Against the Grain

A Deep History of the Earliest States

By: James C. Scott

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

An account of all the new and surprising evidence now available for the beginnings of the earliest civilizations that contradict the standard narrative

Why did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains and governed by precursors of today's states? Most people believe that plant and animal domestication allowed humans, finally, to settle down and form agricultural villages, towns, and states, which made possible civilization, law, public order, and a presumably secure way of living. But archaeological and historical evidence challenges this narrative. The first agrarian states, says James C. Scott, were born of accumulations of domestications: first fire, then plants, livestock, subjects of the state, captives, and finally women in the patriarchal family - all of which can be viewed as a way of gaining control over reproduction.

Scott explores why we avoided sedentism and plow agriculture, the advantages of mobile subsistence, the unforeseeable disease epidemics arising from crowding plants, animals, and grain, and why all early states are based on millets and cereal grains and unfree labor. He also discusses the "barbarians" who long evaded state control, as a way of understanding continuing tension between states and nonsubject peoples.

©2017 Yale University (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

As a complete layman, this is very good

Beyond popular knowledge, I know nothing about the cultural or economic history of early societies. This book strikes me as a very good entry point, as it seeks to accumulate the current state of research and disseminate it in a way that is thought provoking, and seemingly quit scholarly.

I never considered that there was a high level of "pro-state propaganda" in the way we are taught that states developed. I had never conceived that the development of structured sedentary societies was anything but a net positive for humanity. Based on what I learned in this book, that is not the actual experience of non-state peoples.

This book definitely sparked my interest in reading more about early human societies.

Very Eye Opening Audiobook

First let me say that I really appreciate Audible for creating this audiobook. Mr. Scott has performed a great service for us in writing this book. From a historical perspective, I had a very limit knowledge of how "States" came to be, having only read Franz Oppenheimer's "The State". But now, thanks to this excellent book, I have a more fuller understanding of their genesis. I was so impressed, that I immediately purchased (here on Audible) Mr. Scott's "Seeing Like a State". Many, many thanks Mr. Scott!

Also, Eric Martin did a great job reading the text!

An interesting perspective

I return to this presentation from time to time to ceep prspective. I recommend it.

Favorite book of last year

I’m a libertarian and paleo dieter and I loved this book. It blew my mind and filled in my understanding of history. I kept having to text my friends new mind blowing incites. I never before considered that states arose only with the cultivation of grain.

Outstanding

The evolution of of states sounds so familiar. I really enjoyed it. Fast flowing, easy to listen to, well worth my time to learn about this ancient history.

Performance is too dull

The subject of this book is exactly the sort of thing that I find interesting (the interaction of history, humanity and science.) The text was dense but interesting and accessible and I hoped it would expand my knowledge and enthusiasm for the topic. However, as presented it was dull and dreary and I lost interest each time I tried to get back into it. I ended up returning it.

Excellent

Well researched, well written. Excellent bank of knowledge. Narrator did wonderful job, great mix of lecture and storytelling! Must read for history enthusiasts.

History for the closet anarchist

Quite frankly astonishing. A witty, subversive re-writing of history that will forever alter my view of the modern state. Brilliant.

Stone Cold Truth. Get Redpilled Here!!!!

Stone Cold Truth. Get Redpilled Here!!!!

For those looking for freedom, this is required reading!

Challenges state-centric narratives about history

This is an accessible listen that covers a broad swath of history. I love books that challenge common knowledge with new evidence, and this book challenges received beliefs about barbarians and civilizations.

Lukas

I missed the wow-moment that seemed to have promised to me at the beginning of the book. Still, it is interesting to see a different point of view.

Very thought-provoking

Really fascinating book and, unlike some reviewers, I thought very easy to follow. Really made me question a lot of things I'd taken for granted about the early states. The author is honest about the limitations of the evidence after all this time but his questioning of received wisdom is really interesting. If you liked Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel, I think you'd like this.

History geek heaven

This is a thoroughly deep and thought provoking exploration of a pivotal time in human evolution, early civilisation and the first states. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the epipaleolithic and neolithic revolutions.

Good with some interesting insights

A good summary of recent scholarship that is accessible to a non academic audience (like me).

Not sure how appropriate some of the terminology is, like "proletariat" and "booty capitalism", but I am far from well informed on the subject.

The analysis is singularly materialistic; the cause of social change is explained wholly in terms of technology and the management of the surplus of wealth and grain.

Traditional historical narratives of development are complicated and undermined giving a broader context for the relation between different types of society, city and country, "civilized" and "barbarian".

The first chapters on pre-state agriculture and social organisation I found the most insightful.

Overall worth a buy.

Some great content but gets repetitive

There are some great points presented in this book but it could have been half the length - almost every idea was repeated several times and it felt like the author was meandering back and forth between a group of ideas, without a clear structure from the beginning to the end. Still worth a read through!

Neat and Brief Intro

Good intro to the theory of origin of states. The chapter about fire domestication and grains stand out for me (in line with Scott's "The Art of Not Being Governed"). I was disappointed by how the title teased talk about patriarchy and the means of workforce reproduction, and how little we got tho. for that, it seems Gerda Lerner's "The Creation of Patriarchy" continues to be the way to go. Overall tho, for it's short runtime, ATG gets four stars on poignancy. Pretty good if this is the only thing you'll read on this topic.

A Very Intriguing Look at the Past

Did Hunter Gatherers avoid becoming Agrarian Farmers on purpose? Are grasses and grains our real captors? Are citizens and barbarians two sides of the same coin? The research in this book answers many of these questions.

Fascinating from start to finish

Brilliant book that I can't recommend highly enough. Informative, strangely inviting and fun. Gives an interesting perspective on the origins of farming and modern society.

Interesting but deep

A very thorough and commendable thesis. Probably difficult for a non enthusiast to follow however.