Money Is Not What You Think
Debt: The First 5000 Years
by David Graeber
Anthropology/Economics/History
TL;DR
This book basically drops the mic on the whole "barter came first" myth, showing how debt and credit were the OG ways people traded, long before coins were a thing. It's all about how social relationships and moral obligations were the real currency, and how debt has been used as a weapon to control people for millennia. You'll learn why debt jubilees were a thing and why we probably need 'em again, because society's been running on a "you owe me" vibe for way too long, leading to some seriously messed-up power dynamics.
Action Items
Spot a friend for coffee or lunch without asking for immediate payback. Just say 'I got you,' and see how that social credit feels.
Look at your own small debts or obligations. Is there one that makes you feel trapped? Make a tiny plan to chip away at it, or just acknowledge how it's messing with your freedom.
Hit the 'reset' on a small, annoying obligation. Maybe it's an old text you haven't replied to, or a minor favor you owe someone. Just clear it, or let it go, and feel that mental space open up.
Next time you use a payment app like Venmo or Cash App, think about why it's so convenient for that specific group (e.g., splitting bills with friends). How does it create its own 'mini-economy' for that purpose?
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Key Chapter
Chapter - The OG Lie: Why Barter Never Happened (aka The Myth of Barter)
Ever heard that story about how money started because people were swapping chickens for shoes? Yeah, Graeber's like, "Nah, that's total BS." He digs into history and shows that societies didn't start with random bartering. Instead, people were already living in communities where credit and debt were the norm. You helped your neighbor, they owed you one. It was all about social trust and reciprocal favors, not some dude trying to trade his cow for a haircut. This totally flips the script on how we think about economic origins, making you realize that human connection, not cold transactions, built early economies. It's a wake-up call to how much of our economic "history" is just a convenient story.
Key Methods and Approaches
The "You Owe Me, Bro" System
(AKA: Primacy of Credit and Debt)
Description:
Society didn't start with people swapping stuff; it started with people owing each other favors and keeping mental tabs.
Explanation:
Imagine your friend group. You don't always pay each other back instantly for every coffee. Sometimes you spot them, sometimes they spot you. It's an unspoken "I got you, you got me" vibe. That's how early societies worked, but on a massive scale. It's like a giant, ancient Venmo where the transactions were more about social bonds than cold hard cash. Money only came in when things got weird, like when strangers showed up or wars broke out.
Examples:
Your roommate covers your share of the pizza, expecting you'll get the next one.
A small community where people help each other build houses, knowing the favor will be returned.
Family loans where repayment isn't strictly enforced, but the obligation remains.
Today's Action:
Spot a friend for coffee or lunch without asking for immediate payback. Just say 'I got you,' and see how that social credit feels.
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