Sample
  • Broken Money

  • Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better
  • By: Lyn Alden
  • Narrated by: Guy Swann
  • Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (320 ratings)

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Broken Money  By  cover art

Broken Money

By: Lyn Alden
Narrated by: Guy Swann
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Publisher's summary

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. From shells to gold, from papyrus bills of exchange to central banks, and from the invention of the telegraph to the creation of Bitcoin, Lyn Alden walks the listener through the emergence of new technologies that have shaped what we use as money over the ages. And beyond that, Alden explores the concept of what money is at its very foundation to give the listener a framework to analyze and compare different types of monetary technologies and monetary theories.

The book also takes a distinctively human look at how money impacts the lives of real people, and how new monetary technologies shape the power structures within society.

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

©2023 Lyn Alden (P)2023 Lyn Alden

What listeners say about Broken Money

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  • Overall
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It’s the ledger stupid

Lyn Alden’s book is sweeping in its scope. She clearly put a tremendous amount of effort. Bravo. Part history lesson, part cautionary story. Highly recommend.

The only drawback was the performance. I have never slowed down the replay. Also impersonating the figures mentioned is unnecessary and gets in the way.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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the last money book I will ever need

Lynn addresses fundamental concepts of money that seem to be original. I have never heard of these metrics before and I have read most of the famous old money books. my only complaint is that she did not narrate it herself.

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Would I read it again?

Hands Down, I will read this book again. This was a great history of money and the future of “money”.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Possibly the Best

Having listened to and read most of the bitcoin books available this immediately jumps to the top. The Bitcoin Standard started my journey to understanding bitcoin, but Lyn’s description of the history of money is as good or possibly better than TBS, respectfully. Incredible work

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The best book on money, finance, tech, and history

One of the best, if not the best, book I’ve ever read about money, finance, tech, and history. Absolutely loved it. I’m watched countless clips of Lyn Alden on YouTube. Impressive and amazing. The book is even better than Lyn’s YouTube clips because it goes into more depth. Can’t recommend this book enough. I wish I had read a book like this back in college.

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Systems approach to a world-changing technology

Lyn takes an Engineering and systems approach to establish what money is, how monetary systems have evolved over time and how one specific innovation converges the fundamental concepts of money and monetary systems. Outside of econ and finance nerds, Broken Money is a must read (or listen) to anyone who wants to understand how our world operates, what’s broken and the solution to them.

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Precise and sober take on the future of money

In contrast with other books about the same topic, Lyn presents a factual and grounded take on the past, present and future of money.

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Well researched, thorough, informative.

The best not-Bitcoin, Bitcoin book I have ever finished. Makes a great case for improving our financial systems with Bitcoin.

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balanced

The author is especially good at presenting opposing points of view, for example Austrian economics versus Keynesianism.

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Best All Around Bitcoin Book

Lyn touched on elements of The Bitcoin Standard, Alex Gladstein's work, The Price of Tomorrow, The Creature from Jekyll Island, and other books. She does so in a way that is clear, consise and unique. This is my new number one recommendation for Bitcoin books. And at least 2/3 of it isn't even about Bitcoin!

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