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An anthropology podcast weighs in on The Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia by David Graeber

Ashley and Les discuss Pirate Enlightenment as a book about a fictitious nation founded by pirates. They consider it detailed, engaging, and enjoyable, even if at times dry and overwhelming. They highlight how the pirates were able to deceive the King of France and other European powers, leading to further discussions on how present-day governments are also forms of make-believe systems. The discussion also focuses on the nuanced portrayal of the status of women within these pirate experiments and how magic and curses were used as systems of social control. However, one of the speakers questions whether, despite being aware of the tendency to romanticise pirates, Graeber ended up idealising them towards the end of the book. Overall, the speakers believe that the book delves into the complexities of pirate societies, moving beyond their typical portrayals as either swashbuckling, adventurous heroes or ruthless, bloodthirsty villains. 

The discussion offers a good summary of the book. It touches on important aspects of the book and draws comparisons between history and the present scenario.

The podcast Anthropotamus was started in the summer of 2021 (after 2 years of planning and COVID) by Ashley N. Baeza & Les Teems. The podcast “hopes to bring the love and excitement of anthropology to others and to promote the wonderful work of anthropologists around the world.”