If you are looking for ways to learn more about Bitcoin, then you should start with a few good books. There are lots of books that have been written on this popular topic, and many of them can help you make the most of your Bitcoin experience. While there are plenty of options out there, not all of them are created equal. What are a few of the top Bitcoin books that you should read in 2020? There are a few titles for everyone to keep in mind.
The List: The Top 10 Best Bitcoin Books To Read
The top ten list of the best Bitcoin books to read include:
1. The Bitcoin Standard – Saifedean Ammous
The Bitcoin Standard is a fantastic book that helps everyone learn more about this mysterious cryptocurrency. The point of this book is to shed some light on the value pr proposition that it has created. The book looks at Bitcoin from unique monetary and economic perspectives. In this manner, this book is an essential read for anyone who is looking for reasons as to why Bitcoin is so key when it comes to storing value. In many ways, Bitcoin is very similar to gold.
Throughout the book, the authors discuss Bitcoin by juxtaposing it against the current state of the financial system, which is built on fiat currencies that are controlled by central banks. This work starts by providing the reader with an introduction to the history of money before it dives into the Austrian school of economics. Of course, the authors can tie this back to Bitcoin itself. Finally, the book also puts forth a few unique dimensions when it comes to both money and Bitcoin. The authors did a great job researching the book and point out numerous references to economic literature for those who would like to learn more about this topic. As a result, this book is not only great for learning about Bitcoin, but it is also an excellent way for people to learn more about the world of economics as a whole. That is why this book is placed at the top of this list for Bitcoin lovers in 2020.
2. Mastering Bitcoin – Andreas M. Antonopoulos
The book titled Mastering Bitcoin, by author Andreas M. Antonopoulos is an essential work for everyone who would like to learn more about the worlds of Bitcoin and crypto. The author does a great job of presenting how Bitcoin works from the perspective of someone with a strong background in computer science. In this manner, the book is very easy to read and helps everyone understand how the Bitcoin blockchain works as well as why Bitcoin can be considered as a form of a digital good that also has a fixed supply. In this manner, the book does a great job of diving into the source code of Bitcoin and discusses how it works when compared to other types of currency.
Several important topics are covered in this book, and it helps everyone understand how and why the Bitcoin network has been able to sustain itself for so long. Without a doubt, those with a strong background in coding are going to love this book; however, it is also written in a way that can be understood by a general audience as well. This is why this book is considered to be essential for those who want to learn more about Bitcoin. Even for those who don’t have have a strong background in computer science or coding, this book is an excellent choice for those who want to gain a deep understanding of Bitcoin. Its lessons are only going to become more applicable as Bitcoin grows in popularity.
3. The Sovereign Individual – James Dale Davidson
This book is not directly about Bitcoin but still discusses a lot of topics that could be relevant to the rise of Bitcoin today. In this book, the author takes a closer look at some of the major revolutions that have taken place throughout history. For example, the book spends a lot of time discussing the Industrial Revolution, how it occurred, why it happened, and what this means for the future. The authors claim that the Industrial Revolution was inevitable because of the rise of the nation-state, or the great powers that exist today. The authors also discuss the role that natural resources played in the development of these revolutions and how they have impacted the world that we see today. The authors do a great job of looking at these revolutions through various lenses that seek to provide the reader with a window into how the world operated during those days and why these events happened the way they did.
So, what does all of this have to do with Bitcoin? Well, many people see Bitcoin as the next revolution. They see it unfolding before their very eyes, and some people have actively wondered whether Bitcoin might be the next great revolution to develop. While it is too soon so that there is a revolution taking place through Bitcoin that mirrors these great revolutions, Bitcoin may get to that point when all is said and done. That is why this book is on this list.
4. Programming Bitcoin – Jimmy Song
For those who are looking for a book that will teach them how Bitcoin works, this book might be the answer. The book does a great job of acting as a technical resource that can help everyone learn how to take Bitcoin and literally reconstruct it from the ground up. While this book might be a bit technical for some, a background in computer science is not required to take something productive away from this book.
This book covers numerous topics that are related to Bitcoin. Of course, it starts with basic math, as math is the foundation of Bitcoin and all other forms of cryptocurrency. Then, once this topic has been covered, the book seamlessly moves from topic to topic, helping everyone understand the fundamental rules that act as the underpinning of Bitcoin itself. Some of the topics that this book will cover include proof of work, Bitcoin script, blocks, creation, nodes, validation, and more. While many people read this book because it provides them with an excellent overview of how blockchain technology works, the book also covers so much more than that. In the end, this book is precise, didactic, and clear. It helps everyone understand how the Bitcoin protocol works. It would be impossible for someone to read this book and not come away with a solid understanding of just how the Bitcoin model works and why it has been so successful to this point.
5. Human Action – Ludwig von Mises
For people to truly understand what Bitcoin is and how it fits into the economic system that we enjoy today, it is vital to take a closer look at how human activity plays a role in the world of economics. While this book might not directly relate to Bitcoin, it does a great job of taking a look at the various market forces that drive our economic system. This book seeks to present economics as the collective actions (or inactions) of numerous people. When it comes down to it, the financial system we enjoy today is simply a complex series of choices that are made by individuals at specific periods.
Of course, economics is driven, to some extent, by greed. That is what many of these choices are represented. There are lots of people who have made choices, seeking to attain various wants and goals while also trying to avoid certain circumstances from befalling them. In this manner, it is each of these individuals’ choices that have played a role in the development of the economic system that we see in front of us today.
So, what does this have to do with Bitcoin? Well, there is going to come to a point when Bitcoin might end up being used as a tool that can be exchanged for goods and services as well. How is Bitcoin going to reach this point? That will be dependent on the numerous individual choices that many people make between now and then. They will play a role in whether or not Bitcoin is adopted as a new standard-bearer in traditional financial markets.
6. Inventing Bitcoin – Yan Pritzker
This book is one of the top reads for those who would like to learn more about the world of Bitcoin. Many people are looking to learn more about the technology that makes this decentralized currency work. That is precisely what this book seeks to explore. While there are countless types of currencies out there, most of them are fiat currencies that are controlled by a central bank. This is what sets Bitcoin apart. This is a decentralized currency that works on a decentralized network, meaning that there is no single power that is in control of this currency. Furthermore, there is a set number of Bitcoins that will ever be released into circulation, making this a scarce resource. For those looking to learn more about this topic, this book is a great place to start.
The author does a great job explaining the technology behind Bitcoin. In this manner, this book is unique because it focuses on Bitcoin specifically and not on other topics. In some ways, this book reads like a teacher or professor seeking to explain to his or her students how this technology works and why it has been so successful. Unlike some books which read more like political manifestos when they discuss this topic, this book is a simple presentation of the facts. The book does not preach or pontificate but presents the facts when it comes to Bitcoin. This can help everyone who would like to invest in this unique vehicle to the best of their abilities.
7. Grokking Bitcoin – Kalle Rosenbaum
This book is geared toward those who are interested in learning more about Bitcoin on a deep technical level. While the book does not require any advanced programming skills, those who have a basic understanding of the technical concepts behind Bitcoin are going to get more out of this book. The book explores numerous topics, including computer networks, computer programs, web servers, and how they apply to Bitcoin. The goal of this book is to present the technical facts behind Bitcoin so that everyone can decide for themselves whether or not they want to trust Bitcoin. To make this happen, people need to learn the basic concepts behind how Bitcoin works. This includes digital signatures, proof of work, and peer to peer networks, all of which are discussed in this book.
Besides, this work discusses the idea of a Bitcoin wallet, teaches people how to interpret discussions that take place surrounding Bitcoin, and private keys that play a role in the transfer of Bitcoin from person to person. This book does not seek to convince people to take a side in the Bitcoin discussion but deftly lays out the information that people need to know if they want to discover just how Bitcoin works. In this manner, this is an excellent read for just about everyone interested in Bitcoin as long as they have a basic understanding of some of the keywords that are commonly used when discussing Bitcoin.
8. The Market for Liberty – Tannehill, Linda and Morris
While this book is not directly about Bitcoin, many of the topics that are discussed in this topic shine through in Bitcoin itself. Many people have tried to compare what is happening with Bitcoin to the current institutions of government that are seen throughout the world. While many people are biased toward their form of government (or away from it), few people have taken the time to sit back and objectively evaluate the other options. While this book is not objective, it does provide a lot of food for thought as the authors advocate for no government at all. While this might sound crazy on the surface, it is still essential for those interested in Bitcoin to read more about this system and learn about what this means for them.
Why does this book apply to the world of Bitcoin? If Bitcoin continues to grow, it has the potential to unseat traditional currencies. Because money makes the world go round, this has the potential to upset the conventional government as we know it altogether. That is where this book comes into play. There are a lot of sentiments contained in this book, and there is a fair bit of inflammatory language. Keep in mind that this book was written in 1970 during the height of the Cold War. That being said, many of the points in this book can be applied to Bitcoin as the authors advocate for a complete absence of government. It is a powerful read.
9. Digital Gold – Nathaniel Popper
The book titled Digital Gold: The Untold Story of Bitcoin does a great job of telling the story about the first days of Bitcoin. It even reaches back to 2009, when this revolutionary technology was still unknown to the public at large. While Bitcoin is known to just about everyone today, this wasn’t always the case, as there was a time when Bitcoin was not nearly as popular as it was today. Some people felt like this technology was simply a fad and was going to die off. This was not the case. The authors do a great job of exploring the story of Bitcoin in-depth.
The author takes everyone on an exciting ride as the work explores the numerous ways in which Bitcoin grew to what it is today. Furthermore, the authors also work through some of the significant individuals in the Bitcoin space today and discuss how they first came into contact with this revolutionary currency. The book also tells the story of how Bitcoin grew into the massive financial giant it is today. While the book might not discuss some of the technical topics that are covered by some of the other books on this list, it is still an interesting read for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of Bitcoin. After all, by looking at how Bitcoin got to the position it is today, it might be possible to learn more about where the currency is headed in the future.
10. The Art of War – Sun Tzu
The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a classic book that is recommended as reading for numerous people across nearly all industries. The book goes into an outstanding level of detail describing Chinese warfare, and traditional military thought, trying to unpack just how this great general won so many battles in the ancient world. While some people might think that these lessons do not play a role in the world today as we know it, those individuals would be sorely mistaken. This is a fantastic read that has numerous applications across countless industries, even to this day. While anyone in the military should read it, it can also be applied to Bitcoin.
Countless people have taken the teachings of this book and applied it to modern civilization. The book focuses on how people can make decisions that will place them in an advantageous position in life. While not everything should be treated as a battlefield, Bitcoin trading and mining can be seen from this perspective. After all, there exists a limited number of Bitcoins that will ever be released into circulation. Those who want to be seen as having the upper hand in this virtual market need to take steps to strengthen their position. By reading this book and learning how this general won almost all of his battles before a single arrow was fired, people can take these lessons and apply them to the world of Bitcoin.
That is why this book is on this list. Numerous lessons are taught in this book, and they provide the reader with an inside look into the minds of one of history’s greatest generals. Anyone who can take these lessons and apply them to their life, including how they look at Bitcoin, will be in a great position to succeed in the world of Bitcoin, taking advantage of opportunities as soon as they become available, strengthening their position every step of the way.
The Future of Bitcoin: Learning from Books
These are just a few of the top books that people should think about reading if they would like to learn more about Bitcoin. The world is changing quickly, and some people are wondering if Bitcoin has the potential to displace some of the most significant fiat currencies in the world as a form of exchange for goods and services. While the answer to that question might not be found in these books, people can learn more about Bitcoin by learning from some of the greatest minds in the field. That is where these books can be helpful.