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In today's issue: As we officially enter the holiday season, you're looking for gifts (both to give and to get). You're also looking for great books to read during your downtime. For lifelong learners, quiet holidays are a perfect time to absorb new information. In today's post, we've updated our popular list of Best Bitcoin Books for 2023, sorted by ratings on Amazon and Goodreads. Read on! | |
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Despite the madness of the past few weeks, good ol' Vitalik Buterin is continuing to move the conversation forward in positive ways. In his recent post, Vitalik suggests some principles for creating a trusted centralized exchange and avoiding future meltdowns. In short, if we can prove customer deposits on-chain (proof of liabilities) and prove that the exchange owns the keys to those tokens (proof of assets), then you have "proof of solvency." Investor takeaway: Traditional investors would call this "audited financial statements," but with blockchain, it's arguably even better as these records would be public, transparent, and real-time. This would have certainly helped in the case of FTX, where sloppy accounting was at the heart of the collapse. | |
Best Bitcoin Books for 2023 by Matthew Du | |
As the grandfather of cryptocurrency, bitcoin holds a special place in the hearts of crypto investors. There is no shortage of books about the history of bitcoin, the mysterious nature of its creator Satoshi Nakamoto, and how bitcoin and blockchain technology are changing the world. In updating our list of the top bitcoin books for 2023, we've compiled the quality and quantity of user reviews on major booksellers, factoring in overall clarity and readability. Read on. | |
Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can’t F*ck With Author: Jason A. Williams Goodreads Rating: 4.52 Number of Amazon Ratings: 853 Written by investor and entrepreneur Jason A. Williams, this book extols the virtues of bitcoin, especially in modern times when financial disasters and unprecedented money creation are making headlines. Williams believes bitcoin is “the best form of money we’ve ever had” while spelling out the dangers of central banks printing money. Easy to read, Jason A. Williams’ book is the best bitcoin book for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of bitcoin and the significant role it could play in our financial futures. (BMJ Rating 4.9) | |
Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond Author: Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar Goodreads Rating: 3.96 Number of Amazon Ratings: 807 Written by Placeholder VC’s Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar, Cryptoassets provides a valuable guide to assessing crypto assets’ worth and managing portfolios along with the risks associated with crypto. The book also provides a guide to the various platforms and dares to take a glimpse into the future. Suitable for both the more advanced investor and those seeking a greater understanding of the topic. Cryptoassets scores extra points for being one of the few to cover crypto markets and investment in such detail, but it loses points for not fully detailing the negatives and positives of investing in crypto. (BMJ Rating 4.5) | |
Bitcoin Clarity: The Complete Beginners Guide to Understanding Author: Kiara Bickers Goodreads Rating: 4.20 Number of Amazon Ratings: 88 Written by Kiara Bickers, this guide to bitcoin provides a comprehensive overview while breaking down a complex topic into easy-to-understand text. Those considering making the leap into the crypto world who want to see bitcoin explained clearly and concisely will appreciate the fundamentals covered in the book including how bitcoin works and its growing popularity. Bitcoin Clarity is among the best bitcoin books for beginners and provides a refresher for established investors. Some describe it as the best bitcoin book they’ve read. However, for a book aimed at beginners, it includes technical analysis, which some readers may find hard to follow. (BMJ Rating 4.5) | |
The Internet of Money Author: Andreas Antonopoulos Goodreads Rating: 4.07 Number of Amazon Ratings: 1254 Written by vocal bitcoin advocate and computer scientist Andreas Antonopoulos, The Internet of Money answers the question, “Why bitcoin?” The book contextualizes the significance of bitcoin through a series of essays covering the maturation of the digital currency over time. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology that Powers Them Author: Anthony Lewis Goodreads Rating: 4.14 Number of Amazon Ratings: 1031 Written by Anthony Lewis, The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology that Powers Them is a clear, concise, and witty look at bitcoin and the uses and implications of blockchain technology. A great resource for anyone who wants an answer to the question, “Where can I learn about bitcoin?” Antony could explain cryptocurrency to a five-year-old while retaining key concepts and insights. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking Author: Saifedean Ammous Goodreads Rating: 4.16 Number of Amazon Ratings: 5519 Written by academic and Austrian economist Saifedean Ammous, The Bitcoin Standard discusses the history of money, the relationship between economics and society, and why bitcoin constitutes “good money.” The book reveres bitcoin as an excellent alternative to central banking, which makes it a must-read for open-minded lawmakers and bankers alike. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
The Little Bitcoin Book: Why Bitcoin Matters for Your Freedom, Finances, and Future Author: Bitcoin Collective, Timi Ajiboye Goodreads Rating: 4.23 Number of Amazon Ratings: 505 Written by the Bitcoin Collective and Timi Ajiboye, The Little Bitcoin Book was penned by eight industry experts and addresses many of the frequently asked questions about bitcoin. It goes in-depth on what’s wrong with today’s money system and discusses what it means for global freedoms and opportunities. The book explains the origins of bitcoin and finishes with a Q&A section. The Little Bitcoin Book is a good primer for readers wanting to understand more about financial history, but its brevity means it lacks details in some areas. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
Bitcoin: Everything Divided by 21 Million Author: Knut Svanholm Goodreads Rating: 4.49 Number of Amazon Ratings: 93 Svanholm’s book Bitcoin: Everything Divided By 21 Million presents BTC as a revolutionary technology whose price and market capitalization are determined by its limited supply. As a non-technical book, Bitcoin presents abstract concepts aimed at shifting your perspective on the blockchain. For experienced investors, this book presents philosophical arguments that strengthen your conviction in the future of bitcoin. For beginners, this piece should convince you of crypto’s value. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
Mastering the Lightning Network: A Second Layer Blockchain Protocol for Instant Bitcoin Payments Authors: Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Olaoluwa Osuntokun, & Rene Pickhardt Goodreads Rating: 4.45 Number of Amazon Ratings: 75 Mastering the Lightning Network is an explanatory piece on the Lightning Network, a Layer 2 payment protocol intended to enable quicker transactions and improve BTC’s scalability. Antonopoulos et al. examine the LN and create a detailed account of how Layer 2 protocols on the blockchain can verify more transactions and scale past existing payment protocols. Though not an introductory book, this material was written for technical readers interested in learning about Layer 2 protocols that present themselves as solutions to many cryptocurrencies’ scalability issues. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
The Blocksize War: The Battle for Control Over Bitcoin’s Protocol Rules Author: Jonathan Bier Goodreads Rating: 4.30 Number of Amazon Ratings: 410 Bitcoin’s history may be short, but it’s full of riveting, pivotal events. The Blocksize War by Jonathan Bier is an in-depth account of the “blocksize war,” the debate on a block’s ideal storage capacity. The implications of this seminal argument would affect network fees, transaction times, and the future viability of bitcoin as a currency. While the book may be a thoroughly researched account of the blocksize debate, it remains a technical read with concepts that few may understand. It’s not required reading for beginners, but it’s recommended for those interested in learning more about one of BTC’s most pivotal events. (BMJ Rating 4) | |
The Bullish Case for Bitcoin Author: Vijay Boyapati Goodreads Rating: 4.52 Number of Amazon Ratings: 356 Written by Vijay Boyapati with a foreword by Michael Saylor, the book clearly outlines bitcoin’s salient features, the theory of money, and bitcoin’s superiority over the currency standards that have come before it. An introductory read designed to provide foundational knowledge on a rapidly expanding industry, the book outlines bitcoin as a new form of money, comparisons to current units of account, and what the future may hold for the blockchain. Because of its length and valuable nuggets of information, The Bullish Case for Bitcoin remains a must-read for beginners looking to enter the crypto fray. (BMJ Rating 4) For the complete list of books (with reader ratings), check out our feature Best Bitcoin Books for 2023. | |
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