The Book on Fire Podcast

Jan 14 2025 39 ep. 80 mins 203
The Book on Fire Podcast artwork

Discussion of books and ideas for our tangled times. Read along with us or just listen in.

  Society & Culture
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Season 3 Wrap-up: Life updates, Book updates

Jan 14 2025 54 mins  
Life updates, book updates, parting thoughts. Mentioned: "On historical materialism and The Dawn of Everything" by David Wengrow Endgame: Economic Nationalism and Global Decline by Jamie Merchant Lifehouse: Taking Care of Ourselves in a World on Fire by Adam Greenfield Organization, Community, Continuity by Peter Gelderloos Mad World: The Politics of Mental Health by Micha Frazer-C

Philosopher of Possibility :: A talk with Graeber scholar Nick Smaligo

Sep 12 2024 91 mins  
Our SECOND TO LAST episode of the season! We are joined by Nick Smaligo to talk through the major themes of The Dawn of Everything, and of Graeber's work in general. Nick was full of insights. Nick's essay on The Dawn of Everything: "Closing Paradise's Gate" Also mentioned: The Terms of Order by Cedric Robinson -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "S

Conclusion :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 12

Aug 14 2024 68 mins  
This is not our last episode on The Dawn of Everything, but here we discuss the concluding chapter of the book, which summarizes the book's project while moving forward on some of its new ideas. Next time we will be joined by a guest to help us think about the book as a whole. Mentioned: Secrets, Lies, and Consequences (about Mircea Eliade) by Bruce Lincoln -*- our Discord communi

Monumental Legacies (w/ special guests)

May 12 2024 80 mins  
We are joined by two of our good friends, who deliver a nuanced Indigenous response to The Dawn of Everything, centering on Chapter 11's treatment of Mississippian culture. They also share about an indigenous earthwork that they have recently helped to construct in the city of Bulbancha (a.k.a. New Orleans, Louisiana). Links to further reading, courtesy of our guests: The Great Pow

Full Circle :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 11

Apr 12 2024 108 mins  
In the last full chapter of the book, the Davids return to Turtle Island to argue against the inevitability of domination and to give historical context for the indigenous critique of European society. -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at [email protected] [[ Dave

Why the State Has No Origin, Part 2 :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 10

Mar 08 2024 78 mins  
Hungry ancestors, play kings, and copious cosmetics. The conclusion of our discussion of Chapter 10. Mentioned: One River book by Wade Davis The King Must Die book by Mary Renault Cover image from a fresco at Knossos, on the island of Crete. -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" and "Blind Owl I" by Big Blood. Buy us a coff

Why the State Has No Origin, Part 1 :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 10

Feb 20 2024 111 mins  
Regarding history, teleology and the state, and the three elementary forms of power. Our discussion of the first half of Chapter 10. Cover image from a detail of the Raimondi Stele from Chavín de Huántar, Peru. -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood. "That Glow in the Morning" by Sarah Louise. Buy us a coffee

Hiding in Plain Sight :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 9

Jan 30 2024 67 mins  
We finish discussing Chapter 8 and move on to Chapter 9. More early cities, and a type of democracy uncovered in Spanish chronicles of Mesoamerica. Mentioned: Henry Corbin, French scholar of Islamic philosophy, and his book Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn 'Arabi -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood.

Imaginary Cities :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 8

Jan 14 2024 129 mins  
Cities emerge around the world. What are they like? We return to discuss Chapter 8 of our book. Mentioned: Mountain Gardens website, instagram Fight Like an Animal podcast -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood. "Jewel of the Blue Ridge" by Sarah Louise. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.

The Ecology of Freedom :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 7

Oct 21 2023 83 mins  
We return from halftime to talk more about early farmers and the vast middle ground that spans foraging and agriculture. Mentioned: "Low Level Food Production" by Bruce Smith, 2001. -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood. "Offering" by Anna Luisa. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at [email protected] [[