Razib Khan

Defenders of the Truth: The Battle for Science in the Sociobiology Debate and BeyondBook Ullica Segerstråle

Though written accessibly, Segerstrale’s narrative rewards repeat reading, because it is so dense with historical detail that remains relevant today.

Khan's New Year 'Time Well Spent' post, a short list of books that have stood up to repeat reading for him. He notes that Stuart Ritchie is a friend.

2026-01-01·razibkhan.com ↗

The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us SmarterBook Joseph Henrich

A decade on, it already feels possible that in the future, commentators will argue that this specific fruitful synthesis lit the fuse on evolutionary cultural anthropology’s explosion (with due apologies to earlier books from L. L. Cavalli-Sforza, E. O. Wilson, Peter Richerson and Robert Boyd).

Khan's New Year 'Time Well Spent' post, a short list of books that have stood up to repeat reading for him. He notes that Stuart Ritchie is a friend.

2026-01-01·razibkhan.com ↗

From Dawn to Decadence: 1500 to the Present: 500 Years of Western Cultural LifeBook Jacques Barzun

Few will deeply read as many works of literature across the Western canon as Barzun did, given his exceptionally long career in academia, but From Dawn to Decadence grants the humble reader an extraordinary vantage, thanks to Barzun’s vast corpus of knowledge and his perspicacious observations about cultural currents across half a millennium.

Khan's New Year 'Time Well Spent' post, a short list of books that have stood up to repeat reading for him. He notes that Stuart Ritchie is a friend.

2026-01-01·razibkhan.com ↗

The Fall of Rome and the End of CivilizationBook Bryan Ward-Perkins

The genius of this work is its interdisciplinary scope.

Khan's New Year 'Time Well Spent' post, a short list of books that have stood up to repeat reading for him. He notes that Stuart Ritchie is a friend.

2026-01-01·razibkhan.com ↗

Intelligence: All That MattersBook Stuart Ritchie

and there’s a good chance you may never need another work of psychometrics to be up to speed.

Khan's New Year 'Time Well Spent' post, a short list of books that have stood up to repeat reading for him. He notes that Stuart Ritchie is a friend.

2026-01-01·razibkhan.com ↗

Citation NeededOther

New podcast from my friend Colin Wright with Brad Polumbo that reviews all the weirdest things coming out of academia. Great job holding the ivory tower accountable, but also entertaining because some of their finds are so funny.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Citation Needed, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2025-04-29·razibkhan.com ↗

KvetchOther Oz

Wide-ranging Substack from a finance-guy that likes to broaden his intellectual horizons to history, anthropology and science, and share what he learns.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Kvetch, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2025-01-07·razibkhan.com ↗

Christopher F. RufoOther

Christopher Rufo is one of the most influential public intellectuals in America today. Importantly, a lot of his content and thought can be found at his Substack, especially extremely long-form content that allows you to really dig deep into his investigations.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Christopher F. Rufo, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2024-11-19·razibkhan.com ↗

KhanversationOther Razib Khan

The "Khanversation" is different from "Unsupervised Learning." It is where I opine on current events and recent cultural and political topics with my friend Josiah Neeley. The "Khanversation" drops at the end of every week!

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Khanversation, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2024-09-19·razibkhan.com ↗

Yascha MounkOther

Yascha Mounk is one of the most important intellectuals today in America for understanding our national politics and how it integrates and fits into the global scene. Mounk's particular viewpoints are crystal clear, but not so partisan that they exhibit a flight from reason.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Yascha Mounk, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2024-07-18·razibkhan.com ↗

StatecraftOther Santi Ruiz

This Substack is great because it gets into the nitty-gritty of policy and analysis in a way I don't see much elsewhere. For example, "How to Catch a Lab Leak."

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Statecraft, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2024-07-03·razibkhan.com ↗

Richard Hanania's NewsletterOther Richard Hanania

Richard Hanania is one of the most original and provocative thinkers writing on politics, culture, and social science. You should definitely add him to your list.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Richard Hanania's Newsletter, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2024-03-12·razibkhan.com ↗

GWAS StoriesOther Veera M. Rajagopal

Whenever I get a email from GWAS Stories I read it immediately. GWAS Stories is the go-to place if you want to understand the genetics of disease in the 21st century. There is a massive mountain of publications in GWAS being produced today, and this is the Substack to read to make sense of it all.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter GWAS Stories, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2024-01-06·razibkhan.com ↗

The Palladium LetterOther Palladium Editors

Palladium is a publication that tackles big questions in history, culture and politics with depth. It's where you can read Samo Burja discuss how civilization may be thousands of years older than we believed. It is also the place to read what Tanner Greer believes is the real ideological foundation of the People's Republic of China. Well worth your time to dig deeper and extend your horizons broader.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter The Palladium Letter, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-11-16·razibkhan.com ↗

Lee FangOther

Lee is fearless, with no faction. He'll dig wherever the dirt is, irrespective of friend or foe. I can make you uncomfortable, but sometimes that's a good thing.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Lee Fang, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-10-10·razibkhan.com ↗

Wisdom of CrowdsOther

Shadi and Damir are two thinkers who aren't bound by conventional boxes. I disagree a lot with them, but their views are cogent and well thought out. They make me think more clearly and sharply.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Wisdom of Crowds, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-10-09·razibkhan.com ↗

AporiaOther

You often hear that websites are "provocative." But Aporia definitely is; it's the real deal. Even if you disagree, you're going to learning something, and the contributors are always open to dialogue and debate.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Aporia, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-10-09·razibkhan.com ↗

Evolving ThoughtsOther John Wilkins

I've known John Wilkins for nearly 20 years, an evolutionary scholar specializing in species (look up his books!), he's also a good friend from whom I learn a great deal despite our differences of politics and hemisphere (he's Australian).

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Evolving Thoughts, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-10-09·razibkhan.com ↗

Bismarck BriefOther Samo Burja

Bismarck Brief is one of those "must-read" Substacks. Samo Burja is one of the most incisive and well-informed thinkers you will encounter. Agree or disagree, he's not glib, one reason I've had him on my podcast 4 times.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Bismarck Brief, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-06-21·razibkhan.com ↗

The Wisdom of the CrowdOther Tom Landlord

It looks like part of the "IBW" has finally come to Substack! I've been following Shadi Hamid and Damir Marusic for years because they don't follow any faction's script. If you are looking for good-faith conversations where you might disagree with the discussants but still learn something, this is for you.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter The Wisdom of the Crowd, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2023-04-20·razibkhan.com ↗

The Intrinsic PerspectiveOther Erik Hoel

Erik Hoel is one of the most writerly scientists you will encounter. And I mean that as a compliment! Hoel's ruminations on the intersection between neuroscience and the humanities will help see a possible path toward consilience in the 21st century.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter The Intrinsic Perspective, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-10-25·razibkhan.com ↗

The Good Science ProjectOther Stuart Buck

This newsletter track's the Good Science Project's attempt to change the way we discovery things. This is especially needed today with the calcification of scientific institutions and the spread of ideology in scientific culture.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter The Good Science Project, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-09-28·razibkhan.com ↗

Anthropology.netOther Anthropology & Primatology

This guy has been tracking physical anthropology for over 15 years

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Anthropology.net, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-09-08·razibkhan.com ↗

RANDOM MINDS by Katherine BrodskyOther Katherine Brodsky

Kat Rosenfield doesn't have a Substack so...

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter RANDOM MINDS by Katherine Brodsky, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-08-10·razibkhan.com ↗

House of StraussOther Ethan Strauss

Ethan Strauss is arguably one of the best culture and sports writers working today. To get a sense, check out my recent podcast with him.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter House of Strauss, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-07-28·razibkhan.com ↗

Random ThoughtsOther Nick Patterson

Nick Patterson of the Broad Institute is one of the most intellectually honest practicing population geneticists I know. Pay attention, whether you agree or disagree

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Random Thoughts, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-07-05·razibkhan.com ↗

Science FictionsOther Stuart Ritchie

Stuart Ritchie seeks the truth. That is all.

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Science Fictions, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-04-19·razibkhan.com ↗

Rob Henderson's NewsletterOther Rob Henderson

My friend Rob has one of the most interesting newsletters related to "human nature," broadly construed, that you can find out there. His "lived experience" is also one of the most unique you'll find in the "chattering classes." Rob is not one of those "to the manner born"

Razib Khan's own recommendation blurb for the newsletter Rob Henderson's Newsletter, on their Substack's recommendations page.

2022-04-12·razibkhan.com ↗