David Graeber

Date of Birth: February 12, 1961

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: September 2, 2020

Biography

David Rolfe Graeber was an American anthropologist, activist, and author, renowned for his significant contributions to both academic and public discourse. Born on February 12, 1961, in New York City, Graeber grew up in a politically active family. His father, Kenneth Graeber, had fought in the Spanish Civil War, and his mother, Ruth Rubinstein, was a garment worker and a member of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. Graeber earned his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1996. He gained prominence with his academic work, particularly his research on Madagascar. However, it was his political activism and writings on anarchism, economics, and social issues that brought him widespread recognition. He was a key figure in the Occupy Wall Street movement and is often credited with coining the slogan “We are the 99%.” Graeber was also a prolific author, with notable works including “Debt: The First 5000 Years,” “Bullshit Jobs: A Theory,” and “The Utopia of Rules.” His writings challenged conventional economic theories and offered radical perspectives on social justice, labor, and bureaucracy. Despite his controversial views, Graeber’s work has had a lasting impact on both academic and activist communities. He taught at various institutions, including Yale University and the London School of Economics, where he was a professor until his untimely death on September 2, 2020.

5 Interesting Facts about David Graeber

1. David Graeber was a key figure in the Occupy Wall Street movement and is often credited with coining the slogan “We are the 99%.”

2. He was an accomplished academic who held teaching positions at Yale University and the London School of Economics.

3. Graeber’s book “Debt: The First 5000 Years” offers a radical rethinking of the role of debt in human societies.

4. He was a practicing anarchist who believed in direct action and was involved in various social justice movements throughout his life.

5. Graeber’s concept of “bullshit jobs” became a widely discussed idea, critiquing modern employment practices and their impact on human well-being.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from David Graeber

1. “The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make and could just as easily make differently.”

2. “Bureaucracies public and private appear for the most part to have the same basic rationale, which is to protect or benefit the interests of those who control them.”

3. “If you want to create a society based on mutual aid and solidarity, you have to start acting that way now.”

4. “Debt is the most effective way ever created to take power from the many and give it to the few.”

5. “A ‘bullshit job’ is one so completely pointless that even the person who has to perform it cannot justify its existence.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

David Graeber’s net worth at the time of his death is not widely documented, but it is estimated to have been in the range of $1 million to $5 million, primarily derived from his academic positions and book sales.