LiegentDebt: The First 5,000 Years
In his explorative work, anthropologist David Graeber examines the conventional understanding of debt, money, and morality. Graeber's analysis spans millennia, revealing how debt has shaped human societies and the power dynamics between creditors and debtors. This short covers the origins of money, the myth of the barter economy, and the moral confusion surrounding debt. By reframing our understanding of debt and its role in shaping history, Graeber reimagines economic principles in pursuit of a more equitable future.
David Graeber was an American anthropologist, anarchist activist, and professor of anthropology at the London School of Economics. His anthropological fieldwork and theoretical insights have significantly contributed to the understanding of power structures, economic systems, and social movements, making him a prominent figure in both academic and activist circles. Graeber's influential works on bureaucracy, debt, and social inequality have shaped contemporary discussions on these topics.
Chapters
Similar books
If you liked this book, you'll probably like these books as well.
The Geographical Pivot of History
Sir Halford J. Mackinder
The scepter of power lay in the Heartland.
13:49 min
The Iliad
Homer
A foundational epic that shaped Western ideals of war, heroism, and the legacy of conflict.
17:30 min
The Odyssey
Homer
The epic's lasting power lies in transforming mythical adventures into timeless human experiences.
16:15 min
The Art of War
Sun Tzu
Intelligence and strategy determines victory more than weapons, numbers, or brave soldiers combined.
18:30 min
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
Mary Beard
Rome's contradictory nature, both liberating and oppressive, built an empire whose legacy endures.
20:12 min
In Defense of German Colonialism: And How Its Critics Empowered Nazis, Communists, and the Enemies of the West
Bruce Gilley
Historical prejudice against colonialism rears its ugly head despite anti-colonialism fueling totalitarianism.
23:02 min
The Vampire Economy: Doing Business Under Fascism
Günter Reimann
Fascism maintains the facade of private enterprise while state control cripples economic output.
20:26 min
McNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War
Hamilton Gregory
A lesser-known chapter in American history vulnerable lives were traded for political convenience.
17:24 min
The Gulag Archipelago
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Nazi horrors were heard around the world, but few survived to expose the atrocities under Stalin.
14:29 min
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
The stoic archer aims true while remaining detached from the arrow's destiny.
13:54 min
The Prince
Niccolò Machiavelli
The classic that brought us the adage, "It's better to be feared than loved."
15:47 min
The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature
Geoffrey Miller
What we find attractive is not only biological — it drives our survival.
19:50 min
The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility
Gregory Clark
Every country shows the same: you are bound to your inheritance.
23:14 min
Capital in the 21st Century
Thomas Picketty
Slow economic growth means rising inherited wealth, threatening meritocracy and political stability.
24:47 min
Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World
Tom Holland
A renowned historian explains how we're all products of Christianity.
18:26 min