About History TL;DR
Who Am I?
By day, I'm a data architect navigating the complex world of technology, data and analytics. By night (and weekends, and coffee breaks), I'm completely obsessed with history.
The name "History TL;DR" is my little nod to my tech career—because let's face it, we're all drowning in information and could use a good summary.
Why This Exists
I started this newsletter for two completely honest reasons:
First, I'm selfish. I love diving deep into historical rabbit holes, and writing about them helps me process and remember the incredible stories I discover. If I'm going to spend hours researching Alexander the Great and his conquests I might as well share it.
Second, history is too fascinating to keep to myself. Every week, I stumble across stories that make me think "How did I never learn about this?" I suspect you might feel the same way.
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How I Create This Content
I'll be transparent: I'm leveraging generative AI to help create this content, and for two practical reasons:
Professional development. As a data architect, understanding and working with AI tools isn't optional—it's essential. This newsletter gives me a playground to sharpen these skills in a domain I'm passionate about.
Time efficiency. The name says it all—we're all trying to be more economical with our time. AI helps me research faster, organize thoughts more efficiently, and focus on what I do best: finding the most compelling stories and presenting them in an engaging way.
The technology handles the heavy lifting of research and initial drafting, but the curiosity, story selection, and final voice. That's all human.
What You'll Get
Each post is designed for busy people who want a mental break from spreadsheets, meetings, and the general chaos of modern life. Think of it as a 5 minute vacation to another time and place—and a much better alternative to doom scrolling Instagram or getting lost in social media rabbit holes that leave you feeling worse about the world.
I want to make history accessible to everyone. Sure, I love diving deep into historical topics, but I know most people are busy and don't have the time or inclination for that level of commitment. Sometimes you just want the TL;DR—the fascinating essence without the homework.
I focus on topics that interest me and I am sure you will too.
The Promise
Every post can be read in about 5 minutes. No academic jargon, no endless footnotes, just compelling stories told clearly. I'm not trying to make you a historian—I'm trying to give you something interesting to think about during your commute or coffee break.
History isn't just dates and dead people. It's the greatest collection of human stories ever assembled, and most of them are better than anything Netflix has produced.
Welcome to History TL;DR. Let's explore the past together, one fascinating story at a time.
A Note of Gratitude
I should be clear: I'm not a historian. I studied history at school and remain nothing more than an enthusiastic hobbyist. Everything I share here is possible only because of the incredible work done by real historians, researchers, and scholars who have dedicated their careers to uncovering and preserving these stories.
As Isaac Newton once wrote, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Every post in this newsletter exists because countless historians have done the hard work of research, analysis, and documentation. I'm simply trying to pass along their discoveries in a more digestible format.
My role is that of a translator and curator, not an original researcher. All credit belongs to the academic historians, archaeologists, and scholars whose rigorous work makes these stories possible to tell.
Questions, suggestions, or want to share your own historical obsessions? I'd love to hear from you.
