Debt
Bold
Educational
Long winded

Debt The First 5000 Years

David Graeber2012
A fascinating chronicle of little known history of Debt Must we always repay our debts? Wasnt money invented to replace ancient barter systems? Apparently not, according to Yale-bred anthropologist David Graeber. In a stunning reversal of conventional wisdom, Graeber radically challenges our understanding of debt. He illustrates how, for more than 5000 years long before the invention of coins or bills there existed debtors and creditors who used elaborate credit systems to buy and sell goods. He argues that Madagascar was held to be indebted to France because France invaded it, reminds us that texts from Vedic India included God in credit systems and shows how the dollar changed European society forever in the sixteenth century. He also brilliantly demonstrates how 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. Debt: The First 5,000 Years is a fascinating chronicle of this little known history of how it has defined the evolution of human society, and what it means for the credit crisis of the present day and the future of our economy.
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Jim Hagan
Jim Hagan@aranyalma
3 stars
Mar 3, 2024
Photo of iamazoo
iamazoo@iamazoo
5 stars
Jan 6, 2024
Photo of Heiki Riesenkampf
Heiki Riesenkampf@hrk
3 stars
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Gavin
Gavin@gl
2 stars
Mar 9, 2023
Photo of Bouke van der Bijl
Bouke van der Bijl@bouk
4 stars
Mar 1, 2023
Photo of Matthew Royal
Matthew Royal@masyukun
5 stars
Feb 13, 2023
Photo of Félix
Félix@felyxorez
2 stars
Jan 9, 2023
Photo of Nelson Zagalo
Nelson Zagalo@nzagalo
5 stars
Sep 3, 2022
Photo of Rjyan C Kidwell
Rjyan C Kidwell@secswell
4 stars
Apr 7, 2022
Photo of Tara King
Tara King@sparklingrobots
5 stars
Sep 30, 2021
Photo of Ilia Markov
Ilia Markov@ilia
4 stars
Aug 1, 2021
Photo of Roger Amundsen
Roger Amundsen@gododger
3.5 stars
Aug 20, 2024
Photo of Cindy
Cindy@parkercy
5 stars
Jun 28, 2024
Photo of drew mcarthur
drew mcarthur@drewmca
4 stars
Jun 6, 2024
Cerebral
Inventive
Visionary
Educational
Long winded
Thought provoking
Photo of Vlad Kyshkan
Vlad Kyshkan@vladkyshkan
4.5 stars
Mar 9, 2024
Bold
Deep
Meaningful
Educational
Photo of Martin Heuer
Martin Heuer@maddin
4.5 stars
Jan 11, 2024
Photo of Navya R
Navya R@navyarav
4 stars
Oct 7, 2023
Bold
Original
Conceptual
Photo of Leland Foster
Leland Foster@snacks
4 stars
Jul 20, 2023
Long winded
Photo of Udit Desai
Udit Desai@uydesai
4 stars
Oct 24, 2022
Photo of Nick Simson
Nick Simson@nsmsn
4 stars
Jun 24, 2021
Photo of Konrad Lischka
Konrad Lischka@klischka
3 stars
Jul 7, 2024
Photo of Sebastian Leck
Sebastian Leck@sebastianleck
4 stars
Jul 4, 2024
Photo of Nick Truden
Nick Truden@youngdust
5 stars
Apr 4, 2024
Photo of Tony
Tony@mm263
3 stars
Apr 2, 2024