A descendant of missionary Hiram Bingham reviews his ancestor's memoir about bringing Christianity and Western civilization to Hawaii in the 1820s-1840s, drawing parallels to modern Effective Altruism and examining what lessons today's do-gooders can learn from this earlier generation of world-savers. Longer summary

This book review examines Hiram Bingham's 1847 memoir about his 21-year mission to Hawaii, drawing explicit parallels between 19th-century missionaries and modern Effective Altruists. The reviewer, Bingham's descendant, describes how seven missionary couples successfully converted most of Hawaii to Christianity, created a writing system, achieved widespread literacy, and introduced Western technology and social reforms. However, Bingham's anti-Catholic political meddling eventually backfired when a French warship forced Hawaii to accept religious freedom and other demands. The review concludes with lessons for modern do-gooders: act with courage, be a moral exemplar, make powerful allies, critically examine your beliefs, and avoid escalating conflicts beyond your control. Shorter summary

A review of Ollantay, a 1775 Quechua play that inspired the Túpac Amaru II rebellion in Peru, exploring how its plot became a deadly script for real historical events. Longer summary

This book review discusses Ollantay, a Quechua play from 1775 Peru that directly inspired the Túpac Amaru II rebellion. The review explores how the play's plot closely mirrors the real events of the rebellion, which led to 100,000 deaths. The author analyzes the mysterious origins of the play, its artistic merits, and its role as a 'cognitohazard' that influenced José Gabriel Condorcanqui (Túpac Amaru II) to follow its script, leading to tragedy. The review ends with reflections on how certain works of art seem designed to influence specific individuals to change history. Shorter summary