Modern Money

Here is a bold new history of economics, the dramatic story of how the great economic thinkers built a rigorous social science without peer.

What do Google, Snapchat, Tinder, Amazon, and Uber have in common, besides soaring market share? They're platforms - a new business model that has quietly become the only game in town. A platform, by definition, creates value by facilitating an exchange between two or more interdependent groups. So, rather than making things, they simply connect people. The advent of mobile computing and its ubiquitous connectivity have forever altered how we interact with each other. Yet, few people truly grasp the radical structural shifts of the last 10 years.

On the death of France's most glorious king, Louis XIV, in 1715, few people benefited from the shift in power more than the intriguing financial genius from Edinburgh, John Law. Law had proposed to the English monarch that a bank be established to issue paper money with the credit based on the value of land. But Queen Anne was not about to take advice from a gambler and felon. So, in exile in Paris, he convinced the bankrupt court of Louis XV of the value of his idea.

Economic sanctions dominate the landscape of world politics today. First developed in the early twentieth century as a way of exploiting the flows of globalization to defend liberal internationalism, their appeal is that they function as an alternative to war. This view, however, ignores the dark paradox at their core: designed to prevent war, economic sanctions are modeled on devastating techniques of warfare.

America has been through the biggest financial crisis since the great Depression, unemployment numbers are frightening, median wages have been flat since the 1970s, and it is common to expect that things will get worse before they get better. Certainly, the multidecade stagnation is not yet over. How will we get out of this mess?

What is money? How is it created? What's the point of taxes and how should they be implemented? Are federal deficits bad for the economy? Would abolishing poverty lead to higher inflation? Is inflation something to avoid? These are just some of the questions Scott Santens explores in order to answer the biggest question of all about the concept of universal basic income (UBI) and virtually all government spending in general: "How do we pay for it?" Utilizing modern monetary theory (MMT), Santens leads readers through a fascinating journey. He connects the economic dots in a way everyone can...

The English East India Company was the mother of the modern multinational. Its trading empire encircled the globe, importing Asian luxuries such as spices, textiles, and teas. But it also conquered much of India with its private army and broke open China's markets with opium. The Company's practices shocked its contemporaries and still reverberate today.

A masterful account of today's money culture, showing how the underpricing of risk leads to catastrophe. With his trademark humor and brilliant anecdotes, Michael Lewis paints the mood and market factors leading up to each event, weaves contemporary accounts to show what people thought was happening at the time, and then, with the luxury of hindsight, analyzes what actually happened and what we should have learned from experience.

This entertaining and accessible introduction to the great economic thinkers throughout history - Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, and more - shows how their ideas still apply to our modern world. In this revised edition, renowned economist Todd Buchholz offers an insightful and informed perspective on key economic issues in the new millennium: increasing demand for energy, the rise of China, international trade, aging populations, health care, and the effects of global warming.

Inflation isn’t just coming—it’s already here. Hyperinflation is Here is a wake-up call for anyone still clinging to the illusion that central banks can print their way out of crisis. As prices skyrocket, wages stagnate, and savings erode in real time, this book breaks down the truth most economists won’t say out loud: your money is dying—and faster than you think. This survival guide cuts through the noise to explain what inflation really is, the different forms it takes, and why hyperinflation is the final phase of monetary collapse. Through gripping historical case studies—...

In this groundbreaking book, celebrated economic historian Joel Mokyr argues that a culture of growth specific to early modern Europe and the European Enlightenment laid the foundations for the scientific advances and pioneering inventions that would instigate explosive technological and economic development.

In 1869, when the final spike was driven into the Transcontinental Railroad, few were prepared for its seismic aftershocks. Once a hodgepodge of short, squabbling lines, America's railways soon exploded into a titanic industry helmed by a pageant of speculators, crooks, and visionaries. The vicious competition between empire builders such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, J. P. Morgan, and E. H. Harriman sparked stock market frenzies, panics, and crashes; provoked strikes; transformed the nation's geography; and culminated in a ferocious two-man battle....

Timeless Wealth: Traditional Investment Strategies for the Modern Professional is a groundbreaking financial guide designed specifically for today’s young professionals and middle-class individuals seeking lasting financial security and independence. With a fresh perspective on age-old investment principles, this book bridges the gap between time-tested strategies and the modern financial landscape—empowering readers to build enduring wealth rooted in values, resilience, and informed decision-making. The book begins by redefining wealth in the 21st century—not merely as an ...

Adulting is hard—until you have the right skills. No one hands you a manual on how to navigate life after high school. Suddenly, you're expected to manage money, build relationships, stay productive, and handle stress—all without losing your sanity. If you've ever felt unprepared or overwhelmed, Modern Life Skills for Young Adults 2.0 is the guide you need.

Dive into the world of real estate like never before with "The Art of Modern Real Estate Development: Green, Sustainable, and Successful." This comprehensive guide isn’t just a blueprint for the industry—it’s a vision for the future, a clarion call for sustainable, responsible growth. Brought to life by Bradley Fagg, a real estate professional with a master’s degree in Real Estate Development, the book draws upon his vast knowledge and insights. This book covers everything from the fundamentals of property development to the cutting-edge innovations shaping the industry.

The Wise Investor isn't just another financial advice book—it's a transformative journey that challenges conventional wisdom about wealth building. This modern parable educates and inspires, shedding light on the often-overlooked truths about achieving real financial independence. Unlike step-by-step books promising quick (and fleeting) riches, The Wise Investor shows you the path to building "Real Wealth"—the perfect balance of money, time, and freedom.

Machine learning (ML) is changing virtually every aspect of our lives. Today ML algorithms accomplish tasks that until recently only expert humans could perform. As it relates to finance, this is the most exciting time to adopt a disruptive technology that will transform how everyone invests for generations. The book addresses real-life problems faced by practitioners on a daily basis and explains scientifically sound solutions using math, supported by code and examples.

Forget Montana. Forget bunkers. Forget moving to a commune and learning how to churn butter at dawn. Welcome to the practical (and slightly mischievous) art of turning your apartment, condo, or rental into a self-sufficient fortress of edible defiance—without your landlord ever catching on. Inside The Urban Homesteading Book you'll discover: How to transform your windowsill into a miniature food factory (and maybe finally keep a basil plant alive for longer than a week!) Secret techniques for raising chickens, composting, and producing homemade goods—all under the radar. Tips for ...

From a veteran of the trade, a provocative and entertaining voyage into the turbulent heart of modern money that sheds new light on the rise of our threatening and complicated financial system, how money became our adversary, and why finding a new course is crucial to a healthy society.

This book applies the principles of the original Think and Grow Rich to the modern day. It uses updated language, writing, and illustrations. This book is for the ordinary individual who wants to make it big. Its title is critical to the beliefs behind this resource. The surest way to wealth is entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are dreamers, designers, and doers. Dreams are the ultimate economic engine. All people dream, but not all develop the designs needed to make those dreams come true. A few do, but still within that subgroup; only a few do the things necessary to build a solid business....