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The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World

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The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World

By: David Graeber
Narrated by: Savitri D, Jacques Servin
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Drawn from more than two decades of pathbreaking writing, the iconic and bestselling David Graeber's most important essays and interviews.


‘The ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently,’ wrote David Graeber. This new collection brings together the renowned anthropologist, author and activist’s most visionary essays, showing him imagining a new understanding of the past – and a future based on humans' fundamental freedom.

Drawn from more than two decades of pathbreaking writing, and ranging across the biggest issues of our time – inequality, technology, the identity of ‘the West,’ democracy, art, power, anger, mutual aid and protest – Graeber’s essays challenge the old assumptions about political life. Despite converging political, economic, and ecological crises, our politics is still dominated by either ‘business as usual’ or nostalgia for a mythical past. Instead, Graeber shows himself to be a trenchant critic of the order of things, driven by a bold imagination and a passionate hope that our world can be different.

The incisive, entertaining and urgent essays collected in The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World make for essential reading. They are a profound reminder of Graeber's enduring significance as an inspiring and necessary thinker.

© David Graeber 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

Anthropology Politics & Government Social Sciences Sociology Socialism Capitalism

Critic reviews

David Graeber has always been an inspiration to me. Reading him fills me with both hope and joy... The tools he has shared to help all of us deconstruct the current reality we inhabit are invaluable. The more people that we can reach the more chance of a reimagined world is possible
Ambitious and erudite essays... An ideal entry point to new readers... for those returning to his ideas, the pleasure is in the writing, filled as it is with historical heft, global prescience, and a vast breadth of reference by the seemingly omniscient author... Graeber’s essays remain intense flares of thought lighting a path towards something better than “the best of all possible worlds”, which is a place where we all too readily resign ourselves (NJ McGarrigle)
All stars
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A great primer for Graeber’s work. I would urge anyone who enjoys being challenged intellectually to read anything he wrote - Bullshit Jobs should be top of your Wishlist.

A true genius

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Astonishing the ease with which David Graeber deconstructs our very sociopolitical fabric: unraveling the "West's hegemony", democracy, capitalism, the modern state, violence, and even love and hate. He proves that these seemingly foundational systems are, in reality, purely discretional and ultimately grounded on societal constructs. Far from the usual intellectual gatekeeping and the eurocentric perspective so characteristic of the post-colonial North Atlantic spheres, Graeber's proscribed intellect mops the floor with such "Academia".
Beyond a mere critique, "The Ultimate Hidden Truth of the World" is a radical invitation: a reminder of our shared potential to reshape every possible aspect of alternative human societies consensually, and that the toxic perpetuation of oppressive power structures is far from inevitable.

An almost comprehensive peek into Graeber's vast archive

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Big fan of Graeber but this is almost impossible to listen to once you notice the narrator with a lisp throughout. Obviously this isn’t the narrators fault but it’s such a shame that this posthumous work hasn’t been given the respect it deserves by the editors.

Narrator has a lisp!

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