I picked up a library book that I might end up buying. It's called "Money: The True Story of a Made-up Thing" by Jacob Goldstein. It is an extremely readable book that traces the origin of money from ancient Mesopotamia to today (publishing date is 2020). And he does so with an entertaining style as he covers the history of the cultures and people who influenced money. I didn't know the Incas for example, ran their society without money. And that China had invented paper money long before everyone else. A fascinating account that is an easy read.
Somebody actually researched this, imagine that. I think I'm going to check this out. I think I'd like to hear what he thinks. Thanks.
He really doesn't give much in the way of opinions until the very last of the last chapter. It truly is a history of money. For example, he mentions that some of the earliest Chinese coins were tiny knives and tiny shovels. Eventually these became coins of bronze with a hole in the middle, which they could string together. But think how heavy 1,000 bronze coins would weigh. More than seven pounds! So it came to pass that a merchant in Chengdu began to let customers leave their coins with him and gave them a fancy paper receipt. And they were transferable. Sounds like a bank to me! It's little details like that that make the book interesting.
John, based on your comments, I just went to my local library site to reserve the book. I see I'm the 14th in line (for a hold) on the two copies they have. It looks like there are many others who consider the book worthwhile.
