filtering, FDA allowing 23andMe genetic tests at higher prices, evidence about pre-K education having potentially negative effects, and news about polio eradication. The post also covers topics like genetic engineering in China, studies about police reducing crime, and cultural analysis of urban violence. Many links come with Scott's brief commentary or analysis putting them in context. Shorter summary
Mar 03, 2013
ssc
Read on
108 min 16,672 words 341 comments
The post provides a comprehensive overview of Reactionary philosophy and its critiques of modern progressive society, attempting to present these controversial ideas fairly for the sake of debate. Longer summary
This post provides a comprehensive overview of Reactionary philosophy, presenting its arguments against modern progressive society and in favor of traditional values and governance structures. The author explains Reactionary critiques of democracy, diversity, feminism, and other progressive ideals, and presents Reactionary arguments for monarchy, cultural unity, and traditional gender roles. The post covers topics like race, colonialism, and immigration from a Reactionary perspective. While not endorsing these views, the author attempts to present them fairly to encourage debate and examination of commonly held progressive assumptions. Shorter summary
Per page:
Showing 1 to 11 of 11 results
Get these search results in an EPUB

Your filters match 11 posts.

Posts to include
Leave empty to keep the defaults. Range cannot exceed 500 posts.
Download now

Generates an EPUB right now and downloads it to your device.

Send to email

Generates an EPUB in the background and emails you a temporary download link.

Your email is not shared with anyone.

Email address

To send to your Kindle, just use this link.