The Department of Physiological Hygiene | Revisionist History | Malcolm Gladwell

In the final year of the Second World War, 36 men spent a year in a dingy set of rooms under the University of Minnesota football stadium. They were part of an experiment none of them would ever forget. What happened in the Department of Physiological Hygiene? Revisionist History uncovers a forgotten box of interviews in the archives of the Library of Congress.
Season 7 (2022)
#podcast #revisionisthistory #malcolmgladwell
ABOUT REVISIONIST HISTORY
Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every podcast episode re-examines something from the past - an event, a person, an idea, even a song - and asks whether we got it right the first time. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.
ABOUT MALCOLM GLADWELL
Malcolm Gladwell is president and co-founder of Pushkin Industries. He is a journalist, a speaker, and the author of six New York Times bestsellers including The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, David and Goliath, and Talking to Strangers. He has been a staff writer for the New Yorker since 1996. He is a trustee of the Surgo Foundation and currently serves on the board of the RAND Corporation.
ABOUT PUSHKIN INDUSTRIES
Pushkin Industries is an audio production company dedicated to creating premium content in a collaborative environment. Co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg in 2018, Pushkin has launched seven new shows into the top 10 on Apple Podcasts (Against the Rules, The Happiness Lab, Solvable, Cautionary Tales, Deep Cover, The Last Archive, and Lost Hills), in addition to producing the hugely successful Revisionist History. Pushkin’s growing audiobook catalogue includes includes the bestselling biography “Fauci,” by Michael Specter, “Hasta La Vista, America,” Kurt Andersen’s parody Trump farewell speech performed by Alec Baldwin, "Takeover" by Noah Feldman, and “Talking to Strangers,” from Pushkin co-founder Malcolm Gladwell. Pushkin is dedicated to producing audio in any format that challenges listeners and inspires curiosity and joy.
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[@ribter]

Got one up on you. I was in an airport Starbucks looking at the people in line and saw the author of outliers. I had just finished listening to”Talking to Strangers” He posed for a selfie with me. So thrilled.

[@galecreek]

Oh how lucky I am to live in a time like this. When I can hear my favorite author’s voice and his telling of the story. Long ago, I walked into an airport bookstore looking for something to occupy my time for 10 hours. Most of the books are entertaining drivel. And then I found Outliers . Listening to his beautiful mind working is so enjoyable.

[@rosequartz4102]

You took the words right out of my mouth! This popped up randomly on my feed today and I feel so lucky!!

[@InnaVitamina777]

Agreed. Pure bliss.

[@Martin-dg8xy]

Great job, Malcolm.

[@David-bi5eu]

Absolutely excellent

[@naftalibendavid]

Knew this story before but what a delightful telling!

[@joybeans10]

Thank you for this, Malcolm. 👏🏼

[@rubes8065]

Oh I love this one 💕

[@MnMcancook]

Knowing human capacity for both greatness and suffering is vital to knowing our true selves as humans. We are such complex beings that it is widely unknown where breaking points are and how to help mend them when the levy breaks. This experiment was not known to me before listening to this, so thank you for shining some light.

[@wienerjoseph7554]

Thank you sir

[@sivaaiken9206]

Although this is a wonderful representation, i must correct two points... The K ration was not named after Keys, although that is a common assumption. And, the subjects were volunteers... Conscientious Objectors to the war. I think this ought to be mentioned. Side note; The men found the licking of the plates less objectionable than the one subject who was caught eating from the city trash cans and was ejected from the experiment... A shame for which he felt was similar to a dishonorable discharge. Always a pleasure to hear Malcolm's take. I am grateful for his intellect.

[@MaryRuth72]

In a way, we do allow these types of experiments, but instead of in the name of science, we allow it in the name of entertainment with shows such as Survivor.

[@James-cz5hf]

That's about $$$$

[@floraflora3955]

These two episodes are amazing. I can't find the recordings of the participants in the experiment though. Can someone help?

[@L33PL4Y]

He told you, they're in the Library of Congress.

[@jjgallaher]

What a question! I'm going to stare at the wall now.

[@davidmansfield9167]

The truth is, we experiment on people all the time, but without collecting the data. All drugs and vaccines are tested within strict parameters before being released, but to find out the percentage of negative effects: if they are below a threshold the product is released. Detailed data should be collected on these side effects, and made available. But it isn't. We should be asking why?

[@alalalala57]

I mean, that's fair. If the negative effects are low, that's good. Testing it so no negative effects exist would take years and years

[@willmpet]

I grew up in Mpls. My mother was wonderful. She had a horrible accident one day coming back from lunch. She spent six weeks in the hospital with a shattered pelvis. The doctor told my father she should not have children, so she had two, fortunately for me.

[@L33PL4Y]

How does that have anything to do with this episode exactly?

[@johnbroadway4196]

Hunger manifest s itself with the eyes that are horrified by the multiple questions that are shocking. In any reason to the answers, We are all Oliver asking for more. To binge in a gluttonous hope of greed. The End.b

[@InnaVitamina777]

Stoicly Melodic♡

[@Luke2777F]

He invented data saying that saturated fat caused cardiovascular disease and that polyunsaturated fat was good. Today we know it’s the opposite. And even to this day many doctors still believe that high cholesterol causes cardiovascular disease but we are slowly learning the truth.

[@harperwelch5147]

We’re they paid? Why did they agree to do this experiment?

[@marylee8372]

They were Conscious Objectors doing "alternative service" since their religion prevented them from joining the military.

[@L33PL4Y]

Didn't you listen? They agreed because they thought it would be a way to help in the end of the war, to serve the country in an honorable way.