49 pages • 1 hour read
David GraeberDebt: The First 5,000 Years
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber examines the history and conceptualization of debt over millennia, challenging traditional economic narratives by using anthropology, archaeology, and historical analysis. Graeber explores the origins of money, the relationships between debt and morality, and the impact of violence on economic systems, ultimately critiquing modern capitalism’s exclusivity and instability. This book discusses slavery and other forms of violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
David Graeber's Debt has received praise for its comprehensive and provocative examination of the history and social ramifications of debt. Critics appreciate its interdisciplinary approach and thought-provoking insights. However, some find the narrative dense and occasionally disorganized. Overall, it is a valuable read for those interested in economics, anthropology, and social theory.
Who Should Read Debt?
Ideal for readers interested in economics, anthropology, and history, Debt by David Graeber appeals to those who enjoyed Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty or Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. Insightful and thought-provoking, it invites critical thinking about societal structures and financial systems.