Short and interesting

[47] The Code of Hammurabi

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. BEHOLD! The gods have invested in me power and authority. I have erected a massive stone of black basalt in front of my palace, and on it I have carved the immutable laws of my domain. Heed these laws or perish in agony. For the most part these are pretty fair. If you kill someone’s son, their family can come here to the palace and tell me about it, and I’ll send my guards out to kill THEIR son. You’re not going to find a fairer deal than that in all of ancient Sumeria.

I don’t know about you but I find ancient Sumeria weirdly interesting and actually kind of cute to the point of being hilarious. But don’t take my word for it, just get thyself to Wikipedia and check it out.

Music by Dan Mason. Check out and buy his music at https://danmason.bandcamp.com. For this podcast we’re using clips of three tracks from his 2019 album Hypnagogia. Available under the Creative Commons License, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. Creative Commons License details at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Check out our website at www.plutocrat.biz. Donations are gratefully accepted. Find us on Bluesky, @shortinteresting. If you’d like to discuss copyright, contact us at copyright@plutocrat.biz. All other inquiries received at podcast@plutocrat.biz.

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[45] Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted pt 3

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Once again, we’re flipping through the big book of every dream possible and what they all mean.

Though I will say this, the other night I dreamed I was traveling by air—I was either on a luxury airplane or still at the airport, I can’t remember—in the bathroom, and all of a sudden my cat rushed in and jumped right down the toilet, vanishing. I was so worried! Panicking, didn’t know what to do, but eventually the cat jumped back out of the toilet pipes, safe and sound. I was crying big green puffy slugs of phlegm that accumulated into piles.

I haven’t found this dream in the book. But to be fair, it’s a big book, and I haven’t finished it yet. What do you think it means?

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/926

The author was an interesting historical figure. If you want some more details, you could simply start with Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_Hindman_Miller

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[44] How to Build a UFO

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. It just so happens that magnetic energy permeates the universe, and you can harness it to build incredible devices, up to and including a space ship. So it is claimed, anyway, on www.magneticenergy.org, a website hosting information provided by “an unknown person or organization” who wants to help humanity. If you are so inclined, you can download spaceship plans and instructions free of charge.

The information contained herein is public domain and is freely available at www.magneticenergy.org. Feel free to check it out, and to use your own judgment as to its value.

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[43] Hints on the Use and Handling of Firearms Generally and the Revolver in Particular

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Guns. Some people love ‘em. Some hate ‘em. Some fear ‘em. Regardless of how you feel about them, they’re a part of modern life. One day you may find yourself in a position where you have to handle one. So, it couldn’t hurt how to know how to handle them safely and effectively. Just ask Victorian-era Lieutenant H. Onslow Curling, who in 1885 wrote the primer called “Hints on the Use and Handling of Firearms Generally and the Revolver in Particular.”

You can download this public domain book for free, if you’re so inclined, at Project Gutenberg.

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[42] Death By Coconut

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Coconuts. We all know they will fall on your head and kill you. Or do they? Well, kinda yes, kinda no. In this world, rarely are there simple answers to any question.

We’re reading from Wikipedia today. How embarrassing. You can read along here and here. And then, why not consider donating to the Wikimedia Foundation?

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[40] Ur of the Chaldees

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Thousands of years ago, a Sumerian king built a resplendent tomb at Ur, where he was buried along with dozens of servants and piles of treasure. Then, years later, his queen also died, and she was buried in an adjacent tomb, and the workers plundered the king’s grave. Then, hundreds of years passed, and the Sumerians forgot the king and queen were buried there, so they piled tomb after tomb after tomb on top. Then, thousands of years later, Englishman C. Leonard Woolley dug it all up and wrote about it.

If you’re interested in reading this moldy old tome, you can find it on the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.33908/page/n7/mode/2up.

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[39] Animal Magnetism pt 2

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. In 1801, in Georgian-era England, doctor George Winter did not think much about the medical fads of the day. He believed in proper medicine, and wrote a whole book about all the patients he successfully treated. Except, he never said what he actually did to treat them. Surely, that’s so he could protect the value of his medical “knowledge,” rather than to conceal that he didn’t have any. Surely.

If you’re interested in reading this moldy old tome, you can find it on the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/b21445667/page/n3/mode/2up.

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[38] Animal Magnetism pt 1

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. In 1801, in Georgian-era England, a doctor called George Winter wrote about the quack medical fad of the day, ‘Animal Magnetism,’ what we today would call hypnotism. Doctor Winter was quick to deride medical hypnotism as junk science that couldn’t really cure disease. But frankly, the so-called “medical science” of 1801 was no great shakes either.

If you’re interested in reading this moldy old tome, you can find it on the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/b21445667/page/n3/mode/2up.

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[37] Anarchy, State, and Utopia (and animals)

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. In 1974, Robert Nozick set out to write a work on libertarian political philosophy. In the process, he went on a tangent and hit on a compelling argument for veganism. Suppose space aliens came down to Earth and started eating all the humans. Does the fact that the aliens are smarter, more advanced, higher beings than humans give them the right to eat us? Probably not, right? Isn’t that pretty much what we do to animals?

If you haven’t read “Anarchy State and Utopia” by Robert Nozick, I’d recommend checking it out. You can of course buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Anarchy-State-Utopia-Robert-Nozick/dp/0465051006

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[36] The Easy Way to Stop Smoking

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Happy New Year! Wishing a healthy and prosperous 2026 to you all. And, not for nothing, your health and prosperity would both be enhanced if you were to stop smoking cigarettes. It’s not as difficult to do as you may be led to believe. In fact, if you ask the late Allen Carr, there’s an easy way to do it: the Easyway®.

This is the 1985 book “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking,” by Allen Carr, who went on to found Allen Carr’s Easyway (International) Ltd., and whose advice and methods for stopping self-destructive habits like smoking cigarettes has helped millions of people. This is the time for New Year’s resolutions; if you haven’t given this a thought already, maybe today’s the day. You can buy this book practically anywhere, including here (https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/0615482155) or check out the website https://www.allencarr.com for more information.

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[35] The Prince pt 2

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. Merry Christmas! Have you been good this year? Or have you been bad? What’s the difference? Is there a difference? If you ask Niccolo Machiavelli, author of ‘The Prince,’ he would probably say whether you are quote-unquote “good” or “bad” is irrelevant – but it would behoove you to at least appear to be good. So long as you are not actively hated, you’ll probably be fine.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232

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[34] The Book of Misers pt 1

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. In the 9th Century, Arabic polymath Al Jahiz wrote ‘The Book of Misers,’ a collection of stories about greedy people. Sometimes you have such poor table manners and are so uncouth at the table, that we’re still talking about it, behind your back, a thousand years later.

You can read this book on The Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/bookofmisersalbu0000jahi. Or why not buy a copy? https://www.semcoop.com/book-misers-al-bukhala

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[33] Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted pt 2

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. There’s a great big book full of every dream there is and ever was. In 1901, businessman Gustavus Hindman Miller entered a trance and wrote this book through automatic writing. The feat of a powerful psychic, no doubt. Think your guess is as good as his what a dream means? Consider this:

In your dream, a horse in human flesh descends on a hammock through the air, and as it nears your house is metamorphosed into a man, and he approaches your door and throws something at you which seems to be rubber but turns into great bees. What does this mean?

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/926

The author was an interesting historical figure. If you want some more details, you could simply start with Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_Hindman_Miller

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[32] Caves of Qud (item descriptions)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

On Short and Interesting we read to you strange and curious things. This week is the poetry of Caves of Qud, winner of the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Game or Interactive Work. This sci-fi far future has many wonders, yet even the most mundane object is still full of deep intrigue. Listen to these descriptions of desks, tables, rocks, tools, creatures, and corpses.

Please buy Caves of Qud on Steam or any other platform. This is a special game and really fun. https://store.steampowered.com/app/333640/Caves_of_Qud/. Or, you could read more of its writing on the wiki, https://wiki.cavesofqud.com/wiki/Caves_of_Qud_Wiki.

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[31] Salads Cookbook (Congealed)

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. Happy Thanksgiving – why not make a classic midcentury salad from 1969? All you need is water, gelatin, pork, spaghetti, celery, gumdrops, and of course mayonnaise. It’s all here in this absolutely deranged “Salads Cookbook” from 1969. Believe me when I tell you these recipes are utterly demented.

I couldn’t even begin to tell you where to find this book to read, but I did find a copy on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/234866473118

And while you’re at it, check out pictures of the Candlestick Salad. People really made these back then, huh? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle_salad

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[30] The Prince pt 1

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. ‘The Prince’ by Niccolo Machiavelli is kind of the perfect book for this project: well-written and highly-specific but with a lot of boring stuff that needs to be cut out. This week we’re just covering one short section about how mercenaries are just no good, and no sane prince would ever hire them.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232

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[29] Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted pt 1

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. What if you had a great big book full of every dream there is, so that when you have a dream, you can look up in a book to figure out what it means? In the early 20th century a businessman named Gustavus Hindman Miller set out to do this, and he wrote this book. Did he succeed? Judge for yourself.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/926

The author was an interesting historical figure. If you want some more details, you could simply start with Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_Hindman_Miller

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[28] What Does It All Mean?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. Is there such a thing as free will? Do your choices matter? Can you be held responsible for your actions, good or bad? Weighty questions are covered in a quick and breezy manner in Thomas Nagel’s “What Does It All Mean,” from 1987.

This book published by Oxford University Press, all rights reserved. Why not purchase a copy for yourself? You can do that here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-does-it-all-mean-thomas-nagel/1111620615

Check out our website at https://www.plutocrat.biz. Donations are gratefully accepted. Find us on Bluesky, @shortinteresting. If you’d like to discuss copyright, contact us at copyright@plutocrat.biz. All other inquiries received at podcast@plutocrat.biz.

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[27] The Alchemists pt 3 [Gilles de Rais]

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. For Halloween, we’re reading the single best story from Charles MacKay’s 19th “Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds,” about alchemists throughout history. The notorious Gilles de Rais wanted gold, so he turned to alchemy, and then the devil. He became one of history’s earliest and most notorious serial killers, but as far as we know he never ended up turning lead into gold.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24518

There’s plenty more about this historical figure out there. If you want some more gnarly details, you could simply start with Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_de_Rais

Check out our website at podcast.plutocrat.biz. Donations are gratefully accepted. Find us on Bluesky, @shortandinteresting. If you’d like to discuss copyright, contact us at copyright@plutocrat.biz. All other inquiries received at podcast@plutocrat.biz.

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[26] Discovery of Witches

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird books. This week is the game plan for Matthew Hopkins, self-proclaimed Witch-Finder, from 1698. When you go into town to find witches, some villagers will try to stop you. Here’s how you respond to all their arguments and win the debate. Some men really do know everything.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14015

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[25] SUBJECT: Brainwashing

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird books. Like this declassified memo from the CIA to the FBI about communist brainwashing techniques. Of course, they still work even if you aren’t communist.

This memo dated April 25, 1956 was formerly classified but was approved for release on February 8, 1984. I found this online a few years ago, but I’m currently unable to find a copy via web search … wonder when that changed? If I find it online again, I’ll post a link.

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[24] How to Lie With Statistics

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. You’ve heard the saying about the three types of falsehoods: there are lies, damn lies, and statistics. Well, Darrell Huff wrote “How to Lie With Statistics” (1954) to teach you how it works. A great little dose of skepticism and media literacy goes a long way in 2025.

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[23] Meta Given's Cooking: Game

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

ou’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. Ever wondered how to cook bear, possum, raccoon, squirrel, or woodchuck? Well this week we’ve got some recipes and techniques from “Meta Given’s Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking,” circa 1947.

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[22] How Not to Make MDMA

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. Have you ever wondered how to make MDMA? It’s surprisingly do-able. All you need is a strong working knowledge of chemistry, a fair bit of laboratory equipment, a supply of various chemicals, and a recipe. This week, we’re checking out the recipe.

But not really. For legal reasons we’re not actually going to tell you the recipe for MDMA. Instead, we took what purports to be a recipe, and swapped all the ingredients with some other chemical, pretty much at random. So whether you know chemistry or don’t, I promise this will be utterly incomprehensible. But give a listen anyway, it is still worth your time to learn how drugs are made.

This appears to have been self-published by two individuals whose pen names are Bright Star and Rhodium. I have no idea who they are and cannot verify whether their purported recipe is genuine or viable. Proceed at your own risk. This recipe is very much in the public domain. I will not be linking to a copy of the actual recipe here, but trust me, if you put five minutes of effort into searching for it, you should be able to find it.

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[21] The Lacerta Files pt. 2

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. We’ve got some more from “The Lacerta Files” this week, which is a 2004 interview with a purported Reptoid-being whose species lives underground. Adding insult to injury, not only are humans not alone in the universe, they aren’t even alone on this planet – and the so-called “aliens” couldn’t care less what happens to us. Can you blame them?

This appears to have been self-published by an individual named Jimmy Bergman, and translated by Chris Pfeiler. Whether those are real people or their real names is not for me to know. Technically this is in the public domain. It has been surprisingly difficult to find copies of this as of late, but I did find a copy available at this link: https://farsight.org/pdfs/FarsightPress/Support_Files/The_Lacerta_File_1and_2_Reptoid_interview.pdf

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[20] The Lacerta Files pt. 1

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. Ready for some alien stuff? Well too bad – the Reptoids aren’t aliens, they’ve lived on Earth much longer than us puny humans. You can call them many things – reptillians, ultraterrestrials, lizard-people, little green guys – but “alien” is just not accurate. All this and more in the famous 2004 interview-with-an-alien, “The Lacerta Files.”

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[19] The Ways of the Hobo

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is a grand yarn from Leon Ray Livingston, a/k/a A-No.1, a/k/a ”The World’s Most Famous Hobo.” This is from his 1914 book “The Ways of the Hobo” which is a fun little book of folk tales told by hobos, to hobos. There’s a certain romance and charm to hobodom, but make no mistake, it’s a life of poverty, abuse, and exploitation. But you’ve got to find some way to laugh through it all.

This work is in the public domain. It’s easy enough to find online, for example you can find it here: https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=A-No%2E%201%2C%201872-1944

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[18] How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found pt. 2

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. We’re back this week with part two of “How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found,” by Doug Richmond. The “how” is interesting enough, but not enough people are asking “why.” If you’re thinking about destroying your life and disappearing to create a new fake identity somewhere else, one thing you might try first is a little thing called “therapy.”

This work is was published by Loompanics Unlimited in 1986 and is still protected by copyright. We are presenting selected excerpts in the spirit of fair use in order to stimulate public discussion. Why not buy a copy for yourself? It’s for sale, among other places, at https://www.rizzolibookstore.com/product/how-disappear-completely-and-never-be-found?srsltid=AfmBOoq62MWmsIraEpsie8GK1cgYbw2d2e9XS3xWMNZHql_92uMw4Cs1

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[17] How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found pt. 1

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. If you want to hear the worst, most depressing advice ever, you’re in luck today. We’re covering “How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found,” by Doug Richmond. Here’s how you can destroy your identity, disappear, and create a new, fake life to inhabit. This might have worked in 1986, but in 2025? Forget about it.

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[16] Democracy is Self-Government: the Money-God

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. We’ve sure got an old weird one for you today! This is a selection from “Democracy is Self-Government” by the esoteric philosopher Harold W. Percival. We’re reading the chapter ‘Money, Or the Idolatry of the Dollar,’ a good old-fashioned rant about how we shouldn’t be slaves to money.

This work purports to be copyrighted 1952 by Harold W. Percival, and copyrighted 1980 by The Word Foundation, Inc., but I believe this is actually in the public domain. I downloaded this for free from The Word Foundation’s website, to my knowledge this is free to distribute. Why not download and read it yourself? https://thewordfoundation.org/hlib/index.html

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[15] Be Your Own Bodyguard

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re learning how to “Be Your Own Bodyguard” with this 1999 safety manual published by Peaceful Paths LLC. The best way to keep yourself from being a victim is to identify and avoid dangerous situations. And the best way to do that is to be aware.

This company may be defunct and the following contact information might no longer be effective. But this document states: “This document may be duplicated and distributed freely on the condition that it is accompanies by our company name and contact information.” The contact information for Peaceful Paths LLC is as follows: (303) 233-8279 / Emailshawn@peacepath.com / www.peacepath.com

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[14] Porkopolis pt 1

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is our first look at “Porkopolis” by Alex Blanchette. This book is definitely not an easy read, but it is really fascinating and we strongly recommend it as a first-hand look at an incredibly normal, ordinary, unremarkable part of modern American capitalist life. Today we’re reading an edited-down set of excerpts from the section on artificial insemination of pigs on an industrial scale. Ever wondered how the sausage is made?

This work’s copyright is owned by the Duke University Press (2020). We are presenting some text from this work in the spirit of fair use. Check out the Duke University Press’s website to buy a copy for yourself: https://www.dukeupress.edu/porkopolis.

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[13] Food in War Time

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re checking out “Food in War Time” by Graham Lusk, written in 1918, right at the tail end of World War One. Eat your greens, drink your milk, and try to lose some weight.

This book is in the public domain. You can download it for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32472.

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[12] The Book of Swindles pt 2

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re dipping back into “The Book of Swindles” by Zhang Yingyu (夔衷). Another grab-bag of sneaky schemes and dirty tricks. Beware of eunuchs! This time we’re reading: “Handing Over Silver Before Running Off With It”; “Using Broom Handles to Play a Joke on Sedan Bearers”; “Three Women Ride Off on Three Horses”; “A Eunuch Cooks Boys to Make a Tonic of Male Essence.”

This (Chinese) work is itself public domain, but we’re reading from the English transaction, which is from Christopher Wray and Bruse Rusk in 2017, and is copyright of the Columbia University Press. We are reciting the text in the spirit of fair use. Check out the Columbia University Press’s website: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-book-of-swindles/9780231178631/.

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[11] Moby Dick (chapter 9)

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re checking out a stone-cold classic: “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville. But don’t worry, we’re only reading Chapter 9 this time; the show is called ‘Short and Interesting,’ not ‘Famously Long and Boring.’

This book is in the public domain. You can download it for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2701.

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[10] 60 Years in Space pt 1 (Types of Governments)

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re checking out a tabletop role-playing game about colonizing space – and so much more. It’s called ‘60 Years In Space,’ and it’s as big a repository of brilliant ideas as you’re ever likely to find. Today we’re reading its list of all the different types of governments you might have in your space colonies. Can you think of any other types of government not on this list? I’m not sure I can. Which do you live under? Which would you rather live under?

Sixty Years In Space is the core rules for the officially licensed tabletop RPG of the board game High Frontier. Sixty Years in Space is written by Andrew Doull, copyright 2015-2023, all rights reserved. This reading is from This Space Intentionally, a supplement written by Andrew Doull, copyright 2015-2023, all rights reserved.

Check out and buy 60 Years in Space and its various supplements at https://half-apress.itch.io/60-years-in-space. Thanks to Andrew Doull for giving us permission to read this.

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[9] Make Your Own Hats

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re covering fashion – specifically millinery. It’s the 1921 book “Make Your Own Hats” by Gene Allen Martin. Find instructions on how to make a little velvet sailor hat decorated with ribbons and pom-poms, or maybe a classic, Napoleon-style bicorne.

This book is in the public domain. You can downoad it for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19740.

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[8] Famine, Affluence, and Morality

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is a famous essay – one of the most famous essays in modern ethical philosophy – called “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” written by the Australian philosopher Peter Singer in 1971. When’s the last time you donated to charity?

This is technically subject to copyright law, as Peter Singer is still alive. But this is a very famous academic essay and is widely available. You can read it for free here: https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil308/Singer2.pdf.

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[7] The Alchemists pt 2

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week we’re going back to Charles MacKay’s 19th century classic, “Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds,” for more stories about alchemists. Specifically: Albertus Magnus & Thomas Aquinas; George Ripley; Bernard of Treves; and Nicholas Flamel.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24518

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[6] The UFO Coverup: the Lear Report

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is a “working hypothesis” about the U.S. government’s coverup of UFO activity since the 1950s, by John Lear. Are aliens real? Are they here on Earth? Are they calling the shots? Much to think about.

This is technically subject to U.S. copyright law, but it was “published” by a whistleblower and presumably no rightsholder is in a position to object to its distribution in this manner. Download and read the statement here: https://www.sacred-texts.com/ufo/coverup.htm.

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[5] The Consumer Society

Thu, 29 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is the great French postmodern theorist Jean Baudrillard, with excerpts from his 1970 work “The Consumer Society.”

This English translation is copyright of Sage Publications in 1988. Despite its copyright, this is a culturally significant work published with the financial support of the French government. We assume the rights holders do not object to its use in this manner -- we are reciting the text in the spirit of fair use. Check out Sage Publications’ website: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-consumer-society/book252392.

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[4] The Book of Swindles pt 1

Thu, 22 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is our first look at “The Book of Swindles” by Zhang Yingyu (夔衷). This is from sometime around 1617 in Fujian province, China, and catalogs all the various scams, schemes, swindles, and switcheroos one might encounter in Ming dynasty China (or, indeed, anywhere in the world at any time in history.) This time we’re reading: “Pilfering Green Cloth by Pretending to Steal a Goose”; “Robbing a Pawn Shop by Pretending to Leave Goods There”; “An Officer Reprimands a Captured Criminal in Order to Halve His Flogging”; “Marrying a Street Cleaner and Provoking His Death.”

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[3] The Bacillus of Long Life

Thu, 15 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

You’re listening to Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is “The Bacillus of Long Life” by Charles M. Douglas. This is a 1911 work on the health benefits of soured milk and the importance of cleanliness in the dairy industry.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31691

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[2] Dr. Bronner's Soap

Thu, 08 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

This is Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts of interesting writing. This week we’re reading the entirety of a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Soap. Cleanliness is next to godliness, don’t you know.

Being the text on the packaging of an item in U.S. commerce, this content is in the public domain. Nonetheless, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps owns the copyright on this text, with all rights reserved. We are reciting the text in the spirit of fair use. Check out Dr. Bronner’s soap at their website: https://www.drbronner.com.

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[1] The Alchemists pt 1

Thu, 01 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the first episode of Short and Interesting – the podcast that reads to you short excerpts from old, weird, interesting books. This week is the first taste of Charles MacKay’s 19th century classic, “Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.” We’re reading a selection of stories from the section on alchemists. Specifically: Geber; Alfarabi; Artephius; and Pietro d’Apone.

Download this public domain book for free from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24518

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[0] Promo - Short and Interesting

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:46:33 GMT

Do you like short podcasts about interesting things? Check out this one -- it's called Short and Interesting. We find the best and most interesting bits of old, weird books about all sorts of stuff, and we read them to you. Simple, fun, thought-provoking.

Upcoming episodes include: stories about alchemists; classic scams and swindles; 19th century health crazes; the UFO cover-up exposed; indictments of consumerism; how to make hats; what to eat during wartime; etc. etc. etc.

Follow us on Bluesky, @shortinteresting, and visit our website plutocrat.biz. To discuss copyright, reach us at copyright@plutocrat.biz. All other inquiries podcast@plutocrat.biz.

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