The Book on Fire Podcast cover image

The Book on Fire Podcast

Latest episodes

undefined
Sep 12, 2024 • 1h 31min

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

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: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" and "Thank You for the Path" by Big Blood. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Aug 14, 2024 • 1h 8min

Conclusion :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 12

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 community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
May 12, 2024 • 1h 21min

Monumental Legacies (w/ special guests)

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 Power of Small Nations by Elizabeth Ellis    [Ellis podcast interview] The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere by Paulette F.C. Steeves    [Steeves podcast interview] Gods of Thunder - Timothy R. Pauketat    [Pauketat podcast interviews here and here] ArchaeoEd: A podcast about ancient civilizations of the Americas A Sacred Path: The Way of the Muscogee Creeks Stolen Anarchy: Playing Indian & The Roots of Collectivism | TwinRabbit Plains Sign & the Myth of Indigenous Illiteracy | TwinRabbit Deciphering Cherokee ritual imagery deep in the caves of the American South nanihbvlbancha.net IG: @nanihbvlbancha _*_*_*_*_*_*_ Book on Fire Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood, Selections from "Disaster Prone" mixtape by Deejay Karo. Cover photo by Joe Darensbourg. Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Apr 12, 2024 • 1h 49min

Full Circle :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 11

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 thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Mar 8, 2024 • 1h 19min

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

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 coffee :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Feb 20, 2024 • 1h 51min

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

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 :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Jan 30, 2024 • 1h 8min

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

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. "R Mountain" by Sarah Louise. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Jan 14, 2024 • 2h 9min

Imaginary Cities :: The Dawn of Everything, Chapter 8

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.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Oct 21, 2023 • 1h 24min

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

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 thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]
undefined
Sep 19, 2023 • 48min

Against the Grain by James C. Scott :: Book Report

We continue our halftime break in our reading of The Dawn of Everything to review and summarize a book that is cited in Dawn, and written by a friend and colleague of the Davids. This book is Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States by James C. Scott. Among other virtues, it provides some possible answers to questions that Graeber and Wengrow persistently dodge. -*- our Discord community for further discussion -*- Featured music: "Stars Sewn Into Our Skies" by Big Blood. Buy us a coffee :: Email us at thebookonfirepodcast@gmail.com [[ Dave & Janet's Radical Vitalism :: Blog :: Instagram ]]

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode