A User's Guide to History
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Big questions
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The laws of history
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Biography of the Constitution
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Annals of populism
But it rhymes
What's a prez to do?
25 for 25
Roads not taken
Civil War and such
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Ever Victoria!
Bug or feature?
Numbers etc
Martian chronicles
What the Dickens?
Fateful blunders
What history teaches
The spoken word
Friedmania
Making it up
The dismal science
Artificial intelligence
The art of teaching
Theories of history
Our daily bread
Obituaries you might have mis…
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Discussions
30. Dred Scott
Stephen Douglas wasn’t surprised that popular sovereignty in Kansas produced competition among settlers.
Jun 5
•
H. W. Brands
25
4
2
Home or away?
Where's the advantage in war?
Jun 4
•
H. W. Brands
32
9
2
Universe no accident
Neither a miracle
Jun 3
•
H. W. Brands
15
3
1
Franklin fails at perfection
But becomes a better man for trying
Jun 2
•
H. W. Brands
28
4
3
Heroic history: Carlyle
“The history of the world is but the biography of great men.”
Jun 1
•
H. W. Brands
14
4
May 2026
29. Popular sovereignty
A Democratic senator from Illinois named Stephen Douglas helped Henry Clay push the Compromise of 1850 across the finish line.
May 29
•
H. W. Brands
16
2
The ambidextrous Adam Smith
Hidden hand, helping hand
May 28
•
H. W. Brands
26
7
2
Hungry eyes
Video kills the radio star (again)
May 27
•
H. W. Brands
29
10
Why AI will write better than you and me
No spark required
May 26
•
H. W. Brands
35
6
1
Theories of history: Augustine
“Is there a logic of history?” asked Oswald Spengler.
May 25
•
H. W. Brands
21
2
1
28. Compromise of 1850
The supremacy clause of Article VI stipulates that the Constitution and federal statues overrule state laws.
May 22
•
H. W. Brands
22
7
Who burned Columbia?
You be the judge
May 21
•
H. W. Brands
21
3
2
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