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The Democracy Project: A History, A Crisis, A Movement (2013)

by David Graeber(Favorite Author)

4.1 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

081299356X (ISBN13: 9780812993561)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Spiegel & Grau

review 1: This book has at least three parts: an exploration of the origins and ideals of Occupy Wall Street, an exploration of historical conceptions of democracy, and an exploration/polemic on anarchist ideals, practices, models, and historical examples. At least trying to process the ideas in audio from (I listened to the audiobook), I sometimes wanted a few more sentences or a footnote to support and further explain Graeber's assertions; I've also felt this when reading his other writing. I feel like his snark is a little much sometimes, but appreciate the way he explores fundamental concepts and presses the reader/listener to reconsider their ideas. Also, it is odd to hear his writing read on an audiobook by a man with a much more "establishment" voice than David's - so much gr... moreavitas!
review 2: In critiquing the depressing history of central governments and their basis in claiming monopoly on the use of violence, Graeber excels. But the good is interspersed among inexplicably detailed descriptions of call and response tactics, hard to parse personal anecdotes of extremely specific figures within the circles he happens to be a part of, aggrandized accounts of how important it was that he was able to form a non-hierarchical general assembly within the general assembly of some hierarchical socialist student groups, and it is hard to escape the bourgeois castle-hoppiness of his participation in anarchist movements and events. He always seems to know which "it" person to call who is organizing an action all the while railing against movements relying on hierarchical leaders. His hit and run style attack on voluntaryism despite arguing for most of the book in favor of non-violent, coercion-free states of existence is bewildering and unsatisfying. How it is that anarchist society would not consist of voluntary exchange between individuals is beyond my imagination.But... hidden deep within the bowels of the libretto and spiel are some truly excellent considerations of the state and its insurmountable, inexcusable contradictions. If you're coming to this book after reading his "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology" I am not sure there is much in here to justify a new read. But I should say, if you're looking for an insider's account of the New York Occupy Wall Street movement, you will get an extremely detailed account of its progression as well as a behind the scenes look at its inception from Adbusters to the listservs and beyond. less

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