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Jacob Goldstein

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Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing Hardcover – Illustrated, September 8, 2020

by Jacob Goldstein (Author)

4.6 1,832 ratings

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The co-host of the popular NPR podcast Planet Money provides a well-researched, entertaining, somewhat irreverent look at how money is a made-up thing that has evolved over time to suit humanity's changing needs.

Money only works because we all agree to believe in it. In Money, Jacob Goldstein shows how money is a useful fiction that has shaped societies for thousands of years, from the rise of coins in ancient Greece to the first stock market in Amsterdam to the emergence of shadow banking in the 21st century.

At the heart of the story are the fringe thinkers and world leaders who reimagined money. Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor, created paper money backed by nothing, centuries before it appeared in the west. John Law, a professional gambler and convicted murderer, brought modern money to France (and destroyed the country's economy). The cypherpunks, a group of radical libertarian computer programmers, paved the way for bitcoin.

One thing they all realized: what counts as money (and what doesn't) is the result of choices we make, and those choices have a profound effect on who gets more stuff and who gets less, who gets to take risks when times are good, and who gets screwed when things go bad.

Lively, accessible, and full of interesting details (like the 43-pound copper coins that 17th-century Swedes carried strapped to their backs), Money is the story of the choices that gave us money as we know it today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Publishers Weekly Top 10 Selection in Business & Economics

"Jacob Goldstein is a lucid, entertaining explainer of all things economic."
―Ira Glass, host and executive producer of "This American Life"

"A sweeping new history....Money is fast-paced and chatty: We meet all the characters an academic book would include, their ideas and innovations blended with scandal and gossip to propel the story along. The effect is a history of currency full of astonishing tales you might tell a friend in the pub....This story gets to the heart of why money matters....Money should be required reading for every financial regulator....Money is great preparation for turbulent times: a vibrant and accessible grounding in how the evolution of cash -- organic, random, and social -- really works."
―The New York Times

"Jacob Goldstein makes the complexities of economics and monetary policy not just comprehensible, but also genuinely fascinating. Charting the history of money becomes a lens through which to understand human history, and how we arrived at now."―John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars

"Jacob Goldstein of 'Planet Money' has a remarkable gift for making complicated economic issues beguilingly simple. He has written a wonderfully entertaining, freewheeling history of money, told with all the verve and wit and smart insights that have made his NPR show such a success."―Liaquat Ahamed, author of Pulitzer Prize winner Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World

"With shrewd observations and snappy anecdotes, Goldstein... shows how currency may be humanity's most successful fiction."―The New York Times (Editors' Choice)

"This is largely an optimistic book... money might be the one thing that we all still believe in....There's very little moralizing in [the] book."
―NPR "Morning Edition"

"It's no surprise that money has taken us on some wild rides over the centuries. In Money, Goldstein invites readers along for those adventures, serving as a first-rate tour guide throughout."
―Columbia magazine

"It is rare for a work on a subject so fraught with interpretation and misinterpretation to be both funny and accessible, beautiful and conversational, but Goldstein's Money hits the bullseye in every respect. It made me look at my wallet and its musty contents with fresh eyes. A must-read."―Gary Shteyngart, author of the New York Times bestsellers Little Failure and Super Sad True Love Story

“Certainly one of the most entertaining [books about the history of currency]….Jacob Goldstein covers over five millennia, including witty, incisive, and sometimes surprising takes.”―Reuters

"Goldstein is a master storyteller who weaves an intriguing tale of how money and economic systems rose, fell, and rose again. In his hands, money disappears and the personalities and motives of centuries-old influencers emerge in vivid detail to paint a picture of the history that has given us our current monetary system."
―Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan

"[Money is] jaunty, comedic, short, and informative."―"The Gist" with Mike Pesta

"Thoroughly researched but thoroughly entertaining... told as a series of stories by one of radio's great storytellers."―Radio Spectrum

"A brisk, brightly told history....Goldstein deftly clarifies economic concepts....An informative primer from a genial guide."
―Kirkus Reviews

"Goldstein's entertaining storytelling style makes complicated ideas clear and engaging. Money is a must-read for all those who've ever wondered what their paycheck actually means."
―Booklist (starred review)

About the Author

Jacob Goldstein is the host of the podcast What’s Your Problem? Previously, he hosted NPR's Planet Money for more than a decade. His work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, and Morning Edition, and he was a reporter at the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald, and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. He lives, perhaps inevitably, in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing; Illustrated edition (September 8, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031641719X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316417198
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.85 x 1.2 x 8.55 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #401,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #267 in Money & Monetary Policy (Books)
- #425 in Sociology of Class
- #708 in History of Civilization & Culture

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,832 ratings

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Jacob Goldstein is the cohost of NPR's Planet Money. He has written about money for the New York Times Magazine, and his stories have aired on This American Life, All Things Considered and Morning Edition. He previously worked as a reporter at the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, two kids, and a small dog.

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and easy to read. They appreciate the informative content and thorough research on money history. The book provides an entertaining overview of events and characters in a relatable way. Overall, customers find it an enjoyable and entertaining read that provides a good introduction to the subject.

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Readability Information quality History of money Storytelling Entertainment value

70 customers mention "Readability"70 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand, with a conversational writing style. They say it's a good read for people new to the subject of money, providing a concise and entertaining account. The writing is considered accessible and a must-read for adults.

"...The ratio of how conversational, funny, and easy to read this book is, to how educational and well-reasoned, is truly an accomplishment...." Read more

"Few books have I ever read that were so easy to read and yet contained such valuable information...." Read more

"...Still, as a primer on Fiat systems, it is a wonderful read and a warning to anyone who has money in a wallet or a bank." Read more

"...The writing was very conversational, and Jacob Goldstein does a good job getting across the main idea of a topic, with interesting anecdotes..." Read more

44 customers mention "Information quality"44 positive0 negative

Customers find this book informative and engaging. It provides a good introduction to the subject while offering new insights. The analysis is thorough, tackling misconceptions and providing a quick read that appeals to both experts and novices.

"...of how conversational, funny, and easy to read this book is, to how educational and well-reasoned, is truly an accomplishment...." Read more

"...have I ever read that were so easy to read and yet contained such valuable information...." Read more

"...It is fascinating to learn the details of how money was used to replace a barter system...." Read more

"...Also a great insight on the true reason for the crash of 2008 along with good bit coin analyzation." Read more

40 customers mention "History of money"40 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an engaging history of money and banking. It offers clear explanations about how money works and how it has evolved over time. Readers appreciate the intertwining of financial evolution with American and world history, including the 2008 financial crisis and Bitcoin analysis.

"...The book covers the history of money; how money makes economies work better; and how the money supply effects the economy...." Read more

"The author has done a great job researching the history of money from the earliest of times through the most recent 2008 recession...." Read more

"...There's prob more thorough histories of money, but they're prob more dry and dense than this book--and if you just want to get the big picture and..." Read more

"An intriguing history lesson on money and its many evolutions. Helped me really grasp the concept of money and I feel empowered." Read more

34 customers mention "Storytelling"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's storytelling engaging. It provides a fun overview of history and explanations about how money works. It blends interesting stories about events and characters in an entertaining way. Readers appreciate the author's research on historical events and his ability to convey relevant information. The book is described as relatable, thoughtful, and informative.

"...The ratio of how conversational, funny, and easy to read this book is, to how educational and well-reasoned, is truly an accomplishment...." Read more

"...I think it genuinely gave me a broader historical lens and mental framework to think about money and finance." Read more

"This was a great book that combined history, facts, and great writing...." Read more

"...Filled with a good amount of the history of money but not too much too bore you...." Read more

22 customers mention "Entertainment value"22 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find it engaging, fun, and interesting. The book is described as lively, surprising, and hard to put down.

"...job explaining the history of money in a way that is light and enjoyable. But the book is not light in its content...." Read more

"Easy to read, entertaining and will give you a broad appreciation for just how much the concept of money has changed over the years...." Read more

"...He also explains the history of money in the US. It really is interesting and easy to read." Read more

"...'s reporting on Planet Money, so I was not surprised to find a lively and entertaining read about a topic that we take so seriously...." Read more

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A Different Name
Just Phenomenal
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2024
Verified Purchase

I loved this book for all the reasons I love Planet Money, and miss Jacob Goldstein there.

The ratio of how conversational, funny, and easy to read this book is, to how educational and well-reasoned, is truly an accomplishment.

It will sell you on its central idea: that what you think about money today, that what is assumed to be "real money" is an illusion. It is an extremely eye-opening truth about the world, and easily worth the short time it takes to get through its ~230 very enjoyable pages.

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3 people found this helpful

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John Bailey
Really a great book!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
Few books have I ever read that were so easy to read and yet contained such valuable information.

If you have a high school level education you can fully comprehend everything in this book.

If you are well read or highly educated in finance, economics and/or business you will probably still learn something in this book.

The book covers the history of money; how money makes economies work better; and how the money supply effects the economy.

Some key things you might learn are:

1) A shortage of money is as big a problem as an oversupply of money. One causes inflation and the other deflation. The later in the extreme can cause depressions.
2) When a universal currency is generally accepted across an economy, the economy generally works better.
3) When different currencies are competing for use within an economy, the one the government accepts as generally wins.
4) Long ago a fellow named David Hume stated that the wealth of nations is the nation's ability to produce goods and services and not gold as was what truly made nations wealthy. Today should translate that neither gold, paper currency or crypto is true lasting wealth. Food for thought!

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6 people found this helpful

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Jefferson Nunn
Great summary of how money is created and used
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020
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The author has done a great job researching the history of money from the earliest of times through the most recent 2008 recession. It is even slightly updated for the 2020 pandemic bank runs. It is fascinating to learn the details of how money was used to replace a barter system. Later, prior to the civil war there was more than 8000 forms of money!

The author really does a good job on those areas and in 2008 to detail out the creation and use of money. Further, the portrait that he paints on each participant brings forward a color imprint of the state of mind by the participants of that era. In discussing the recent ECB era missteps with Greece, one could get a good impression from the authors portrayals of those involved.

It is surprising then that so much monetary history - over ten years worth - is quickly ignored by the author. Cryptocurrency, while new, has a great deal of depth. Today, every single pillar of a centralized monetary system has been replaced by a decentralized version. Further, the notion of trust in a person or institution has been replaced by a trustless algorithm. The depth of analysis present in the earlier chapters has been largely glossed over in the later chapters and it is disappointing.

Still, as a primer on Fiat systems, it is a wonderful read and a warning to anyone who has money in a wallet or a bank.

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30 people found this helpful

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turtleJack
Great overview of the history of money
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021
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I thought this was book is great. I read mostly non-fiction and I can be critical of books written by journalists (have a bias where I want experts in the field to write books on their topic areas). But this book provided an interesting overview of the history of money, that did not fizzle as the book went on -- I learned something new in each chapter, up until the very last word. The writing was very conversational, and Jacob Goldstein does a good job getting across the main idea of a topic, with interesting anecdotes throughout. In the end, I literally bought three copies of this book--first one, for myself, then (as I was about halfway through) another copy for my dad (who also loved it), and then another copy for my friend for this birthday. So clearly, I like the book and think it will appeal to a broad set of audiences. There's prob more thorough histories of money, but they're prob more dry and dense than this book--and if you just want to get the big picture and main ideas, this is book is perfect. I learned so much from this book (money replacing barter is a myth, how money took off and then got quashed in China, the first stock exchange in Amsterdam, shadow banking, modern monetary theory, bitcoin and even predecessor e-monies). I think it genuinely gave me a broader historical lens and mental framework to think about money and finance.

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12 people found this helpful

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Jeremey Webb
Enlightening and Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
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An intriguing history lesson on money and its many evolutions. Helped me really grasp the concept of money and I feel empowered.

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One person found this helpful

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MikeL
One of the best books on money, and a new favorite recommendation for my friends!
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2024
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This was a great book that combined history, facts, and great writing. I would rank this in my top 5 books on money of all time and will be recommending it to my friends and family!

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One person found this helpful

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Stephen Johannensen
fun read
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great read for anyone interested in the topic of money.

Filled with a good amount of the history of money but not too much too bore you.

Also a great insight on the true reason for the crash of 2008 along with good bit coin analyzation.

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One person found this helpful

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timetobuy
TOP Notch storytelling.
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024
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The author has real talent weaving stories. A really enjoyable read.

I personally would have liked to hear more about the details of how the Fed & US government produces the money supply

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Alan M. Towers
A lively read on a potentially "dismal" topic.
Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2021
Verified Purchase

I found the treatment of "shadow banking" and the 2008 crash particularly interesting. Could have used a little more on the mechanics of money creation and government debt but I'm nit-picking. A very good read.

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Juzer
Great resource for understanding how money works
Reviewed in India on July 17, 2024
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I am compelled to rewrite the tagline on book cover. It does exactly what it professes. It explains how money is an imaginary thing, and how it has shaped up to be the way it is today. It explains money all the way back from barter system to the subprime mortgage crises in the US and all the things in between.

A highly recommended book if you are interested to know how the wheels of economy turns.

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Eric saul
Loved it!
Reviewed in Mexico on May 15, 2021
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Excellent book, the author has amazing story telling habilities, it takes what would be probably a very dry and very boring topic into a compelling story that becomes even more compelling because it's actual history

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abrandon
Excelente y esclarecedor
Reviewed in Spain on July 14, 2021
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Es increíble como un libro puede explicar algo tan complejo y a veces arcano como el dinero

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Quilter
Explains the evolution of money in an easy to read format/
Reviewed in Canada on March 10, 2021
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The book explains the concept of money, and how it has evolved since the first coins were introduced. The book is a light hearted and entertaining explanation of what could have been a very dry and boring topic.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A lively read on a potentially "dismal" topic.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for understanding how money works

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente y esclarecedor

4.0 out of 5 stars Explains the evolution of money in an easy to read format/

A lively read on a potentially "dismal" topic.

Great resource for understanding how money works

Loved it!

Excelente y esclarecedor

Explains the evolution of money in an easy to read format/