Scott Alexander defends the practice of looking to idealized traditions for inspiration, arguing it's a common and useful human approach to creativity and innovation. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the concept of tradition and how it's often misunderstood or criticized. He argues that references to the past or tradition are often just 'pointers' to specific aspects people appreciate, not necessarily an endorsement of everything from that era. He challenges the idea that past cultures didn't look back to idealized histories, providing examples from various periods showing how looking to an idealized past has been a common human practice. Scott suggests that using tradition as inspiration can be a psychologically easier way to introduce new ideas or practices than presenting them as entirely original. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander seeks help in selecting finalists for the 2024 Book Review Contest by asking readers to rate entries from a pool of 150 reviews. Longer summary

Scott Alexander announces the start of the process to narrow down 150 book review entries to about a dozen finalists for the Book Review Contest 2024. He provides links to six Google Docs containing the entries, organized alphabetically, and asks readers to help by reading and rating reviews using a provided form. Scott emphasizes the importance of not reading reviews in order to ensure a more even distribution of votes. He mentions a random review chooser script and provides a deadline of June 1 for voting. The post also includes instructions for authors to check if their reviews are included and how to address any missing entries. Shorter summary

This review analyzes Viktor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning', using it as a framework to explore other narratives of suffering and the search for meaning in various contexts. Longer summary

This review explores Viktor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning' and its implications, using the book as a lens to analyze other narratives. The review is divided into three parts: the first summarizes Frankl's experiences in concentration camps and his theory of logotherapy; the second introduces a fictional French poet as a parallel narrative of finding meaning in suffering; and the third applies Frankl's ideas to analyze the current situation in Russia and Ukraine, exploring the concept of meaning and its absence in different contexts. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reveals that Lewis Carroll had conceived an idea similar to retroactive public goods funding in 1894, predating modern reinventions of the concept. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the concept of retroactive public goods funding, highlighting its multiple independent inventions under different names. He then reveals that Lewis Carroll, the author of 'Alice in Wonderland', had actually conceived a similar idea in his 1894 book 'Sylvie and Bruno'. The post includes a lengthy quote from Carroll's book describing a system where professors are examined and rewarded at the end of their careers, with tradesmen essentially funding their lives in the interim based on their potential future success. Scott points out how this system closely resembles modern concepts of retroactive public goods funding, with the main difference being the lack of financialization of the tradesmen's role. Shorter summary

Scott summarizes reader comments on his 'Secrets of the Great Families' post, covering additional examples, statistical discussions, and personal perspectives on family achievement. Longer summary

This post highlights comments on Scott's previous article about famous families. It includes additional examples of notable families, discussions on the statistical significance of family clustering, insights from people with high-achieving families, perspectives from those with less successful backgrounds, and various other related topics. The post covers a wide range of fields including science, sports, literature, and politics, and discusses factors like genetics, environment, and family culture that may contribute to success across generations. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander opens voting for the book review contest, listing 17 finalists and providing a voting link. Longer summary

Scott Alexander announces the voting process for the book review contest. Readers are invited to vote for their favorite entries using approval voting, with voting open until the end of June. The post includes a list of the 17 finalist book reviews, each with a link to the full review. Shorter summary

The post presents 50 'Tom Swifties', a form of wordplay involving quotes and related adverbs, demonstrating the author's wit and knowledge across various fields. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 50 'Tom Swifties', a form of wordplay where a quoted sentence is linked to an adverb that relates to the quote in a punning manner. The author extends this concept beyond just Tom, including other characters and historical figures. The puns range from simple to complex, often requiring knowledge of literature, history, or current events to fully appreciate. The post demonstrates the author's wit and extensive knowledge across various fields, while also showcasing their ability to craft intricate wordplays. Shorter summary