A book by Lyn Alden about the evolution of monetary systems and their weaknesses. Its connecting theme is the record of value: who manages it, how it is transferred and how technological possibilities influence institutions. Bitcoin is part of a broader discussion.
Lyn Alden wrote the book and announced its release in 2023. The public sample names Timestamp Press as the publisher. Drawing on her engineering and finance background, the author aims to offer readers a framework for understanding monetary systems. [1] [3]
The introduction presents money as a ledger and distinguishes commodity, banking and open digital forms. The first part explores connections between commodity money and credit relationships. The question of who controls the ledger connects the book’s themes. [3]
The second part traces the emergence of banks. In an article drawing mainly on chapter 8, Alden explains the difference between the rapid transmission of payment information and slower settlement in metal. She connects telecommunications with the growing importance of bank records and intermediaries. [2]
According to the introduction, the third part examines gold pegs, the Bretton Woods system and the subsequent eurodollar and petrodollar arrangements. The book thus connects monetary history with geopolitics and imbalances between countries. [3]
The fourth part examines money creation, debt and incentives to move savings into other assets. Alden develops her own critique of monetary arrangements here; her explanations of causes and consequences form the book’s argument, which readers can assess against the evidence. [3]
According to the author’s presentation, later parts compare Bitcoin, privately issued stablecoins and central bank digital money. The introduction explicitly describes consideration of the future as more speculative and emphasizes trade-offs and risks alongside opportunities. [1] [3]
According to the introduction, the final part connects financial technology with human rights. It discusses cryptography and the difference between open and closed networks. Technical arrangements acquire a human dimension here: they influence privacy and individual possibilities. [3]
This entry draws on the author’s presentation of the book, the contents and introduction in the public sample, and a separate article on bank settlement. It provides orientation to the book’s themes and structure rather than verification of its complete text. Precise quotations require a particular edition. [1] [3] [2]
For the clearest picture, read this entry together with Lyn Alden, Fiat money, Credit risk, Bitcoin Whitepaper, The Fiat Standard. The reverse links also lead from Lyn Alden, Layered Money.
01Is Broken Money only a book about Bitcoin?+
No. Bitcoin belongs to a broader discussion of money, banks, international monetary systems and digital alternatives. The author connects technical questions with their effects on people.
02How can we identify the book’s structure without confusing the sample with the complete work?+
The public sample includes the contents and an introduction presenting the individual parts. These materials allow us to describe the thematic scope; they do not replace reading every chapter or verifying each of the author’s conclusions.