Since completing my education, I’ve noticed a decrease in mentally stimulating activities in my daily life. For this reason I’ve been experiencing a sense of cognitive decline, feeling like my mind isn’t being challenged or engaged as much as it used to be. I’m looking for ways to stimulate my brain back. I’m interested in exploring activities that can help, such as reading, puzzles, games, and other intellectually stimulating stuff. Could you recommend some engaging and challenging options to help me get started? Thanks a lot
Books on early christianity (first two-hundred years) have been super engaging for the past 20 months. I’m an atheist, so this was a surprising topic to be of such interest.
For mainstream opinions, Bart Ehrman has a bunch of books. “How Jesus Became God,” was especially good, as Jesus only preached that he was the Mesiah.
For stuff that’s a bit edgier, there’s the theory that Jesus was an ahistorical figure (three books into that topic and I believe this to be true), you could try Robert M. Price or Earl Doherty.
You could also check out random wikipedia articles. Plus podcasts:
Noble Blood focuses on historical events through the lenses of nobility (I’m a history nerd).
Stuff the British Stole is a seasonal show that deep-dives stolen museum items and their legacy.
(Are you detecting a trend?)
The Fall of Civilizations podcast deep-dives ancient civilizations. Phenomenal.
(Spoiler: I’m a history nerd.)
History of Rome is a long series of short episodes from a historian. It’s very amateur at the beginning.
(There it is again!)