For ages, money has meant little metal disks and rectangular slips of paper. Yet the usefulness of physical money-to say nothing of its value-is coming under fire as never before. Intrigued by the distinct possibility that cash will soon disappear, author and 'Wired ' contributing editor David Wolman sets out to investigate the future of money…and how it will affect your wallet. Wolman begins his journey by deciding to shun cash for an entire year-a surprisingly successful experiment (with a couple of notable exceptions). He then ventures forth to find people and technologies that illuminate the road ahead. In Honolulu, he drinks Mai Tais with Bernard von NotHaus, a convicted counterfeiter and alternative-currency evangelist whom government prosecutors have labeled a domestic terrorist. In Tokyo, he sneaks a peek at the latest anti-counterfeiting wizardry, while puzzling over the fact that banknote forgers depend on society's addiction to cash. In a downtrodden Oregon town, he mingles with obsessive coin collectors-the people who are supposed to love cash the most, yet don't. And in rural Georgia, he examines why some people feel the end of cash is Armageddon's warm-up act. After stops at the Digital Money Forum in London and Iceland's central bank, Wolman flies to Delhi, where he sees first-hand how cash penalizes the poor more than anyone-and how mobile technologies promise to change that. Told with verve and wit, 'The End of Money ' explores an aspect of our daily lives so fundamental that we rarely stop to think about it. You'll never look at a dollar bill the same again.
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Review
Kirkus Reviews, 1/15/12
“Alternating between in-depth reporting and personal rumination, Wired contributing editor Wolman tries to figure out what a cashless society would mean and whether it is an idea whose time has come…He has plenty of thoughts about what could replace physical money, but he is wise enough to understand that he cannot imagine all of the unexpected outcomes. An intriguing book on a topic that many readers have always taken for granted: the cash in their purses and wallets.”
Publishers Weekly, 1/30/12
“Wolman believes that physical cash will soon cease to be. He explores this compelling possibility by talking with a number of fascinating characters…Just as interesting is Wolman's discussion of money, culture, and poverty…Wolman's writing is clear and thoughtful, and his use of characters and places add color and personality to this excellent investigation of a timely topic”
Biz Books, 2/5/12
“You’ll never look at a dollar bill without thinking its societal costs are more than a dollar.”
The Fiscal Times, 1/26/12
“An entertaining and engaging canter through the world of money, both real and electronic.”
“An entertaining and engaging canter through the world of money, both real and electronic.”
King Features Syndicate, 2/20/12
“[A] fascinating book…The End of Money will cause readers to rethink the contents of their wallets…This is an example of exceptional in-depth reporting that examines cash and predicts that in the near future our currencies will undergo a change that will be so dramatic it will change the way our world works.”
“The Bookworm Sez (nationally syndicated column),” 2/13/12
“What you’ll learn is surprising. Whether you’ve got greenbacks or gravy, pennies, pounds, or plastic in your pocket, I think you’ll find The End of Money extremely interesting. Money might not buy happiness, but reading this book is the next best thing.”
SecondAct.com, 2/9/12
“A fascinating exploration of how we are evolving into a society that relies entirely on plastic and mouse-clicks to buy, sell and save what we need.”
“A fascinating exploration of how we are evolving into a society that relies entirely on plastic and mouse-clicks to buy, sell and save what we need.”
New York Journal of Books, 2/14/12
“A thoughtful and engaging study…[Wolman] skillfully covers the essential themes of theories on the economics, politics, sociology, and anthropology of money; and he does so painlessly…This is a very well written study, and it has none of the alienating gravitas of an economics tome. The author follows interesting stories populated by colorful characters. And he explains difficult concepts with skill…One of the best books in a long time on a difficult subject.”
Portland Tribune, 2/16/12
“Lively characters.”
Philadelphia Sunday Tribune, 2/5/12
“Wolman dares to take a critical look at cash…Wolman’s investigation ensures that you’ll never look at a dollar bill the same way again.”
New American Foundation (The Ladder blog), 2/14/12
“A rallying cry for the anti-cash movement.”
“A rallying cry for the anti-cash movement.”
Slate.com, 2/24/12
“[A] provocative new book…A tidy history of money and its discontents.”
Wired.com, 2/17/12
“This is quite a romp, half digerotica, half travelogue…Whatever your take, reading this book will both entertain you and give your argument more currency.”
BizIndia.net, 2/19/12
“We tip our hats off to David Wolman for his pioneering efforts on this subject and for presenting his findings in this valuable book.”
InfoDad.com, 2/23/12
“[A] world-spanning tour…A book that has many intriguing elements…[Wolman] makes many good points about the absurdities of cash…Raise[s] some intriguing questions and present[s] the views and personalities of some very interesting people.”
“[A] world-spanning tour…A book that has many intriguing elements…[Wolman] makes many good points about the absurdities of cash…Raise[s] some intriguing questions and present[s] the views and personalities of some very interesting people.”
The New Scientist, 2/25/12
“A particularly good chapter details the mobile banking revolution in the developing world…Interesting too are arguments for abolishing cash.”
Boston Globe, 2/27/12
“[An] entertaining and enlightening account…Wolman has delivered an intriguing, thoughtful case against physical cash, aiming pile-drivers at its every weakness. Well-written and full of telling detail, The End of Money successfully envisions a better cashless future.”
PopMatters.com, 2/28/12
“The final effect of The End of Money on readers will not be to convince them one way or the other, but to elicit real thought on the nature of money itself, and to Wolman’s credit, that’s no small feat.”
MIT’s Technology Review, 2/28/12
“Wolman is such a thorough reporter…Wolman piles up any number of arguments against cash.”
Canadian Business
“[An] engaging new book.”
“[An] engaging new book.”
American Banker, 3/6/12
“[A] fascinating new book.”
“[A] fascinating new book.”
DanPink.com, 2/28/12
”The book is fascinating.”
D.C. Technology Examiner.com, 2/29/12
“A fascinating must read book.”
“A fascinating must read book.”
The London Guardian (UK), 3/2/12
“Informally tech-hipsterish prose…One of the most illuminating stories here is the increasing use of mobile-phone payment systems in India and elsewhere.”
Washington Post, 3/10/12
“[Wolman] presents a fascinating and engaging thesis…a crucial look at the role of cash.”
The Week, 3/13/12
“Wolman’s book has people thinking about—and in some cases fearing—the prospect of a cashless society.”
Technology Review (website), 3/12/12
“The End of Money reads like a late-night walk through the seedier corners of the global economy…Wolman stops just short of advocating against paper money Paper bills account for most economic activity, so it's hard to argue the world is ready to live without them. And because any substitute would need to be electronic, it also raises questions about what would happen if the lights ever went out. It's precisely such profound, even apocalyptic, questions that The End of Money succeeds at provoking.”
TheStreet.com, 3/5 (referring to excerpt from book posted by TheAtlantic.com)
“Fascinating and erudite.”
“Fascinating and erudite.”
Financial Times, 2/17/12
“Wolman makes a brave case for the idea that ‘killing currency wouldn’t be a trauma; it’d be euthanasia.’”
ABA Banking Journal, 3/16/12
“Wolman presents a fascinating history of cash along the way towards expounding his theory…The author is able to insert humor into this far reaching examination of money. I found the book to be entertaining and educational.”Sky, April 2012
“[An] entertaining little book.”
New City Chicago, 3/13
“This work has significant merits in its explorations of not just currency and its future (or lack thereof), all around the world, but in its plumbing of governments’ monetary policies and in accessible explanations of ‘money’ versus cash versus currency…[The] sometimes devil’s-advocate quality of The End of Money is most attractive.”
Bookviews (blog), April 2012
“An interesting look at the way the exchange of money has changed over the years and what it is likely to be in the future.”
The Observer (UK), 3/24/12
“Wolman's vision of a future without cash has a serious side, but has gonzo brilliance as well…[The End of Money] takes us on a whistle-stop tour of intriguing monetary phenomena that it would be difficult to learn about elsewhere…Wolman's conversational prose style comes into its own; and many of his interlocutors are, if you'll forgive the pun, priceless…[Wolman’s] book is a lively introduction to this important topic.”
“Wolman's vision of a future without cash has a serious side, but has gonzo brilliance as well…[The End of Money] takes us on a whistle-stop tour of intriguing monetary phenomena that it would be difficult to learn about elsewhere…Wolman's conversational prose style comes into its own; and many of his interlocutors are, if you'll forgive the pun, priceless…[Wolman’s] book is a lively introduction to this important topic.”
Reference and Research Book News, April 2012
“Engaging and well written and will appeal to general readers with an interest in the social consequences of technology.”
Across the Board, April 2012
“A brightly written exploration of all things monetary…The breeziness and anecdotal format is pleasurable…The book is both entertaining and provocative, and no reader will get to the end without—perhaps for the first time—thinking about what’s in their wallet.”
CBC News (website) (Canada), 4/13/12
“Full of critical thinking about cash and economies.”
“Full of critical thinking about cash and economies.”
Midwest Book Review, April 2012
“From a history of the invention and rise of physical money to the evolu...
“From a history of the invention and rise of physical money to the evolu...
About the Author
David Wolman is a contributing editor at 'Wired'. He has written for such publications as 'Outside', 'Mother Jones', 'Newsweek', 'Discover', 'Forbes', and 'Salon', and his work appeared in 'Best American Science Writing 2009'. A former Fulbright journalism fellow in Japan and graduate of Stanford University's journalism program, he now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he received a 2011 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. His previous books are 'A Left-Hand Turn Around the World' and 'Righting the Mother Tongue'. Visit his website atwww.david-wolman.com and follow him on Twitter at @davidwolman.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
52 of 55 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Must-read to understand the future of money
Feb 1 2012
By Apeltina
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Alternating between in-depth reporting and personal rumination, Wired contributing editor Wolman (Righting the Mother Tongue: From Olde English to Email, the Tangled Story of English Spelling, 2008, etc.) tries to figure out what a cashless society would mean and whether it is an idea whose time has come.
The author decided to live without spending cash for a year, but he does not develop that portion of the saga at length. Mostly he focuses on visionaries who are hoping, for a variety of reasons, to eliminate paper money and coins. Some of the advocates believe a cashless society would function more smoothly and reduce deficit spending. Others are more politically oriented, wanting to remove governments from printing/coining what has come to be called "money." In Iceland, Wolman looks at whether or not the citizenry will actually put an end to the national currency. In England, he mingles with deep-thinking reformers who discuss how to achieve a digital cash economy. In economies mired in poverty, including much of rural India, Wolman notes how cash transactions make little sense. In many economic circumstances, writes the author, writing checks against a bank account is both illogical in theory and costly in terms of savings lost. As the narrative progresses, Wolman riffs on dirty money (literally, since bills and coins transmit germs), the successes and failures of counterfeiters, the techies who have turned their smart phones into banks and many other twists spawned by thinking about money as a physical object. The author mostly keeps his biases masked, but he leans toward the belief that physical money is in its twilight. He has plenty of thoughts about what could replace physical money, but he is wise enough to understand that he cannot imagine all of the unexpected outcomes.
An intriguing book on a topic that many readers have always taken for granted: the cash in their purses and wallets.
[...]
The author decided to live without spending cash for a year, but he does not develop that portion of the saga at length. Mostly he focuses on visionaries who are hoping, for a variety of reasons, to eliminate paper money and coins. Some of the advocates believe a cashless society would function more smoothly and reduce deficit spending. Others are more politically oriented, wanting to remove governments from printing/coining what has come to be called "money." In Iceland, Wolman looks at whether or not the citizenry will actually put an end to the national currency. In England, he mingles with deep-thinking reformers who discuss how to achieve a digital cash economy. In economies mired in poverty, including much of rural India, Wolman notes how cash transactions make little sense. In many economic circumstances, writes the author, writing checks against a bank account is both illogical in theory and costly in terms of savings lost. As the narrative progresses, Wolman riffs on dirty money (literally, since bills and coins transmit germs), the successes and failures of counterfeiters, the techies who have turned their smart phones into banks and many other twists spawned by thinking about money as a physical object. The author mostly keeps his biases masked, but he leans toward the belief that physical money is in its twilight. He has plenty of thoughts about what could replace physical money, but he is wise enough to understand that he cannot imagine all of the unexpected outcomes.
An intriguing book on a topic that many readers have always taken for granted: the cash in their purses and wallets.
[...]
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Well Written - Somewhat Timid - Look at Digital Cash
Feb 10 2012
By B. Smith
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book well written. It's an easy read... filled with some very interesting and eccentric characters. But in his effort to provide an impartial look at the future of cash, the author comes across as a bit timid.
What you're left with is some insightful and entertaining material... what you'd find in an average episode of 60 Minutes. But it seems like the author ran away from the big questions, such as faith in the U.S. dollar as reserve currency... and how exactly digital money will overcome cash in developed markets like the U.S. and Europe.
Long story short, I think this book is a little short on depth. It raises more questions than it answers. And if that was the author's intent, then well done. But I was expecting more conclusive evidence and deeply held conviction than was on display in The End of Money.
The title and powerful endorsements from Larry Summers, Chris Anderson, etc. were the strongest part of the book.
The End of Money is a good introduction to the subject of a cashless society. As to whether it should be considered the definitive book on the death of cash? I don't think so. But I'm not sure it was intended to be... which is why I've awarded it 3 stars.
What you're left with is some insightful and entertaining material... what you'd find in an average episode of 60 Minutes. But it seems like the author ran away from the big questions, such as faith in the U.S. dollar as reserve currency... and how exactly digital money will overcome cash in developed markets like the U.S. and Europe.
Long story short, I think this book is a little short on depth. It raises more questions than it answers. And if that was the author's intent, then well done. But I was expecting more conclusive evidence and deeply held conviction than was on display in The End of Money.
The title and powerful endorsements from Larry Summers, Chris Anderson, etc. were the strongest part of the book.
The End of Money is a good introduction to the subject of a cashless society. As to whether it should be considered the definitive book on the death of cash? I don't think so. But I'm not sure it was intended to be... which is why I've awarded it 3 stars.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Book! Here is why you will want to read & SHARE!
Feb 5 2012
By javajunki
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a college instructor and business writer, I try to keep up with prevaling trends and perhaps no trend is of more interest and/or controversy than the coming cashless society. Feared by religious groups and criminal concerns yet strongly sought out by politicians and "one worlders", everything from mobile money (via cell phones) to the history of how we arrived to the use of money is covered.
The author is very engaging - no dry stories or antiquated examples in here! Readers will be delighted to encounter a fun yet informative set of facts that provide ample opportunity to gain greater understanding of the history, trends, promises and pitfalls surrounding what is likely to be one of the most dramatic changes to society in eras.
Those wishing for more resources and references will be pleased to encounter the inclusion of documented citations and references. However, there are also liberal examples, opinions and interveiw segments included which add insight into how people around the nation/world think about the topic. Agree or disagree...it doesn't really matter...it makes for great reading!
Now, keep in mind, this book is NOT a technical mannifesto nor does it attempt to provide guidance/insight into anticipated changes. Emphasis is on people and perception rather than the "nuts and bolts" of going cashless.
Very enjoyable read! Terrific for those interest in politics, economics and of course, history as well as future trends. Would make an excellent supplement to course readings or other topical areas of study.
The author is very engaging - no dry stories or antiquated examples in here! Readers will be delighted to encounter a fun yet informative set of facts that provide ample opportunity to gain greater understanding of the history, trends, promises and pitfalls surrounding what is likely to be one of the most dramatic changes to society in eras.
Those wishing for more resources and references will be pleased to encounter the inclusion of documented citations and references. However, there are also liberal examples, opinions and interveiw segments included which add insight into how people around the nation/world think about the topic. Agree or disagree...it doesn't really matter...it makes for great reading!
Now, keep in mind, this book is NOT a technical mannifesto nor does it attempt to provide guidance/insight into anticipated changes. Emphasis is on people and perception rather than the "nuts and bolts" of going cashless.
Very enjoyable read! Terrific for those interest in politics, economics and of course, history as well as future trends. Would make an excellent supplement to course readings or other topical areas of study.
›
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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