Before Leaping Into Bitcoin, Read This Book First

In 2010, I became one of the world’s first, full-time, independent, blockchain/cryptocurrency journalists. This afforded me early exposure to this the immense potential of this exciting yet nascent space.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed the tipsy-turvy rise and fall of cryptocurrency prices. I’ve experimented with its practical use by converting bitcoin into digital gift cards at Starbucks, Nordstrom, Cheesecake Factory, and Whole Foods among many others.

I’ve watched neophytes jump into the deep ocean of crypto seeking to boost their personal fortunes, only to lose their log-in credentials, get scammed, or even forget that they even had a wallet. (One friend of mine who invested $100.00 many years ago recently found $7,000 in a wallet he had forgotten).

Now with Bitcoin’s recent rise to record-setting levels, young and old, rich and poor are taking the leap. Unfortunately, most have no understanding of the history and larger context of the crypto movement and how it really operates on a practical level. This I see as a grave mistake.

Amid a flurry of texts and emails, I have received in recent weeks asking for support with hopping on the bitcoin bandwagon, many have asked for a basic book for reading into this fascinating yet misunderstood world. It is here where I direct them to “Bubble Or Revolution: The Present and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency.”

The beginning chapters of the book offer an exquisitely well-articulated introduction to how cryptocurrencies work. Using stories, analogies, and graphics, it offers the right amount of detail for newbies to grasp how blockchain works, without getting them lost in the weeds.

Props to authors Aditya Agashe (Microsoft), Parth Detroj (Facebook) Neel Mehta (Google) who offer a balanced assessment of crypto without the nauseatingly empty rants about the disruptive nature of this rapidly emerging space. As they note on their website:

“Our livelihoods aren’t financially tied to the success of blockchain technology. Thus we skip the hand waving and ultra-bullish sentiment and provide a down the middle assessment of all the important topics.”

Readers will find a well-researched book replete with exclusive interviews and case studies of real-world blockchain applications and major cryptocurrency milestones. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a simplistic guide to uncovers the deeper recesses of the Bitcoin Blockchain constellation.

Diamond-Michael Scott is an Independent Journalist and Founder of Great Books, Great Minds, Inc. To subscribe to his newsletter, click here.