In 'Invisible Man,' Ralph Ellison tells the story of a nameless black protagonist who navigates the surreal and often hostile world of 20th-century America. The novel begins with the narrator living in an underground room, reflecting on his life and the various ways he has experienced social invisibility. He recounts his journey from a small Southern town to Harlem, involving experiences with racism, a brutal 'battle royal,' and his involvement with the Brotherhood, a civil rights group. The narrative delves into themes of identity, power, and the struggle for self-definition in a society that refuses to see him. Through his experiences, the narrator grapples with the complexities of being a black man in America, ultimately leading to a profound exploration of invisibility and the search for one's true self[1][4][5].
The Right Nation explores the evolution of conservatism in America, from Barry Goldwater's influence to the modern Republican Party. It analyzes the role of think tanks, cultural values, and the impact of American exceptionalism on political ideologies. The book provides a balanced perspective on the conservative movement's growth and its implications for American society.
Today Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about the social and economic trends of the elite in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who they consider the smartest thinkers today are - on the left and the right.
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Recommended Podcast: The Riff with Byrne Hobart
Byrne Hobart, the writer of The Diff, is revered in Silicon Valley. You can get an hour with him each week. See for yourself how his thinking can upgrade yours.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486
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SEND US YOUR Q's FOR NOAH TO ANSWER ON AIR: Econ102@Turpentine.co
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LINKS
https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/the-case-of-the-angry-history-postdoc
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:52) Twitter Blow-Up: David Austin Walsh controversy
(04:10) Elite Overproduction and academia
(08:09) Racial Disparities in academia
(14:12) Sponsor: Beehiiv
(15:23) Elite overproduction’s implications for politics and academia
(20:46) Right-Wing muckrakers and progressive institutions
(30:37) Misconceptions about Barack Obama
(31:08) The Rise of Mike Solana
(33:00) Evolution of progressive and conservative labels
(38:33) Smartest leftist
(40:48) American Roots of Wokeness
(54:20) Future of Conservatism
(59:59) Wrap
"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg 
