Money cover art

Money

A Story of Humanity

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Money

By: David McWilliams
Narrated by: David McWilliams
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About this listen

 *AS HEARD ON RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*

THE INTERNATIONAL #1 BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2024 NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WATERSTONES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
A 2024 BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE OBSERVER, ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES AND PROSPECT

‘A breathtaking, expansive and imaginative ride through the history and future of money from an author who truly understands it’ PROFESSOR BRIAN COX

‘Exceptional’ FINANCIAL TIMES

​‘A cracking book that is as enjoyable as it is readable’ PETER FRANKOPAN

‘Equally entertaining and insightful’ YANIS VAROUFAKIS
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MONEY.
The object of our desires.
The engine of our genius.
Humanity’s greatest invention.
From clay tablets in Mesopotamia to today’s cryptocurrency, global economist David McWilliams takes us on an epic journey of innovation, disruption and transformation that is an astonishing new history of our species.
The question is, over 5,000 years, have we changed money – or has money changed us?
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‘A fun history of money told through the stories of the chancers, cheats, scoundrels and geniuses who made it happen’ KATIE MARTIN
‘An impressive journey that fizzes with facts’ ECONOMIST

‘An eye-opening history of what makes the world go round’ EVENING STANDARD

‘Compelling, funny and original’ KATJA HOYER

‘If, as David McWilliams complains, economists take the fun out of money, then he is the exception that proves the rule: a man who could not write a boring sentence if he tried’ TOM HOLLAND©2024 David McWilliams (P)2024 Simon & Schuster, UK Economic History Economics World Money Imperialism Ancient History Taxation Socialism Capitalism
All stars
Most relevant  
I like how it went through different forms of money. I disagree with the analysis of Bitcoin. I am a strong supporter of Bitcoin.

an amazing walk though the history of money

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I love the history of money and have read many of the books that fit the genre. This brings some true and tested ideas on the history of money but some interesting and unique insights that I hadn’t come across before. David does an amazing job narrating this and his passion for the topic is evident and contagious. This was all round excellent and I’ll probably listen to it a second time in the near future.

Captivating tale with some interesting twists

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This book is well worth the read, even if you're not explicitly interested in economics.
McWilliams makes the compelling case that money is the medium of human organisation and therefore the vehicle of progress. He takes the reader/listener through history from pre-Roman times to today. Along the way he tells many fascinating anecdotes of money's role in times of conflict and hardship, and prosperity and progress.

Exceptional - insightful and enjoyable

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I think you best explain how Rome unravelled by the fact a credit society stopped expanding rather then them debasing their coins. can't believe you took this angle but you are central bank educated...

watch out, he's a gold bug

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