As If Already Free

“Contains precious insights into what made David Graeber the most innovative social thinker of our time, and why the legacy of his ideas will inspire projects of emancipation for generations” – David Wengrow, Professor, University College London, co-author with David Graeber of The Dawn of Everything

“A must-read for anyone who believes in the power of academia as activism” – Sophie Chao, University of Sydney

David Graeber (1961–2020) was an American anthropologist and anarchist activist, who left us with new ways to understand humankind. This collection of new writing brings together his insights into one book, showing how deeply his work continues to influence us today.

Graeber’s writing resonates with scholars and activists looking to shake things up. The impact of his work is broad in scope, from birth to banking, and he picks open social hierarchy and political power to expose what really makes human society tick.

In today’s neoliberal world, we can turn to his legacy to provide a way for us to understand what went wrong, and how to fix it. This collection of writings is both an introduction to his life and works, a guide to his key ideas, and an inspiring example of how people are continuing to use his work today.

Holly High is an Associate Professor at Deakin University, Australia. She has written two books, Fields of Desire and Projectland. Joshua O. Reno is a Professor at Binghamton University, US. A socio-cultural anthropologist, he is the author of Waste Away, Military Waste and co-author of Imagining the Heartland.