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The End of Money: Counterfeiters, Preachers, Techies, Dreamers--and the Coming Cashless Society Audiobook
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(2.99) - 204 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2012: Say good-bye to your beloved Benjamins, because the world is going cashless. So says David Wolman, and in The End of Money, he explores the drastic implications. How is it happening? What's at stake? Why does it matter? Each chapter of this timely and fascinating audiobook focuses on a specific aspect of the coming cashlessness. Its cast of compelling characters includes an end-times fundamentalist who views the growing obsolescence of cash as a sign of the coming rapture; an Icelandic artist whose claim to fame illustrates the complicated relationship between cash and nationalism; an American libertarian and coin-maker convicted on federal charges for the distribution of "Liberty" coins and Ron Paul dollars; and an Indian software engineer (self-billed as "the assassin of cash") whose firm is enabling digital payment methods that are lifting the living standards of thousands of poor New Dehli residents via their cell phones. Raising the stakes with a personal experiment, Wolman goes (almost) a full year without using cash at all. All told, The End of Money offers everything there is to love about popular nonfiction, rendering a complex subject entertaining and easily approachable for a wide audience while proving the ultimate adventurousness inherent in a curiosity about the workings of the world. --Jason Kirk
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"Really enjoyed this. I don't agree with a lot of ideas around digital currency and why it's better than hard currency but it was an interesting analysis of currency and what gives it value."
— Jon (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“[Wolman] presents a fascinating and engaging thesis…a crucial look at the role of cash.”
— Washington Post -
“[A] provocative new book…A tidy history of money and its discontents.”
— Slate -
“This is quite a romp, half digerotica, half travelogue…Whatever your take, reading this book will both entertain you and give your argument more currency.”
— Wired -
“Wolman dares to take a critical look at cash…Wolman’s investigation ensures that you’ll never look at a dollar bill the same way again.”
— Philadelphia Sunday Tribune -
“A thoughtful and engaging study…[Wolman] skillfully covers the essential themes of theories on the economics, politics, sociology, and anthropology of money; and he does so painlessly…This is a very well written study, and it has none of the alienating gravitas of an economics tome. The author follows interesting stories populated by colorful characters. And he explains difficult concepts with skill…One of the best books in a long time on a difficult subject.”
— New York Journal of Books -
“An entertaining and engaging canter through the world of money, both real and electronic.”
— Fiscal Times
Awards
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An Amazon Top 100 Book of 2012
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month, February 2012
The End of Money Listener Reviews
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" An interesting thought experiment into what cash and money mean to our society and the global economy "
— Chris, 2/20/2014 -
" The End of Money is a good book describing what money will look like in the future. However, much of the book left me unsatisfied and wanting more from the author. Also, while I enjoyed the personal accounts of the author's travels, it overpowered the real information. More information or a wider variety of monetary stories would make the book much more enjoyable. "
— Jeff, 2/4/2014 -
" A thought-provoking piece on cash and money; got me thinking about a lot of the relevant issues, and how I use money myself. "
— Shayne, 1/3/2014 -
" A quick read, and interesting enough, although I was hoping there would be more discussion of digital currencies. "
— Lindsey, 12/15/2013 -
" Informative, interesting & easy. Learned a bit, knew a lot already (being in banking). Would recommend it to anybody. I'm torn in my opinion if I'd prefer a cashless society or not, but slightly leaning toward that. I hardly carry or use cash these days as it is. "
— Rachelle, 12/7/2013 -
" A lot of repetition about a potentially fascinating topic: money. I don't feel any more enlightened having read this book. "
— Ruth, 9/14/2013 -
" Contains the germ of some interesting ideas; I would have rated it better if the ideas were given more in depth treatment "
— Trish, 7/27/2013 -
" Ended too abruptly. Author has a knack for being conversational and linear making the material accessible and endearing. Enjoyable and easy read. "
— Brandy, 5/9/2013 -
" Interesting, but never really got started. I think my new rule is that if your book is about your own personal experience of researching and reporting the subject, then you are either a)Thomas Friedman or b) not doing enough reporting and research to teach much about the subject. Or both. "
— John, 3/24/2013 -
" Very interesting listen, but I'm not sure I'd have given it such a good review if I read it. The subject matter lends itself to a one-day binge lecture listen. "
— James, 3/22/2013 -
" An entertaining and thought provoking essay on currency...it's history, current uses and its possible future. "
— Brenda, 12/5/2012 -
" A light read about how physical money will be replaced with a computerized equivalent which is good since money has germs and is easily faked. "
— Samuel, 11/19/2012 -
" Couldn't finish it. It wasn't what I expected. I wanted more about underground currencies. "
— MaryAnn, 7/25/2012
About David Wolman
David Wolman is a contributing editor at Wired. He has written for such publications as Outside, Mother Jones, Newsweek, Discover, Forbes, and Salon, and his work appeared in Best American Science Writing 2009. A graduate of Stanford University’s journalism program, he now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he received a 2011 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. He is the author of A Left-Hand Turn around the World and Righting the Mother Tongue.
About Don Hagen
Don Hagen has been behind the microphone since fifth grade. He is a nine-time winner of the Peer Award for narration/voice-over and twice winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also been heard in radio and television commercials and documentaries. In addition to his freelance voice work, he is a member of the audiobook narration team at the Library of Congress.