This beginning guide to economics will have readers thinking about the purpose, and not just the value, of money. From bartering, early forms of currency, credit cards, and digital payment, here is a clear and thorough introduction to money.

"What is money anyway, and where and why did it originate? According to Jacob Goldstein, this made-up thing has evolved over centuries and takes different forms based on technological advances, the needs of society, and often the crazy ideas of outliers on the fringes. Told through witty, historical anecdotes, Goldstein demystifies this ever-evolving tool from the invention of the first coins in Mesopotamia, to how China invented paper money centuries...

"Before there was money, there was debt. For more than 5,000 years, since the beginnings of the first agrarian empires, humans have used elaborate credit systems to buy and sell goods-that is, long before the invention of coins or cash. It is in this era that we also first encounter a society divided into debtors and creditors-which lives on in full force to this day. So says anthropologist David Graeber in a stunning reversal of conventional wisdom....

A sequel to the best-selling Currency Wars predicts a coming collapse of the monetary system while counseling investors on how to survive it, arguing that the dollar will be at the center of a crisis that will differentiate money from wealth. " "The next financial collapse will resemble nothing in history. Deciding upon the best course to follow will require comprehending a minefield of risks, while poised at a crossroads, pondering the death of...

"A series to build strong financial habits early on in life! How can I make money? What is inflation? What is the difference between a debit card and a credit card? Economics-and more specifically, money-play such a large role in our lives. Yet there are many mysteries and misconceptions surrounding the basic concepts of finance and smart money management. This set of True Books offers students the know-how they'll need to start on the road to financial...