So, you’ve made up your mind to get into Bitcoin after hearing so much about its potential for financial gains for example, something your peers have hinted at for perhaps years now.
While your interest in Bitcoin is there, you may not yet fully grasp what Bitcoin is or how it functions. Not to worry as we’ve compiled a top 5 list of books that will help illuminate the essence of Bitcoin, its role as money, its historical evolution, and, if you are willing to go the extra mile, the technical side of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The Bitcoin Standard – by Saifedean Ammous (2018)
“The Bitcoin Standard” leads our selection because it nearly perfectly encapsulates what Bitcoin represents by comparing it to traditional fiat currency. The book is without a doubt a must-read for anyone new to Bitcoin and isn’t technical; instead, it dives into the history of money, discusses the concept of ‘hard money’, and explores why Bitcoin holds such significant potential. The author explores the principles of what constitutes ‘sound’ money and explains how, historically, deviations from these principles have led to repeated consequences, culminating in the collapse of currencies and sometimes entire civilizations. We were particularly struck by the discussion on the history of Roman currency.
The narrative progresses to discuss why gold has historically served as a reliable store of value, providing solid evidence that it meets the ideal conditions for sound money. The logic in this section is compelling and well-founded.
As the discussion shifts to the era of fiat currency, the book helps us understand important events like Bretton Woods and the Nixon shock, and provides insight into how different economic schools—Keynesian, Monetarist, and Austrian—perceive the cycles of capitalism. We were previously unaware that, although centralized economies are now seen as flawed economic strategies, the methods by which central banks manage interest rates and currency issuance still reflect those antiquated policies. In a democracy, this strategy gives governments a means to provide immediate relief at the expense of future, unclear hardships, likely to be inherited by subsequent administrations. This is a loophole often exploited by populist regimes.
The Sovereign Individual – by James Dale Davidson & William Rees-Mogg (1999)
“The Sovereign Individual” presents insights that suggest the book is unlikely to gain widespread popularity, with the authors foreseeing little financial profit from it. It offers a fascinating lesson in human history—not commonly taught in schools—showing you how little has changed in 2000 years regarding our dependencies.
The book discusses life’s basic principles—protection from violence and plunder—and how to ascertain when the cost of protection becomes excessively high, prompting a need to relocate. It contrasts ideologies like Liberal Welfare Democracy with Communism and explores the role of politics in these frameworks. The book also reviews monetary concepts and attempts to predict how this knowledge could be strategically used in the future.
Although it does not focus solely on Bitcoin, the book offers valuable context and a practical use case for the cryptocurrency, highlighting societal shifts that could be induced by this leading digital currency.
Inventing Bitcoin – by Yan Pritzker (2019)
“Inventing Bitcoin” is designed for beginners and effectively demystifies the complex principles underlying Bitcoin. Yan Pritzker condenses essential information into 106 pages, maintaining clarity and conciseness throughout, without assuming any prior knowledge from the reader.
This book is ideal if you are looking to understand the mechanics of the Bitcoin network in depth without getting bogged down in technical jargon. It covers cryptography, the importance of decentralization, how the software incentivizes various aspects of Bitcoin’s inflation schedule to ensure network security, and potential vulnerabilities. The book explains the development of Bitcoin, tackling each problem and its solution in a straightforward manner, making for an informative and swift read.
The Genesis Book – by Aaron van Wirdum (2023)
In “The Genesis Book”, the writer challenges the notion that Bitcoin appeared out of the blue, and instead details a rich history leading up to the development of the first successful decentralized digital currency. Written by Aaron van Wirdum, this book is a compelling read that’s difficult to put down—a rarity for historical texts. It vividly illustrates the contributions of the thinkers and technologists who laid the groundwork for Satoshi Nakamoto’s revolutionary invention, transporting readers through a recent monetary history, the competing economic theories, and the pioneering work of hackers and cypherpunks.
This book is essential for anyone interested in the origins of Bitcoin or if you wish to understand how a major breakthrough in computer science was achieved using mathematics and cryptography in pursuit of digital freedom.
Cryptoeconomics – by Eric Voskuil (2020)
“Cryptoeconomics” offers an in-depth examination of the economic theories that support Bitcoin. It analyzes Bitcoin mining, transaction validation, and addresses potential security threats. This book is more than a casual read; it’s meant for active learning.
If you are truly dedicated to understanding cryptocurrency, we believe this book is just right up in your alley. It isn’t easy reading, but if you want to grasp the foundational economic principles, money, banking, and price discovery, this book provides an unmatched source of information.
The author displays his expertise in economics by means of a detailed breakdown of the fundamental elements of cryptocurrency, and debunks widespread misconceptions found in mainstream and social media with rigorous logic and detailed explanations. Every sentence is packed with insightful information and foundational truths.