Patrick Wyman
@patrickwyman.bsky.social
Pod: Past Lives. Tides of History. Book: "The Verge," on the world around 1500. Coming 5/5/2026: “Lost Worlds,” on prehistory. pwymanusc at gmail. https://linktr.ee/patrickwyman
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Lost Worlds
The creator of the hit podcast Tides of History offers a new look at humanity’s deep past, showing us how our world was built not by inevitability, but by t...
www.harpercollins.com
Today's the big day, friends - my new book, Lost Worlds: The Rise and Fall of Human Societies from the Ice Age to the Bronze Age, is available for preorder! Smash that link and purchase from your retailer of choice, if that's the kind of thing you're into. www.harpercollins.com/products/los...
Do you have questions about slavery or any of the people I've covered on Past Lives so far? Patrons can ask whatever they want! www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Patrons: Send Me Your Questions! | Past Lives
Get more from Past Lives on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Do you have questions about slavery or any of the people I've covered on Past Lives so far? Patrons can ask whatever they want! www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Kevin is coming on Past Lives to talk about John Doar next month - I'm so, so stoked to learn more about this fascinating person and the times he shaped!
Well, after eight years of research, writing and revision, I just sent the full manuscript for THE DIVISION: JOHN DOAR, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT to my publisher.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
a man with a mustache wearing a blue jacket and scarf
ALT: a man with a mustache wearing a blue jacket and scarf
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Kevin is coming on Past Lives to talk about John Doar next month - I'm so, so stoked to learn more about this fascinating person and the times he shaped!
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
Well, after eight years of research, writing and revision, I just sent the full manuscript for THE DIVISION: JOHN DOAR, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT to my publisher.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
a man with a mustache wearing a blue jacket and scarf
ALT: a man with a mustache wearing a blue jacket and scarf
media.tenor.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Well, after eight years of research, writing and revision, I just sent the full manuscript for THE DIVISION: JOHN DOAR, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT to my publisher.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
Not with an attitude like that it’s not. Poster’s Cynicism is just laziness cosplaying as savvy knowledge of how the world works. We, collectively, have agency.
At most, a single or small group of agents will be symbolically prosecuted. The time is not coming.
December 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Not with an attitude like that it’s not. Poster’s Cynicism is just laziness cosplaying as savvy knowledge of how the world works. We, collectively, have agency.
When the time comes - and it will - I will happily write a check to the relevant agency if they’ll use the money to prosecute these assholes.
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
When the time comes - and it will - I will happily write a check to the relevant agency if they’ll use the money to prosecute these assholes.
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
My dad died last May. More than anything else, history was what we shared in common. As we have the first Christmas without him, I reflected on what that meant. open.substack.com/pub/patrickw...
My Dad and History
Subscribers to the Past Lives Patreon have access to an audio version of this essay, along with tons of other great bonus content.
open.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
My dad died last May. More than anything else, history was what we shared in common. As we have the first Christmas without him, I reflected on what that meant. open.substack.com/pub/patrickw...
Merry Christmas from the roof, where I had to climb up to retrieve a brand-new soccer ball that my large son blasted up here
December 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Merry Christmas from the roof, where I had to climb up to retrieve a brand-new soccer ball that my large son blasted up here
Merry Squatsmas! Ugly 160 kg (352 pounds), kinda but not really paused
December 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Merry Squatsmas! Ugly 160 kg (352 pounds), kinda but not really paused
My dad died last May. More than anything else, history was what we shared in common. As we have the first Christmas without him, I reflected on what that meant. open.substack.com/pub/patrickw...
My Dad and History
Subscribers to the Past Lives Patreon have access to an audio version of this essay, along with tons of other great bonus content.
open.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
My dad died last May. More than anything else, history was what we shared in common. As we have the first Christmas without him, I reflected on what that meant. open.substack.com/pub/patrickw...
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
New Past Lives: Terence, Slavery, and Ancient Rome's First Literature. Terence was one of the founders of Latin literature, a standard entry in Roman students' reading for centuries. He was also a former slave, an outsider to mainstream Roman culture. www.pod.link/1852618120/e...
www.pod.link
December 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
New Past Lives: Terence, Slavery, and Ancient Rome's First Literature. Terence was one of the founders of Latin literature, a standard entry in Roman students' reading for centuries. He was also a former slave, an outsider to mainstream Roman culture. www.pod.link/1852618120/e...
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
So I have the cover story in next month's TNR.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
Trump’s Immigration Nightmare: It Is Happening Here
With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society. And the experts agree: It’s all going to get much, much worse.
newrepublic.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
So I have the cover story in next month's TNR.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
New Past Lives: Terence, Slavery, and Ancient Rome's First Literature. Terence was one of the founders of Latin literature, a standard entry in Roman students' reading for centuries. He was also a former slave, an outsider to mainstream Roman culture. www.pod.link/1852618120/e...
www.pod.link
December 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
New Past Lives: Terence, Slavery, and Ancient Rome's First Literature. Terence was one of the founders of Latin literature, a standard entry in Roman students' reading for centuries. He was also a former slave, an outsider to mainstream Roman culture. www.pod.link/1852618120/e...
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
Ernst Röhm, Heinrich Himmler, and Josef Goebbels were all Gymnasium graduates who spoke Latin and Greek. Goebbels had a PhD in literature and wrote novels. Many extremely popular modern novelists are also massive nazis, including one who titled one of his books "my struggle".
I am beginning to develop a suspicion of national decline based in elevating STEM nerds to dangerously high social positions, because their tendency to believe that "anything that cannot be properly measured should not be argued for" is being more revealed by the day as an inherently reactionary one
December 23, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Ernst Röhm, Heinrich Himmler, and Josef Goebbels were all Gymnasium graduates who spoke Latin and Greek. Goebbels had a PhD in literature and wrote novels. Many extremely popular modern novelists are also massive nazis, including one who titled one of his books "my struggle".
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
In 2023 I became obsessed with videos of dads in cargo shortswaiting in parking lots during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. So when she came to town, I grabbed a camera and headed down to talk to them. I thought it'd be funny. It turned out to be something else entirely.
December 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM
In 2023 I became obsessed with videos of dads in cargo shortswaiting in parking lots during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. So when she came to town, I grabbed a camera and headed down to talk to them. I thought it'd be funny. It turned out to be something else entirely.
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
I want to take a moment of reflection. I don’t post a lot of threads anymore (bc really who wants to read them) but this seems like a good time to make a few points about wins & losses & surviving & fighting during the Trump administration’s siege on democracy. Especially as 2025 comes to a close.
U.S. Supreme Court sides against Trump, won't lift block on National Guard deployment in Illinois
DEVELOPING from @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...
DEVELOPING from @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...
U.S. Supreme Court sides against Trump, won't lift block on National Guard deployment in Illinois
The decision, appearing on the high court’s “emergency” or “shadow” docket, is the first from the justices addressing President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops into American cit...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I want to take a moment of reflection. I don’t post a lot of threads anymore (bc really who wants to read them) but this seems like a good time to make a few points about wins & losses & surviving & fighting during the Trump administration’s siege on democracy. Especially as 2025 comes to a close.
Not a single person on the planet - not even elite athletes - needs to record the entirety of their workouts, much less make themselves the center of attention in the gym with all their video shit
LET US BEGIN THE AIRING OF GRIEVANCES. HAPPY FESTIVUS TO ALL!
two men standing in front of an american video store
ALT: two men standing in front of an american video store
media.tenor.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Not a single person on the planet - not even elite athletes - needs to record the entirety of their workouts, much less make themselves the center of attention in the gym with all their video shit
Reposted by Patrick Wyman
The CBS 60 Minutes Doc confirms what we knew: The U.S. is currently using our tax dollars to imprison brown people with no criminal record in torture camps overseas.
It’s no wonder administration shill Bari Weiss pulled this off the air: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjY7...
It’s no wonder administration shill Bari Weiss pulled this off the air: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjY7...
CANCELLED 60 MINUTES CECOT DOC
YouTube video by eoin higgins
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The CBS 60 Minutes Doc confirms what we knew: The U.S. is currently using our tax dollars to imprison brown people with no criminal record in torture camps overseas.
It’s no wonder administration shill Bari Weiss pulled this off the air: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjY7...
It’s no wonder administration shill Bari Weiss pulled this off the air: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjY7...
I’m apparently now old enough that getting carded buying tobacco products is the best compliment I’ll receive all day, just a warm glow settling into my bones here at the gas station
December 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I’m apparently now old enough that getting carded buying tobacco products is the best compliment I’ll receive all day, just a warm glow settling into my bones here at the gas station
"Get the principals on camera" is such a telling phrase here, because it tells us that for Weiss there's no world in which the victims of these horrific actions can actually be seen as the subjects of the story: They're background noise, and the people who matter are the ones sending them.
Weiss concluded: “We need to be able to make every effort to get the principals on the record and on camera. To me, our viewers come first, not a listing schedule or anything else. And that is my North Star, and I hope it's the North Star of every person in this newsroom.”
December 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
"Get the principals on camera" is such a telling phrase here, because it tells us that for Weiss there's no world in which the victims of these horrific actions can actually be seen as the subjects of the story: They're background noise, and the people who matter are the ones sending them.
Push-pull supersets were hitting this morning
December 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Push-pull supersets were hitting this morning
The electoral map when he runs for president is gonna make Goldwater look like prime FDR
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 22, 2025 at 1:14 AM
The electoral map when he runs for president is gonna make Goldwater look like prime FDR
Summarizing the content can’t tell you how the paper fits into the overall scope of the field, how the author uses evidence, or whether the paper makes convincing arguments! It’s just a summary! There’s no critical evaluation, and that’s the core of engagement with the material
How is that not useful? The summary tells you whether the paper is worth your time to actually read. If you find that it is, then sure no time save since you read it in depth anyway. If you decided not to, then that’s a big time save.
December 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Summarizing the content can’t tell you how the paper fits into the overall scope of the field, how the author uses evidence, or whether the paper makes convincing arguments! It’s just a summary! There’s no critical evaluation, and that’s the core of engagement with the material
So I tried this as an experiment with a an LLM: I had dozens of PDFs of papers and open-source academic books related to a specific field of history, uploaded them all to create a context window, and then used it as a starting point. Made sure I knew the scholarship first so I could evaluate.
This is one of the reasons I remain horrified by seeing @historians.org suggest "ways to use gAI" that included this:
December 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So I tried this as an experiment with a an LLM: I had dozens of PDFs of papers and open-source academic books related to a specific field of history, uploaded them all to create a context window, and then used it as a starting point. Made sure I knew the scholarship first so I could evaluate.
Me whenever I see the Data Nerds trying to tell people who have actually won elections and gotten real things done how to do politics
a man in a suit and tie is saying " go outside nerd "
Alt: Uncle Baby Bill from Righteous Gemstones saying " go outside nerd "
media.tenor.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Me whenever I see the Data Nerds trying to tell people who have actually won elections and gotten real things done how to do politics
Imagine how much better our public discourse would be if Vince Staples had Joe Rogan's platform
December 20, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Imagine how much better our public discourse would be if Vince Staples had Joe Rogan's platform