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  • The Bitcoin Standard

  • The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking
  • Written by: Saifedean Ammous
  • Narrated by: James Fouhey
  • Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (577 ratings)

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The Bitcoin Standard

Written by: Saifedean Ammous
Narrated by: James Fouhey
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Publisher's Summary

When a pseudonymous programmer introduced “a new electronic cash system that’s fully peer-to-peer, with no trusted third party” to a small Online mailing list in 2008, very few paid attention. Ten years later, and against all odds, this upstart autonomous decentralized software offers an unstoppable and globally-accessible hard money alternative to modern central banks. The Bitcoin Standard analyzes the historical context to the rise of bitcoin, the economic properties that have allowed it to grow quickly, and its likely economic, political, and social implications.

While bitcoin is a new invention of the digital age, the problem it purports to solve is as old as human society itself: transferring value across time and space. Ammous takes the listener on an engaging journey through the history of technologies performing the functions of money, from primitive systems of trading limestones and seashells, to metals, coins, the gold standard, and modern government debt. Exploring what gave these technologies their monetary role, and how most lost it, provides the listener with a good idea of what makes for sound money, and sets the stage for an economic discussion of its consequences for individual and societal future-orientation, capital accumulation, trade, peace, culture, and art. Compellingly, Ammous shows that it is no coincidence that the loftiest achievements of humanity have come in societies enjoying the benefits of sound monetary regimes, nor is it coincidental that monetary collapse has usually accompanied the collapse of a civilization.

With this background in place, the book moves on to explain the operation of bitcoin in a functional and intuitive way. Bitcoin is a decentralized, distributed piece of software that converts electricity and processing power into indisputably accurate records, thus allowing its users to utilize the Internet to perform the traditional functions of money without having to rely on, or trust, any authorities or infrastructure in the physical world. Bitcoin is thus best understood as the first successfully implemented form of digital cash and digital hard money. With an automated and perfectly predictable monetary policy, and the ability to perform final settlement of large sums across the world in a matter of minutes, Bitcoin’s real competitive edge might just be as a store of value and network for final settlement of large payments - a digital form of gold with a built-in settlement infrastructure.

Ammous’ firm grasp of the technological possibilities as well as the historical realities of monetary evolution provides for a fascinating exploration of the ramifications of voluntary free market money.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 Saifedean Ammous (P)2018 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about The Bitcoin Standard

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A necessary perspective on our modern economy

Amazing book from start to finish. Super insightful not just on the topic of Bitcoin but on fundamental economic principles and how our economies have been shifting over time. Presents the case for Bitcoin amazingly well and I am now a HODLer.

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Bitcoin Is here to stay. It is the future.

A must read for anyone wanting to stay ahead in the coming transformation and adoption of global cash.
Remember the adage ... “if you snooze you lose”.

Stay ahead or you will be left behind and you will forever kick yourself.

Your grandchildren and their grandchildren will forever thank you.

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A Great Lesson in Real World Economics

Forget everything you learned in Economics 101. This book opens your eyes on why the next generation will be poorer than us because there is no free lunch. Our kids will pay for what we enjoyed because of our own excess.

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Great Macro View - perfect timing for 2020

I actually got through this fairly quickly. It's got a lot of tech-talk, but its more macro in the approach and describes the monetary system currently, past systems, and how we got here. I'm not as keen on the technicals so it was very good for what I was looking for. Given our current central bank/printing money issues, BTC and gold will become more and more important going forward so this is perfect timing.
My next read on BTC will be a more current and where do we go from here viewpoint.

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One of the top books of my life

The story of currencies over time.

Incredible book.

You will better understand the world we live in

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If you want to invest time in a prosper future

An incredibly simple book to read given the complexity of the subject. You will be able to relate to your own experiences on the ideas of value and power of savings. To a lesser extend is also discusses one way of moving forward the economy.

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great information

great information packaged into an easy way to understand Bitcoin, its real world use cases and any misconceptions of the technology

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Best book on Bitcoin ever

I read this and it's so comprehensive, clear, and logical. I gave it to everyone I know and recommended it as the best book to truly understand the power and importance of the Bitcoin network to maintaining our freedom. Amazing read.

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essential...

...guide to understanding bitcoin and why it is so transformative. fantastic review of the evolution of money and our current financial system, and how bitcoin as a technology for money is far superior.

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Great Primer for Bitcoin

Gives a good summary of the argument for Bitcoin as a reserve asset. I think it is especially useful for people looking to understand this space

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