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  • Debt - Updated and Expanded

  • The First 5,000 Years
  • By: David Graeber
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (204 ratings)

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Debt - Updated and Expanded

By: David Graeber
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Publisher's 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.

©2014 David Graeber (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"Controversial and thought-provoking, an excellent book." (Booklist)

What listeners say about Debt - Updated and Expanded

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

some interesting bits but too long and opinionated

loved the bus about other cultures and the ride of credit and debt and money. but too much basic and misleading analysis of current and historical events especially toward the end.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Money a history from someone who isn't an econ

I found this an interesting, money, credit and debt are always examined through the lens of economics. So in that regard it was quite refreshing to hear about these concepts from a different perspective. However I personally found the argument unpersuasive. however I would still recommend this book for those who are interested in economics as it's an alternative view point that is well articulated and is at the very least an interesting narrative.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

important book

challenges so many taken for granted assumptions using lots of interesting examples - highly recommend this one!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Essential

Essential to humanity yesterday today and tomorrow share share share share share share share share

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Grover Gardner; wow

Something about this mans voice is very enticing he could read me how to set fire to the sun and I would believe it all to factual and accurate.

The book in itself just makes it very clear how fucked our worlds economy is and I can’t wait for the fall and the post apocalypse world.

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Very long, hard but worth it in the end

Very long, plenty of big words and easy to tune out in. Stick with it, trust me, it's worth it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I wish I had found this when as soon as it was published

A complete recount of debt, money, and coinage. Ahah. It’s the same thing from different angle. Well, I forgot about credit.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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enthralling

we have all heard the way that money and debt have been bound together . David brings a new spin to the process.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Unexpectedly Amazing - This book will change you

Where does Debt - Updated and Expanded rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In my top ten books.

What other book might you compare Debt - Updated and Expanded to, and why?

Its almost a combination of "The Ascent of Money" and "Guns Germs and Steel".

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favourite?

The last 4 chapters (Part 4) where Grover provides a summary of all that he has covered and applies it to our modern world of debt.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Anthropological study of Debt - The foundation of Religious Principals, Governments, Wars and Humanity

Any additional comments?

Great Narrator.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great first half, let down by the second

First half is a compelling history full of anecdotes.

The second half becomes a only somewhat coherent collection of the authors ideas of what is wrong with the world and how we should change it.

Read it for the first half.

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