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Debt - Updated and Expanded
- The First 5,000 Years
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins
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Debt - Updated and Expanded
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Summary
Now in audio, the updated and expanded edition: David Graeber's "fresh...fascinating...thought-provoking...and exceedingly timely" (Financial Times) history of debt.
Here, anthropologist David Graeber presents a stunning reversal of conventional wisdom: He shows that before there was money, there was debt. 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.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Debt - Updated and Expanded
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eoin
- 12-10-19
An exceptional read
Not what I expected at all but an amazingly informative read. There were surprises in every chapter and beliefs and assumptions were dropped one after the other.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Allan Paterson
- 15-10-18
Fantastic insight into how "money" really works
This is a great book to help your understanding of how our monetary systems got here. It poses an intriguing dilemma as to how it will all work out (or not) in the end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 02-12-22
A must
Insight to how money works ok relation to living. For anyone interested in humanity surviving another century!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Philippe Nadouce
- 19-09-20
The end of the myth of barter
Amazing book! Graeber is an encyclopedia and a brilliant mind. What a journey! Get prepared to be challenged if you were taught neo classic economics. The world as you know it is not what it seems to be.
Now, this book is about anthropology and it is written by an academic. Meaning : it is long and sometimes it can be confusing. For those who really don't have enough time I recommend them to start with the chapter on Axial age. I can guarantee that they will be gobsmacked by the erudition and the cleverness of Graeber.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Michael
- 19-05-16
Great book!
Great book, quite long & requires alot of attention but good valuable information! worth a listen (will have tp listen t it again! !)
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jag
- 06-01-22
By far the best Audiobook I've listened to.
Debt has shattered many preconceptions that economic textbooks take for granted and has changed the way I view the Economy. Although it's densely packed with knowledge Graeber makes it easy it absorb. Wonderful book. Wonderful Author.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Mr. C. Bell
- 31-08-22
Money: What is it good for?
Absolutely everything. This is a tremendous journey through the history of debt - monetary, in-kind, and monetary again. It has genuinely identified it and put debt in context for me. Great history, philosophy, economics and anthropology.
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- Joseph R Pearce
- 11-10-19
This book will change your politic and life
This book turns convential economic theory on its head. A must listen for anyone studying economics or politics, or any one wondering how money is created!!!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Patrick Fox
- 03-12-21
obligatory heading.
An interesting, if somewhat dry book at times.
Through taking an anthropological approach to the history of debt and the ever growing debt crisis, Graeber raises important issues.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S
- 16-09-21
astonishing
This was an absorbing listen, opened up different historical vistas in which the flow of ideas and evidence made for compelling listening. This also triggered a steady stream of logical sequences based on contexts that are not covered in the book but where the development of a nuanced perspective was inspired by the way the narrative of this book was constructed. One of the most satisfying listens. I'll have to acquire the paper copy now to dip into.
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