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Debt
Debt: The First 5,000 Years | David Graeber
Every economics textbook says the same thing: Money was invented to replace onerous and complicated barter systems-to relieve ancient people from having to haul their goods to market. The problem with this version of history? There's not a shred of evidence to support it. Here anthropologist David Graeber presents a stunning reversal of conventional wisdom. He shows that for more than 5,000 years, since the beginnings of the first agrarian empires, humans have used elaborate credit systems to buy and sell goods-that is, long before the invention of coins or cash. It is in this era, Graeber argues, that we also first encounter a society divided into debtors and creditors. Graeber shows that arguments about debt and debt forgiveness have been at the center of political debates from Italy to China, as well as sparking innumerable insurrections. He also brilliantly demonstrates that the language of the ancient works of law and religion (words like "guilt," "sin," and "redemption") derive in large part from ancient debates about debt, and shape even our most basic ideas of right and wrong. We are still fighting these battles today without knowing it. Debt: The First 5,000 Years is a fascinating chronicle of this little known history-as well as how it has defined human history, and what it means for the credit crisis of the present day and the future of our economy.
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catiewithac
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This is a book everyone should read! David Graeber dismantles the myth of barter so effectively that he makes it looks easy to unriddle centuries of lies about money. I‘m surprised this isn‘t on the top of the banned book list; the ideas are revolutionary and refreshing. But maybe most people aren‘t interested in reading a 500+ page book about money and debt (they should!). Worth it in every way!! 💰 💸

batsy Nice review. I'm keen to read Graeber and this has been TBR for far too long 🙈 10mo
SamAnne Would it work as an audio? 10mo
catiewithac @SamAnne I listened to it! It‘s my favorite narrator Grover Gardiner!! 10mo
SamAnne @catiewithac thanks! I‘m going to check this one out. Sounds fascinating. 10mo
Mgruidae I‘ve been meaning to read this for a while. I may have to move it further up the list! 10mo
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Wellreadhead
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Book review for Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber
Check out the full review here:
http://www.athinsliceofanxiety.com/2019/11/review-debt-first-5000-years.html?m=1
#athinsliceofanxiety #debt #bookstagrammer #davidgraeber

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TheBookBaron
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Mehso-so

Interesting but repetitive as fuck. The first half hooked me, but I couldn't keep with the resting of the book, I mean, I finished it but I wanted to finish it so bad that I read the last part almost without catching what I was reading.

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taning
Pickpick

Different perspective economics and finance

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rockpools
Bailedbailed

I found the first 2/3 of the book absolutely fascinating, but I've come to a halt with this one now - sorry! He covers so much ground - from theology to philosophy, economics, history, anthropology, a global scope, slavery, women's roles... The final part looks at the history of currencies, and I think I'd just got what I needed to out of this book by that point. Definitely worth a look and full of interesting info. Just too much for me right now!

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rockpools
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The cover really doesn't do this one justice! Still enjoying it (I'm about 10 hours in now!), although I'm beginning to flag a little. It's an epic anthropological study of debt, with surprisingly little focus on 'money' - we've had economics, philosophy, trade, religion, slavery, honour, and we've visited cultures around the world & across time. The role & status of women in society is a strong theme throughout. Fascinating read!

Rebeccak Do you recommend this on audio? 8y
rockpools @Rebeccak Slightly hesitant yes. This is the first non-fic I've done on audio, so not much to compare - I've struggled with audio in the past. This has kept me engaged & doesn't bug me, but I don't love it. Don't think i'd have got this far this quick in print. There was mention of diagrams, but it's all making sense/flowing fine without images. 8y
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rockpools
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So my craving for non-fiction ended up with me starting this on Audio. Not at all what I expected so far, and all the better for it. This is a study of debt and economics from the point of view of an anthropologist, looking back through time and across cultures, and critiquing some of our assumptions about debt, money and economics. So far, so fascinating. Surprisingly.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa That sounds very interesting! 8y
rockpools @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I'm not sure if I'll feel the same way after 17 hours of it (!!!), but so far, it is! 8y
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andrlik
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Reading in the hotel bar. Key lime pie, an old fashioned, and the history of credit and coinage systems. Oddly it all flows together.