theamazingfencer's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.75
My main complaint is that islt is a little slow to get into. It was also too dense for me occasionally but for the most part it was good.
This could definitely use a reread.
This could definitely use a reread.
ben_salad's review
4.0
Good! If you liked sapiens (especially the parts focused on money) you'll like this one. I'll admit that I lost the thread for a few pages in the middle but the second half of the book was a really strong and cohesive finish.
hapax_reads's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
One of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I could feel historical contexts clicking into place in my mind as I read this one. This book will make you smarter in ways that are very foundational for understanding the history behind why the world is like this today.
Incredible book.
Incredible book.
quiss's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
me_haugen's review
5.0
Read this one while I was waiting for the fracas at the El Paso Entomology conference to get all sorted out. I went mostly to see if any new bugs were out like a shiner beetle or a big fuzzy pet bug for people allergic to dogs or something. There were some pretty good talks though like "dessert in the desert" where some guy gave us lemon scones made with cricket flour or the first person to count all the legs on a centipede got a lifetime achievement award and their talk was pretty good. But, then I got into it with some Christian bug enthusiasts because they were saying even though he's more sentient than a normal worm, Earthworm Jim still doesn't have a soul. Anyway, some unfortunate words were said, I got beat up and halfway crucified on a paper mache butterfly. The only thing that saved me was some spider researcher saw what was happening and dropped a brown recluse on one of my enemies' heads. This book was good.
chadkoh's review
5.0
Very thought-provoking read. The destruction of the Myth of Barter, and the spanking of the field of Economics for perpetuating it, is the obvious centerpiece for this book. In addition to that, I have to say the de-linking of "the market" and "Capitalism" was another big blow for me. It is obvious to me now that these two are not the same, but Graeber does an excellent job demolishing the foundations of received wisdom.
I will likely read this book again at some point, next time in text, not only to highlight some of the excellent lines, but also to try and grasp his judgement on credit. Though he denounces debt and ridicules coinage, he seems to be okay with credit, at least in its traditional "honourable" sense. Certainly he highlights the predatory, but I think I missed his final stance in the audio.
I will likely read this book again at some point, next time in text, not only to highlight some of the excellent lines, but also to try and grasp his judgement on credit. Though he denounces debt and ridicules coinage, he seems to be okay with credit, at least in its traditional "honourable" sense. Certainly he highlights the predatory, but I think I missed his final stance in the audio.
jbogerhawkins's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
i didn't understand a lot of what happened in this book, but then in the afterward he said that the book probably won't be meaningful until we enter a different social epoch where the concept of the economy disappears from public discourse, so i feel kinda vindicated lol. it's always refreshing to read histories written by anthropologists, it feels like an intellectual home base for me.