The New Bitcoiner’s Book List: Part Two
Starting where we left off last week with a list of most recommended bitcoin-related books, we’ll talk through numbers four through six on the stack today.
These titles have more of a macro lens while emphasizing what we can do as individuals and communities to alter the course of monetary, political, and social infrastructure collapse. Sounds scary; bitcoin can make it better. As we say in the crypto community, “number go up” and “WAGMI” — we’re all gonna make it!
4. The Sovereign Individual, James Dale Davidson and William Reese-Mogg
A crucial read for any member of the bitcoin community, The Sovereign Individual outlines our shift as a society into the information age. It was published in the 90s, and so much of what the authors imagined the world to look like now has already become a reality.
The last couple of chapters detail what it takes to embrace a sovereign lifestyle and become more independently prepared for social and political changes. Spoiler: the ability to travel and explore outside one’s comfort zone — plus owning a unique set of skills suited to flex with global needs — might allow a person more comfort and stability within our shifting digital landscape.
The Sovereign Individual could easily fit into a top three slot for me in terms of personal favorites, but I placed it at #4 because I think it’s helpful to read this book after gaining a solid introduction to bitcoin and how it operates. However, this could serve as a starting point all the same.
It helped me envision how digital currency ties into society, culture and our future as a species. Thanks to this foundation, I am more confidently constructing and refining my role as an individual within the context of a macro picture.
5. The Price of Tomorrow: Why Deflation is the Key to an Abundant Future, Jeff Booth
I’d think of this book as the optimistic-yet-practical, entrepreneurial sibling of The Sovereign Individual. It, too, delves into our changing technological world — while placing a stronger emphasis on collective industry and innovation as our hedge against debt and inflation. Booth writes about efficiency in tech and how deflation can change the course of a system relying far too much on antiquated measures.
This book would also pair wonderfully with The Fiat Standard for anyone looking to dig deeper into the trappings of our current monetary infrastructure and the future of our global economy. Both together would make a lovely gift for someone who is passionate about these topics.
The takeaway: If you’re looking for a book that zooms out on the practical application of bitcoin — start here! Perhaps you are a student of economics or starting your own business and interested in the impact of crypto? This is your #1.
6. Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, Ray Dalio
This read will likely split a lot of crypto enthusiasts down the line in terms of whether they’d praise or pass. Even though it wasn’t as scintillating for me as, say, Sovereign Individual or The Book of Satoshi, I can see why it’s a key talking point for so many bitcoiners.
Dalio touches on open-mindedness, weighing risk and reward in entrepreneurship or investing, and the concept of an idea meritocracy. This book focuses on issues cropping up in the Western world, and how he believes we can best position ourselves in light of these changes.
I could do without the self-help vibes, but there’s a good chunk of his argument that hits right where crypto delivers. So while it’s not the type of book I usually lean towards, it is one you might find yourself discussing with friends or colleagues in bitcoin and finance circles. And because those encounters could be the most significant ones you have in your career…it’s on our list.
Dalio emphasizes what brought him success throughout his career and why some of these traits are crucial to thriving in the information age. One of these truth nuggets is the importance of listening to and learning from people who challenge your preconceptions — something most truly innovative leaders would likely agree on.
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Taking a look at the full list, a few of these works are more foundational to the understanding of bitcoin and what it solves for, while others paint a more general picture of our financial and social landscape. All of them, in my opinion, can help shape a more comprehensive understanding of digital currency and how we might prepare ourselves for global financial challenges.
If you have questions, further recommendations or notes on any of the above, please reach out in the comments or via email or social — we love talking books and are always, always eager to hear from other bitcoiners.
Note: Images are sourced from Amazon’s GoodReads under fair use; not image linked.