Debt: The First 5,000 Years
Ratings44
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings44
Average rating4.1
The author shows that before there was money, there was debt. For 5,000 years humans have lived in societies divided into debtors and creditors. For 5,000 years debt and debt forgiveness have been at the center of political debates, laws and religions. The words “guilt,” “sin,” and “redemption” come from ancient debates about debt. These terms and the ideas of debt shape our most basic ideas of right and wrong. [source][1]
[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Debt-Updated-Expanded-First-Years/dp/1612194192/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
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Graeber frequently indulges in the hidden assumptions and leaps of logic that he criticizes classical economists for, but even if his weaker arguments fall short, many of his arrows still hit home. And he presents a refreshing take on the misadventures that led mankind to fall into this mess we call civilization.
