Alexander Gilbert
alexandergilbert.substack.com?r=3i71cn&utm...

Fuck you @mcdonaldsuss.bsky.social

Semmelweis discovered the link between childbed fever and handwashing. Shocking how fiercely doctors opposed something so simple! But a mix of obstinacy and mental illness meant he was never widely recognised in his lifetime. A sobering read about genius and the cost of being ahead of your time.

After reading Beard’s Emperor of Rome, I moved on to SPQR—turns out a lot of what I learned about early Rome in school was myth or oversimplified. Beard gives an excellent picture of how Ancient Rome actually functioned, and how its legacy still shapes the way we live, think, and govern today.

I’ve read nearly every Mozart biography there is—from Nissen to Einstein to Landon—and I enjoyed The Reign of Love. I really appreciated the insights that Swafford’s expertise as a composer brings to his exploration of Mozart’s works. It offers a nuanced, deeply informed view of his creative genius.

tl;dr: a bunch of people who have no idea what a tariff is, love tariffs.

When you explain to them what a tariff is, they are not so enthusiastic.

🤦🏻‍♂️

11 weeks old 🥹

Interesting look at the complex relationship between German nobles and the Nazis—rooted in shared beliefs and ideology. Explores their loss of privileges and status from the end of WWI through the Weimar Republic and into WWII, and the resulting range of reactions, from resistance to collaboration.

One of my favourite novels, Jeder stirbt captures small acts of resistance under a totalitarian regime. Fallada masterfully depicts 1930s Berlin in all its fear and cruelty, showing the power of quiet defiance. A gripping, deeply human story—don’t watch the film, it was a travesty.

A fascinating account of Ludwig II of Bavaria’s final years and downfall. Thoroughly researched, it offers compelling insights into his psychological state and challenges the traditional view of his madness. Häfner portrays Ludwig as a tragic figure, and victim of a politically motivated regicide.

Not I is a book I keep coming back to—its relevance feels sharper now than ever. Fest’s memoir of growing up in Nazi Germany questioning authority is a powerful lesson in critical thinking. His father’s defiance shaped him, his reflections on moral courage resonate deeply today. Essential reading.

4/5 ⭐️
Rutherford transforms the family tree into a vast, intertwined web, showing how Western Europeans share ancestors from just a millennium ago. Using accessible statistics and compelling insights, he redefines our genetic past—and reveals how connected we truly are.

4/5⭐️

Broad’s Oracle offers a fascinating historiography of Delphi, exploring how perceptions have evolved, the fierce excavation efforts, and how archaeology meets ancient accounts. Its scholarly yet engaging approach reveals the Oracle’s lasting influence across time.