What do you guys think of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money"?

2639 sats \ 35 comments \ @Fabs 25 Feb BooksAndArticles

I've been thinking about re-reading "The Bitcoin Standard", but stumbled upon Lyn Alden's book "Broken Money", which seems like an absolute banger, too, but is it?

I'd like to hear something about it from people that have read the above- and similar books.

That's it, thanks.

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323 sats \ 19 replies \ @siggy47 25 Feb

It's funny. @elvismercury and I had a disagreement about which of these books is best as a first bitcoin read. Here, since you already read Bitcoin Standard once, I think it's safe to say Broken Money is the choice for you. It is a fantastic book. You will gain a strong understanding of money, which I think is critical to understanding bitcoin. Lyn is a great writer. Everything is explained clearly and thoroughly. Beware! It is a big book, and I know what a detail oriented reader you are. We may not hear from you for a while. Still, any time you invest in this book is well worth it. Enjoy.

522 sats \ 15 replies \ @ek 25 Feb freebie

I think Broken Money is the better read at any stage of falling down the rabbit hole.

I was turned off by Saifedean Ammous' lack of objectivity at times but what he wrote still made sense to me so fortunately it didn't turn me off bitcoiners completely. It was my first book about bitcoin.

In contrast, Lyn Alden does not have to resort to talking down and losing objectivity to get her point across. Her explanations and examples are good enough.

Lyn is like the voice of reason in this space.

Now I wonder who argued for which book. I would be willing to bet 10k sats that @elvismercury agrees with me haha

171 sats \ 4 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

Yeah, it got the best of me and so I bought a hardcover-version of the book just now...

I literally cannot wait, ek!

10 sats \ 3 replies \ @ek 25 Feb freebie

Happy to hear, you might finish the book before me haha

I'm only at Chapter 10: The Bretton Woods System.

Still better than The Bitcoin Standard but it's been some time. Maybe I should read it again.

50 sats \ 2 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

Both books are quite something in terms of pages...

You mean that thus far it's already been better than TBS?

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @ek 25 Feb freebie

You mean that thus far it's already been better than TBS?

Yes but my memories of how good or bad The Bitcoin Standard was fading. I think it was good but I don't remember much which is a bad sign.

In the 100 pages of Broken Money that I read so far, I feel like I already learned so much that I will never forget in my whole life but only time will tell.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

It's gonna take you a heck of a lot of time reading, re-reading and comparing what you've read in order to come to a conclusion- which doesn't mean that it ain't gonna be a heck of a ride!

I'm rooting for you, ek!

And for me, too...

60 sats \ 2 replies \ @siggy47 25 Feb

You are correct.

50 sats \ 1 reply \ @ek 25 Feb freebie

Why would you recommend The Bitcoin Standard over Broken Money (as the first read)?

Or do you have a link for the discussion you had with mercury?

20 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 25 Feb

When I posted my first learning resources post for the bitcoin beginners territory I said something like "if you are only going to read one book about bitcoin, read The Bitcoin Standard. " At the time I had already read and loved Lyn's book, but I didn't think of it as a bitcoin primer, but more as a brilliant monetary history book.

10 sats \ 6 replies \ @elvismercury 25 Feb

If you could have found anybody to take the other side of the bet, you would have won it :)

10 sats \ 5 replies \ @ek 25 Feb

Apparently I know both of you well enough already haha

Did you mention the same reasons as me?

Or do you have a link to the discussion?

152 sats \ 4 replies \ @elvismercury 25 Feb

Your logic is my logic. Lyn is what you read if you want to understand the complexity of everything. TBS is what you read if you want to own the Libs.

I've talked about this many times but couldn't find a good representative discussion to link.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

What do you mean with "Libs"?

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Enemy_of_the_state 25 Feb

I think he meant marxists, not “Liberal” in the classical sense.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @elvismercury 25 Feb

Generic catch-all for people more liberal (American definition) than you, whoever you happen to be.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

Hm, thanks.

reply on another page

90 sats \ 2 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

Hehe, well: as long as the book's worth the grind, I don't mind!

176 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 25 Feb

Also check out @elvismercury 's book club posts: #274195

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

I don't want to be spoiled, pallerino!

177 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 25 Feb

She did an AMA here before. Check it out: #64293

11 sats \ 0 replies \ @siggy47 25 Feb

Yes she did! It was great. That was before she wrote the book. Maybe she'll do another one and we can bombard her with Broken Money questions.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

That makes her even more dope than she already seems to be, solid.

31 sats \ 1 reply \ @Enemy_of_the_state 25 Feb

For me, Broken Money was less enjoyable than The Bitcoin Standard and especially The Fiat Standard.

It is more nuanced and detailed as far as how the banking system works, but I have to say I enjoy Ammous’ writing more. Maybe I’m just not intellectual enough to appreciate it. The early chapters about proto-money and early credit were things that were new to me in The Bitcoin standard, but not as much of a page turner if you already know it.

I’ll have to re-read some of the denser chapters to grasp some of the concepts better than I do.

I’m glad I got it, but for my brain, The Bitcoin Standard/Fiat Standard flowed better. If some normie shows interest those are the 2 books I recommend.

My sister in-law is a normie banker with a deeper understanding of it than I do, so Alden’s book is probably the better choice for her.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

Fair fair.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @JesseJames 25 Feb

Good read, still working on it. Nicely written with a lot of easy examples, references and comparisons. Not a Bitcoin book per se (although there is a lot of pointing to it), but more of a good historical take on "how did we get here?" It's refreshing to read a good book for a change :-)

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 26 Feb

Gotta know the history to understand the present, ain't it?

It's arriving tomorrow. 🌞

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Malachi17 25 Feb

Haven't read it but I have the impression that the people are the broken bit of money.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Quasianon 25 Feb

Broken Money is the best non-technical bitcoin book I have read so far.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @beorange 25 Feb

You should read it. It is an awesome book.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

You can bet I will.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @OriginalSize 25 Feb

I bought it in support of the educational effort but I can't stand to read about money or bitcoin in general. I get it but reading any more than necessary just makes me upset that the world ever left the gold standard and that it's going to take decades longer for Bitcoin to fix the money.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 25 Feb

Well, I honestly find it interesting, but I also like that I can be "smart" about a topic for once, if it's started, that is... 🌞

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Tef 25 Feb

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @jetecs6 25 Feb

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