Making of a Historian

Latest Episodes:

Episode 43: What Businesses Want Mar 13, 2017

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It may just be that I am delirious due to a head-cold, but in this episode I argue that our commonsense view that capitalism drives companies to constantly search for ever higher profits is wrong. Instead capitalists often want economically irrational things, like country houses and Oxford educations. Large organizations also work to protect industries at large from competition by making cartels.

Episode 42: Volcanoes, Mosquitos, Frankenstein Mar 11, 2017

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Books: Parker, Global Crisis Nye, American Technological Sublime Wolfgang Behringer, A Cultural History of Climate G.D. Wood, Tambora

Episode 41: The Infrastructure Revolution Mar 09, 2017

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Books Jo Guldi, Roads to Power Cassis, De Luca and Florio, eds., Infrastructure Finance in Europe David Headrick, Tentacles of Progress Kander, Malanima and Warde, Power to the People

Episode 40: Rise of the Expert Mar 08, 2017

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Books: The Visible Hand, Alfred Chandler Government and Expertise, edited by Roy MacLeod Rule of Experts, Timothy Mitchell Sidney Pollard, Genesis of Modern Management

Episode 39: the Company That Captured a Continent Mar 07, 2017

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In this episode we look at the East India Company, which went from weird little company state holding a network of commercial forts, to taking over an entire continent. Books: Emily Erikson, Between Monopoly and Free Trade (GREAT!) Miles Ogborn, Indian Ink Phil Stern, the Company State

Episode 38: Modern Women, Modern Cities, Modern Homes Mar 06, 2017

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In this episode, I realize with horror that: People still leave voicemails In my last episode on modernity I completely forgot that women exist In this episode, I try to rectify that, and argue for an understanding of modernity that includes women's experiences

Episode 37: Modern World, Modern People, Modern City Mar 04, 2017

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In this SUPER BURNED OUT EPISODE I try to make the case that urban life leads to modernity. Books David Henkin, City Reading Miles Ogborn, Spaces of Modernity Michel de Certau, Practice of Everyday Life

Episode 36: Politeness Is High Tech Mar 03, 2017

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In this episode, I look at how problems of open discussion in anonymous cities led to the creation of an idea of politeness. This was good because it let people talk freely with strangers and people of different ideas without devolving into rancor, violence and civil war. I think it's an important part of Western society. Book list: Donna Andrew, the Aristocratic Vice Philip Carter, Men and the Emergence of Polite Society John Kasson Rudeness and Civility

Episode 35: Capitalism, Carbon, Democracy Mar 02, 2017

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Book List: Timothy Mitchell, Carbon Democracy Andreas Malm, Fossil Capital Jason Moore, Capitalism in the Web of Life

Episode 34: Information Ages Feb 28, 2017

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In this episode we talk printing presses, newspapers, Wooten desks, and memos. Also we explain why it's okay you don't really know who your Facebook friends are.

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