Too many books sit unread on my shelf. This weekend, I finally made my way to Debt, The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber (2011). The first chapter prepared me for disappointment. Graeber proudly announces his role in protesting the IMF and occupying Wall Street (I did not know his background before buying his books).Continue reading “Graeber’s “Debt””
Tag Archives: Steven Pinker
Economic Warfare
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (this time) was met with rhetorical resolve and (largely) unified economic sanctions by the West. [1] The mechanism and impact of sanctions is hard to imagine and – unfortunately – hurts the general public more than the oligarchs and political elite of Russia. The Financial Times is the best and mostContinue reading “Economic Warfare”
Better Angels
Uncle Jim pointed to a recent article in Science discussing Steven Pinker’s The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined (2011). I gave the book a quick read and found it a simple gloss on the benefits of global integration; hopeful homilies of an academician sheltered from the possibilities of violence. Pinker’s general thesis isContinue reading “Better Angels”
Protective Arts 