I'm only on chapter 8, where he finally gets to Bitcoin, but all the preceding chapters have been an eye opener. (I thought Keynes was supposed to be a bona fide economist; instead he seems to have been many other things, most of them unsavoury.)
If you're of the Austrian School, you will love this book. Fascinating.
I'll try to get back and update this when I'm done.
UPDATE
Finished reading the book. The title of this review should now be Great book on money, BitCoin, and cryptocurrencies..
The author cuts through so much of the enormous hype surrounding this technology, and the semi-mythical origns of BitCoin. He gives a clear, straightforward discussion of what makes bc special and its strengths and weaknesses (no it is NOT for buying lattes at Starbucks, regardless of how hip that might make you look; yes it makes an excellent digital store of value and could well become digital gold if it is not already that).
He gives logical reasons for why no other alt coin so far can compete with bc or is likely to dethrone it.
He does not enlighten us as to who or what Nakamoto actually is, but interestingly shows how this missing, anonymous creator of bc is actually another point in its favor.
And all that "wasted" electricity? Well, that is part of what justifies the whole thing, and becomes a matter of your point of view.
I think my favorite aspect of the book, aside from his take on gold, was how beautifully he explains that bc is now, effectively, a living thing with a life of its own and beyond anyone's control. If Satoshi is a single person, he is a genius.
The one thing the author failed to show, and that is one of my main concerns, is how bc can be considered beyond the reach of government and its bankster masters. Sure, They can't ever get control of bc, but kill it? That is another story. If anything, the author shows WHY They would want to do that. BitCoin is money they can't control. He does suggest that central banks could start to buy and horde bc, just as they do gold now. I ask: But would it be cost effective to print even more of their fake money to corner the bc market? We'll see.
One more thing: Refreshingly, compared to so many websites, blogs, YT channels, etc., the author never promotes bc; he is always realistic about its pitfalls and problems and what a risky investment it has been and will continue to be.
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Must read for those considering Bitcoin as a store of value
An absolutely mind opening book to the importance of BTC as a store of value for the future generation. A must read for anyone who holds alts or BTC. As someone who is eager to learn more and more about crypto, this book pushed me towards the Bitcoin maximalist view of things. Definitely a more difficult read for the average person like myself so I had to go over some paragraphs twice, but I still managed to go through it in 10 days. I¡¯ll definitely be coming back to it in a couple months to read it again and see what I missed the first time. All in all it is worth the buy! I just wish it came in paperback.
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- Reviewed in Canada on December 21, 2020Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
- Reviewed in Canada on October 1, 2019Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
- Reviewed in Canada on November 17, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
An absolutely mind opening book to the importance of BTC as a store of value for the future generation. A must read for anyone who holds alts or BTC. As someone who is eager to learn more and more about crypto, this book pushed me towards the Bitcoin maximalist view of things. Definitely a more difficult read for the average person like myself so I had to go over some paragraphs twice, but I still managed to go through it in 10 days. I¡¯ll definitely be coming back to it in a couple months to read it again and see what I missed the first time. All in all it is worth the buy! I just wish it came in paperback.
Must read for those considering Bitcoin as a store of value
Reviewed in Canada on November 17, 2024
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- Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2025Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
- Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Saifedean gives the world what is by far the best book about Bitcoin. This is also one of the best introductions to what money is. The book is easy to follow with interesting anecdotes and statistics.
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- Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
- Reviewed in Canada on August 28, 2023Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
- edoardoReviewed in the Netherlands on April 30, 2021
Another Extremist Bitcoin Propaganda book
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - R LReviewed in Singapore on July 24, 2023
Disappointed
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - Rozzi’sReviewed in Australia on March 19, 2024
A Must Read - To understand Money, Finance Habits and Bitcoin Basics
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - Pier FerraroReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2023
Essential Reading for Bitcoin Enthusiasts
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - Chris JReviewed in Japan on October 16, 2019
Read this now.
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