Scan barcode
dunhamrc's review against another edition
4.0
Graeber frequently indulges in the hidden assumptions and leaps of logic that he criticizes classical economists for, but even if his weaker arguments fall short, many of his arrows still hit home. And he presents a refreshing take on the misadventures that led mankind to fall into this mess we call civilization.
lydia_morris's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I really wanted to engross myself in this book, but struggled at times. The reflections back on debt throughout history were interesting to learn about, but as with Graeber's longer-form writing I can sometimes feel my attention drifting.
jackmedia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
drfontane's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
peebee's review against another edition
5.0
Good book, a good antidote to all the recieved wisdom about Econ that is mostly based on non-rigorous repetition of the unsupported assumptions by guys like Hayek and Friedman and the deliberate ignoring of hundreds of years of economic history and anthropological studies.
Apparently he caught some flak when it came out for not being 100% rigorous and sourced to proper economics, but again, when your book is stating simply that communism was more likely than barter, because that's how everyone NOW handles exchange with friends and family, basically the economic history version of 'The Sky Is Blue', I'm not sweating it.
Some stuff is a little huh? Like when he casually asides that the reason businesses in black neighborhoods aren't black owned is because the need to extend credit and mutual aid to their own people would bankrupt black business owners. Which I suppose means there are more black business owners getting loans and opening businesses OUTSIDE of black neighborhoods?
Anyway, if all I can point at is one line in a 350 page book (plus about another 50 of footnotes) that's a pretty solid book. Especially since he's not a trained economist, and people with PhD's in that field assume risibly dumb shit like 'labor is as fluid as capital' or rising tides raise all boats (for those rich enough to own a boat, everyone else drowns).
Apparently he caught some flak when it came out for not being 100% rigorous and sourced to proper economics, but again, when your book is stating simply that communism was more likely than barter, because that's how everyone NOW handles exchange with friends and family, basically the economic history version of 'The Sky Is Blue', I'm not sweating it.
Some stuff is a little huh? Like when he casually asides that the reason businesses in black neighborhoods aren't black owned is because the need to extend credit and mutual aid to their own people would bankrupt black business owners. Which I suppose means there are more black business owners getting loans and opening businesses OUTSIDE of black neighborhoods?
Anyway, if all I can point at is one line in a 350 page book (plus about another 50 of footnotes) that's a pretty solid book. Especially since he's not a trained economist, and people with PhD's in that field assume risibly dumb shit like 'labor is as fluid as capital' or rising tides raise all boats (for those rich enough to own a boat, everyone else drowns).
johnbeige's review against another edition
5.0
The most informative book I've read in the last few years. It's a very wide-ranging look at the way debt historically interplays with society(and government), and spend large portions of time debunking popular myths about markets, debt, and politics. His idea of a credit cycle could have been better drawn together or phrased as an idea, however. Even though he spoke of may individual pieces of his theory, they were never really drawn together to form an easier to grasp whole, which I feel was very needed for a book with such a large scope.
youngthespian42's review against another edition
4.0
DNF. This book is really good and well researched but I was not in the right place for it. I am seeking less information that makes me feel indignant about the state of affairs of this late stage capitalism hellscape. Highly recommend if you’re interested in the topic of feel morally bad for your debts and being under the boot of the plutocrats.