The Bitcoin Big Bang: How Alternative Currencies Are About to Change the World Hardcover – November 17, 2014

Fantastic book to get you up to speed on the digital currency/blockchain revolution that has already arrived. The author, Brian Kelly, makes the subject matter relatable and easy to understand. Hope Mr. Kelly uses his expertise in this space to delve even deeper in his next book.

An excellent book talking about the history of Bitcoin, where it might have come from, what it is and why it is important. If you are not familiar with crypto currencies you should be; they may become the alternate to fiat currencies in these challenging economic times
Would have liked a step by step how to purchase Bitcoin instruction, though.

I enjoy Brian Kelly’s commentary on Fast Money and after listening to him tout the virtues of bit coin, I bought the book and opened an account on Coinbase. The book is easy to read, entertaining, and will greatly enhance your knowledge of the how and why of Bitcoin and kryptocurrencis in general.

Trader and CNBC-TV "Fast Money" regular Brian Kelly brings much-needed clarity of thought to the fascinating world of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. He writes with an easy, engaging style, whether he is explaining cryptography, blockchains, or monetary policy. His experimental foray into creating his own altcoin reminds me of the immersion journalism of A.J. Jacobs and only adds to his credibility and insight into this ascendant field. There is no substitute for first-hand experience.

Brian serves as a level-headed and knowledgeable field guide to an exotic new world polarized by extreme opinions at both ends of the spectrum -- from head-in-the-sand skepticism to wild-eyed hype.

I'll admit... I'm enamored with the possibilities for Bitcoin and its altcoin cousins. The more I learn about blockchain technology the more I can envision it impacting, if not significantly transforming, diverse swaths of our world, including real estate, banking, insurance, venture capital, gambling, supply chains, internet of things, identity verification, and voting.

After finishing Bitcoin Big Bang, I was reminded of Amara's law, which says, "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run." That could well apply to the blockchain. In the long run, "check it on the blockchain" could be as common an expression as "google it."

Whether you are considering investing in crypto or just want to stay current with the latest developments in finance and technology, Bitcoin Big Bang is the definitive guide to understanding the origins and potential of this emerging disruptive technology.

Well written, aimed at the layperson who is just learning about Bitcoin and the blockchain. Somewhat repetitive at times, as major concepts are discussed multiple times. However I found the book quite informative and enjoyable.

Good book about the Crypto money subjet. It taks a little bit too much about his own crypto creation and give some very long lists of examples.

This is a necessary and delightful book with a style that is essential when one considers the emotional and technical confounding subject of digital currencies. The concept of alternatives to banks, credit cards, and even legal contracts is so counterintuitive that the most difficult problem to solve in any book about the subject is how to make it accessible. Accessibility is accomplished with Kelly's "Fast Money" style (he seems to be a celebrity on that CNBC show — and a refreshing voice of reason at that.). He mixes the corny humor so common in the business world with serious economics (albeit narrow) and personal humbleness. Additionally, the book indirectly (and probably accidentally) taps into the passion of the Information Technology world's focus upon everything from "Net Neutrality" to getting the corrupting lobby influence out of our politics that the activist/martyr Aaron Schwartz alerted us all to (see the documentary "The Internet's Own Boy").

Blockchains, miners, digital wallets, enormous computing power, and thousands of autonomous geeks around the world all play a role in creating a universal set of digital currencies that may replace money, banking, bureaucratic nightmares, and the necessary and understandable lack of trust associated with the financial sectors. First we learn about Bitcoin — the powerful emotion and skepticism surrounding it, the concept of currency, and money itself. Then the mysterious mathematics and their secret creator or creators that make it all possible for free — thanks to the open-source concept and the hard-fought rules of "creative commons" (Kelly correctly does not go into these but the IT folks will immediately see the connection).

All through the book we see that he recognizes that the inherent problem with digital currencies is one of universal acceptance by the average person. This caution exists because the technology, the math, the secrecy of the inventor, and the emotional attachment to paper money, etc. makes any rational person very skeptical. So Mr. Kelly, with refreshing humor, walks us through his own doubts and foibles on the path to his own acceptance and bursting enthusiasm.

Personally, I cannot quite get my emotional and cognitive arms around the concept of digital currencies yet. However, thanks to this book, I am aware, excited, and fully understand the revolutionary potential.

Probably the best compliment that a reviewer can give to a book that he or she likes is to find only marginally related things to complain about. So here it goes. If Kelly would just jump on the "big money out of politics" band wagon, he just might find the right tool to regulate digital currencies in a way that works — indeed in a way that would make Kelly's dream possible. That is, toward the end of the book, he makes a big point about his fears of getting the regulatory part wrong — and getting it wrong is virtually guaranteed if elected officials must keep secretly shifting their positions toward the lobby money, thus guaranteeing that there will be no politician in a position to guard against "regulatory capture", which is a legitimate concern originating out of the Chicago School of Economics. This area is something that I wish the book would have at least acknowledged, especially considering its frequent references to the economics of Friedrich Hayek, the Chicago School's hero.

The only other negative about the book, and it is minor, is that Mr. Kelly, like most finance folks, seems to focus too much on the role of the Federal Reserve (e.g., I for one, am on Warren Buffet's side with his gratitude that our government can indeed print money!). Without question, monetary policy is the weaker of the two economic pillars but Kelly and the rest of us are thankful that the Fed. did what it did to mitigate the dual catastrophes of the banking meltdown and the too-late and too-much of a supply side stimulus on the fiscal side. John Maynard Keynes had it right all along but we only see mention of Friedrich Hayek in the book, who Keynes would have persuaded except for his untimely death.

I am glad that I bought the book and I await for the stars to be formed after this digital "big bang". Thank you Mr. Kelly.

John V. Lesko, Ph.D.

Outstanding introduction to cryptocurrency. Very well written by one who is quite knowledgeable in this arena.