tangential - https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/10/14/book-review-against-the-grain/ (blog is back up)
I've not read the book, but New Yorker did a nice synopsis of it, as well, with some additional analysis. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/18/the-case-against-civilization/amp
yeah acoup is as good a way to waste an hour as i know of. it's what r/askhistorians could be if it hadn't been ruined by the academic influence part 2 for anyone who wants it: https://acoup.blog/2020/07/31/collections-bread-how-did-they-make-it-part-ii-big-farms/
Out of curiosity, what do you think has been ruined on askhistorians?
Interesting contrast in how 'excess' is talked about in this essay and the book reviews flag/b_b posted. Grains grown as the staples and the default steady-state is the household growing to eat the capacity of the farm, any excess consumed/given within the community VS grain allows taxation allows elites who collect taxes to reinforce growing taxable grain. They aren't incompatible views. I think the next installment on bigger farms will be more comparable to the ancient cities described in Against the Grain.