The Bitcoin Standard
The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $31.26
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
James Fouhey
-
Written by:
-
Saifedean Ammous
About this listen
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.You may also enjoy...
-
The Fiat Standard
- The Debt Slavery Alternative to Human Civilization
- Written by: Saifedean Ammous
- Narrated by: Saifedean Ammous, Guy Swann
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Fiat Standard, world-renowned economist Saifedean Ammous applies his unique analytical lens to the fiat monetary system, explaining it as a feat of engineering and technology just as he did for bitcoin in his global best seller The Bitcoin Standard. This time, Ammous delves into the world's earlier shift from the gold standard to today's system of government-backed fiat money—outlining the fiat standard's purposes and failures; deriving the wider economic, political, and social implications of its use; and examining how bitcoin will affect it over time.
-
-
Fiat whatever
- By Jerome on 2022-12-04
Written by: Saifedean Ammous
-
The Price of Tomorrow
- Why Deflation Is the Key to an Abundant Future
- Written by: Jeff Booth
- Narrated by: Brian Troxell
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We live in an extraordinary time. Technological advances are happening at a rate faster than our ability to understand them, and in a world that moves faster than we can imagine, we cannot afford to stand still. These advances bring efficiency and abundance - and they are profoundly deflationary. Our economic systems were built for a pre-technology era when labor and capital were inextricably linked - an era that counted on growth and inflation and an era where we made money from inefficiency.
-
-
old hat, homo deus did it
- By Anonymous User on 2021-06-29
Written by: Jeff Booth
-
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains
- An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology That Powers Them
- Written by: Antony Lewis
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There’s a lot of information on cryptocurrency and blockchains out there. But, for the uninitiated, most of this information can be indecipherable. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains aims to provide an accessible guide to this new currency and the revolutionary technology that powers it.
-
-
The most comprehensive book on crypto
- By Kindle Customer on 2022-09-20
Written by: Antony Lewis
-
Broken Money
- Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better
- Written by: Lyn Alden
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Broken Money explores the history of money through the lens of technology. Politics can affect things temporarily and locally, but technology is what drives things forward globally and permanently. The book's goal is for the listener to walk away with a deep understanding of money and monetary history, both in terms of theoretical foundations and in terms of practical implications.
-
-
before your try criticizing Bitcoin, read this
- By Dan Sherman on 2024-07-31
Written by: Lyn Alden
-
Principles of Economics
- Written by: Saifedean Ammous
- Narrated by: Saifedean Ammous
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Principles of Economics is a university-level textbook in economics that offers a clear and concise exploration of the most important economic concepts. This book is unapologetically Austrian in its approach. It tackles major economic concepts and topics independently, but in a logical sequence aimed at delivering the listener an understanding of economics at an individual and societal level, and the widespread implications of economics as a topic.
-
-
Best book I've listened to this year
- By Sebastian on 2023-10-28
Written by: Saifedean Ammous
-
Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can't F*ck With
- Why Bitcoin Will Be the Next Global Reserve Currency
- Written by: Jason A. Williams
- Narrated by: Jessica Walker
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Entrepreneur and investor Jason A. Williams is the first author to put bitcoin in context of the 2020 crisis - a year of financial disaster and unprecedented money creation (money printer go brrr!). Hard Money You Can’t F*ck With explains bitcoin in simple, understandable terms and maps out how this "magic internet money" will grow into the best form of money we’ve ever had.
-
-
The content
- By UK Monk on 2024-09-23
Written by: Jason A. Williams
-
The Fiat Standard
- The Debt Slavery Alternative to Human Civilization
- Written by: Saifedean Ammous
- Narrated by: Saifedean Ammous, Guy Swann
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Fiat Standard, world-renowned economist Saifedean Ammous applies his unique analytical lens to the fiat monetary system, explaining it as a feat of engineering and technology just as he did for bitcoin in his global best seller The Bitcoin Standard. This time, Ammous delves into the world's earlier shift from the gold standard to today's system of government-backed fiat money—outlining the fiat standard's purposes and failures; deriving the wider economic, political, and social implications of its use; and examining how bitcoin will affect it over time.
-
-
Fiat whatever
- By Jerome on 2022-12-04
Written by: Saifedean Ammous
-
The Price of Tomorrow
- Why Deflation Is the Key to an Abundant Future
- Written by: Jeff Booth
- Narrated by: Brian Troxell
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We live in an extraordinary time. Technological advances are happening at a rate faster than our ability to understand them, and in a world that moves faster than we can imagine, we cannot afford to stand still. These advances bring efficiency and abundance - and they are profoundly deflationary. Our economic systems were built for a pre-technology era when labor and capital were inextricably linked - an era that counted on growth and inflation and an era where we made money from inefficiency.
-
-
old hat, homo deus did it
- By Anonymous User on 2021-06-29
Written by: Jeff Booth
-
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains
- An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology That Powers Them
- Written by: Antony Lewis
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There’s a lot of information on cryptocurrency and blockchains out there. But, for the uninitiated, most of this information can be indecipherable. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains aims to provide an accessible guide to this new currency and the revolutionary technology that powers it.
-
-
The most comprehensive book on crypto
- By Kindle Customer on 2022-09-20
Written by: Antony Lewis
-
Broken Money
- Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better
- Written by: Lyn Alden
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Broken Money explores the history of money through the lens of technology. Politics can affect things temporarily and locally, but technology is what drives things forward globally and permanently. The book's goal is for the listener to walk away with a deep understanding of money and monetary history, both in terms of theoretical foundations and in terms of practical implications.
-
-
before your try criticizing Bitcoin, read this
- By Dan Sherman on 2024-07-31
Written by: Lyn Alden
-
Principles of Economics
- Written by: Saifedean Ammous
- Narrated by: Saifedean Ammous
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Principles of Economics is a university-level textbook in economics that offers a clear and concise exploration of the most important economic concepts. This book is unapologetically Austrian in its approach. It tackles major economic concepts and topics independently, but in a logical sequence aimed at delivering the listener an understanding of economics at an individual and societal level, and the widespread implications of economics as a topic.
-
-
Best book I've listened to this year
- By Sebastian on 2023-10-28
Written by: Saifedean Ammous
-
Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can't F*ck With
- Why Bitcoin Will Be the Next Global Reserve Currency
- Written by: Jason A. Williams
- Narrated by: Jessica Walker
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Entrepreneur and investor Jason A. Williams is the first author to put bitcoin in context of the 2020 crisis - a year of financial disaster and unprecedented money creation (money printer go brrr!). Hard Money You Can’t F*ck With explains bitcoin in simple, understandable terms and maps out how this "magic internet money" will grow into the best form of money we’ve ever had.
-
-
The content
- By UK Monk on 2024-09-23
Written by: Jason A. Williams
-
The Sovereign Individual
- Mastering the Transition to the Information Age
- Written by: James Dale Davidson, Peter Thiel - preface, William Rees-Mogg
- Narrated by: Michael David Axtell
- Length: 19 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two renowned investment advisors and authors of the best seller The Great Reckoning bring to light both currents of disaster and the potential for prosperity and renewal in the face of radical changes in human history as we move into the next century. The Sovereign Individual details strategies necessary for adapting financially to the next phase of Western civilization.
-
-
not suitable for the dead of brain.
- By bigkiddreams on 2020-12-24
Written by: James Dale Davidson, and others
-
Inventing Bitcoin
- The Technology Behind the First Truly Scarce and Decentralized Money Explained
- Written by: Yan Pritzker
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 3 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bitcoin may well be the greatest invention of our time, and most people have no idea what it is or how it works. Walking through its invention, step by step, this short audiobook is critical before you invest. Learn why Bitcoin was invented and how it works.
Written by: Yan Pritzker
-
Layered Money
- From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies
- Written by: Nik Bhatia
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this fascinating deep dive into the evolution of monetary systems around the globe, Nik Bhatia takes us into the origins of how money has evolved to function in a “layered” manner. Using gold as an example of this term, he traces the layers of this ancient currency from raw mined material, to gold coins, and finally to bank-issued gold certificates. In a groundbreaking manner, Bhatia offers a similar paradigm for the evolution of digital currencies.
-
-
Seemed like a take on "The Bitcoin Standard"
- By Patrick M. on 2022-08-18
Written by: Nik Bhatia
-
Kings of Crypto
- Written by: Jeff John Roberts
- Narrated by: Scott Aiello
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An expert, story-driven account of how Coinbase won the cryptocurrency game and set itself up to lead the future of banking and blockchain-based trading. This is the story of the people who made Coinbase, per PitchBook, “one of the most valuable startups in the US,” including the stoic, preppy founder and CEO Brian Armstrong and the bitcoin-obsessed former lumberjack Olaf Carlson-Wee, who turned their backs on the first generation of wild-eyed Bitcoin prophets to build something more profound and practical.
-
-
Enjoyed from start to finish
- By Oliver on 2020-05-17
Written by: Jeff John Roberts
-
The Bullish Case for Bitcoin
- Written by: Vijay Boyapati
- Narrated by: Vijay Boyapati
- Length: 2 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Boyapati presents the theory of money, the anatomy of Bitcoin, the reasons it is superior to the gold and fiat standards that came before it, and the promise that it offers to human civilization. He describes path dependence and the trajectory of a newly monetizing asset in terms the layman can understand, and he addresses the concerns that most commonly arise as newcomers struggle to comprehend the essence and significance of this first digital monetary network.
-
-
Core Values
- By Fabio Morais on 2022-01-24
Written by: Vijay Boyapati
-
Bitcoin
- A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System
- Written by: Satoshi Nakamoto
- Narrated by: John Riddle
- Length: 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bitcoin is a free open-source peer-to-peer electronic cash system that is completely decentralized, without the need for a central server or trusted parties. Users hold the crypto keys to their own money and transact directly with each other, with the help of a P2P network to check for double-spending.
Written by: Satoshi Nakamoto
-
Bitcoin
- Everything Divided by 21 Million
- Written by: Knut Svanholm
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We're all chained to the unforgiving arrow of time. We're born, we live, and we get old. At least, that's what we hope will happen. Then we die. None of us humans are millionaires in terms of hours, yet we sacrifice our most valuable and scarce asset just to stay alive in the hamster's wheel one more day. In pursuit of saving time, Satoshi stumbled upon a discovery of a new, weightless, absolutely scarce element. The showstopper for each and every time thief. Element zero. Bitcoin.
-
-
One of the best Bitcoin books out there
- By Dan on 2024-03-12
Written by: Knut Svanholm
-
The Creature from Jekyll Island
- A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
- Written by: G. Edward Griffin
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic expose of the Fed has become one of the best-selling books in its category of all time. Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician's secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. A boring subject? Just wait. You'll be hooked in five minutes. It reads like a detective story - which it really is, but it's all true.
-
-
Fantastic Book
- By Gabriel on 2020-07-01
Written by: G. Edward Griffin
-
Bitcoin Billionaires
- Written by: Ben Mezrich
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ben Mezrich's 2009 best seller, The Accidental Billionaires, is the definitive account of Facebook's founding and the basis for the Academy Award-winning film The Social Network. Two of the story's iconic characters are Harvard students Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss: identical twins, Olympic rowers, and foils to Mark Zuckerberg. Bitcoin Billionaires is the story of the brothers’ redemption and revenge in the wake of their epic legal battle with Facebook.
-
-
Entertaining but...
- By Ryan on 2020-06-12
Written by: Ben Mezrich
-
21 Lessons: What I've Learned from Falling Down the Bitcoin Rabbit Hole
- Written by: Gigi
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Like Bitcoin, these lessons aren’t a static thing. I plan to work on them periodically, releasing updated versions and additional material in the future. Bitcoin is an inexhaustible teacher, which is why I do not claim that these lessons are all-encompassing or complete. They are a reflection of my personal journey down the rabbit hole. There are many more lessons to be learned, and every person will learn something different from entering the world of Bitcoin.
-
-
read this if you want a primer on bitcoin
- By Jason on 2023-08-23
Written by: Gigi
-
Fiat Ruins Everything
- How Our Financial System is Rigged and How Bitcoin Fixes It
- Written by: Jimmy Song
- Narrated by: Colin Sherif Ghannam
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fiat Ruins Everything is an analysis of the debasement of the modern world from our banking system and real estate to our educational system and art. Learn why these systems keep getting worse and why Bitcoin will make things better. Fiat Ruins Everything delivers a knockout punch, unmasking the pervasive destruction caused by the fiat currency system while highlighting the hope found in Bitcoin.
Written by: Jimmy Song
-
The Truth Machine
- The Blockchain and the Future of Everything
- Written by: Michael J Casey, Paul Vigna
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Truth Machine, Michael J. Casey and Paul Vigna demystify the blockchain and explain why it can restore personal control over our data, assets, and identities; grant billions of excluded people access to the global economy; and shift the balance of power to revive society’s faith in itself. They reveal the disruption it promises for industries including finance, tech, legal, and shipping.
-
-
The best book on blockchain use cases so far...
- By Ben West on 2018-10-18
Written by: Michael J Casey, and others
What listeners say about The Bitcoin Standard
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Picard Yiu
- 2021-05-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rudyk
- 2021-01-20
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tariq Rana
- 2022-03-22
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ryan
- 2020-05-27
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Simon-Benjamin Lariviere
- 2021-01-11
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Maria Parra
- 2020-04-19
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Burz
- 2022-06-24
great information
great information packaged into an easy way to understand Bitcoin, its real world use cases and any misconceptions of the technology
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tippie
- 2022-06-21
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Warren S Climenhaga
- 2018-10-30
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-09-29
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!