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David Graeber was a friend & he inspired me to write in more public, engaging ways. I had no idea that was an option until I read him. As a grad student, I emailed him after coming across his work (he replied, which given what I know now about profs & how busy is a surprise)
I first assigned his work as a grad student when I taugh my very first Hacker class: Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology (such a good book). I had one conservative econ student in my class and he loved David's book and ideas. His writing has that power.
I have devoured all his books. I laugh out loud when I read him and learn so much. He analyzed the social and cultural world with such force and grace and better: he inspired people to seek and demand a better world.
To finish and to commemorate him every so briefly, for many years now I've assigned this short piece in The Baffler to my large undergraduate class on science and technology (including this year) https://thebaffler.com/salvos/whats-the-point-if-we-cant-have-fun
His loss is a reminder: what is the fucking point if we can't have fun? And you might be wondering what the hell does this have to do with science? Well, a lot (read it, you won't be disappointed). It is such a good, brilliant essay. And it never grows old.
Everything about his work and life is a reminder: we do have an ability to change things--and for the better and while he was a devout organizer, his writing and ideas also show us they have power and force in the world. May you rest in peace David, thank you for all you did.
