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Blockchain Bubble or Revolution: The Present and Future of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
Some experts say that cryptocurrencies and blockchains are just a scam; others say they're "the most important invention since the internet." It's hard to tell who's right. Authored by Product Managers from Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, Bubble or Revolution cuts through the hype to offer a balanced, comprehensive, and accessible analysis of blockchains and cryptocurrencies.
You'll learn the core concepts of these technologies and understand their strengths and weaknesses from real-world case studies; dive deep into their technical, economic, political, and legal complexities; and gain insights about their future from exclusive interviews with dozens of tech industry leaders. No coding or math needed!
Are cryptocurrencies and blockchains a bubble or a revolution? We'll help you decide for yourself.
What's inside:
Bitcoin and the blockchain
How Bitcoin and blockchains work from a technical perspective with no assumed technical knowledge
Satoshi Nakamoto and the history of Bitcoin, the original blockchain
A thorough overview of crucial crypto concepts (eg. blocks, keys, mining, nodes, etc.)
Frameworks for understanding when it actually makes sense to use blockchain
Major application scenarios for blockchain and cryptocurrencies and where it'll fall flat
Public blockchains and altcoins
Emerging trends in blockchain technology
What you should know before buying any cryptocurrency
An overview of Etherum and smart contracts
An overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the top altcoins and stable coins, including Monero (XMR), Tether (USDT), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Alternatives to blockchain and cryptocurrencies
New kinds of decentralized ledger technology (dlt)
The economics of both traditional payment methods and cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrency security best practices and major breach case studies
Private blockchains
How blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and traditional banking and finance will interact with one another in the future
Public blockchains vs private blockchains
Limitations and shortcomings of public blockchains and cryptocurrencies
The role of blockchain in the strategy of top tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft
Case studies of how non-tech companies are effectively utilizing blockchain (eg. Walmart using it to prevent foodborne illness)
Business blockchain case studies ranging from gaming (e.g. Xbox) to cloud services (e.g. Microsoft Azure's blockchain-as-a-service and Amazon's AWS offering)
Blockchain's use for big data, internet of things (IoT), and machine learning (ML)
Cryptocurrency regulation and policy
ICOs vs STOs vs IPOs
ICOs' status as securities
The SEC's STO rules and Reg A+/CF/D/S
KYC and AML laws
The debate over whether cryptocurrencies are securities
The official stance of various countries on crypto
An overview of crypto policy and regulatory hurdles
The role of crypto in emerging markets and China
Digital democracy and voting on the blockchain
The future of decentralized technology
If, how, and when the tokenization of national currencies will play out
Facebook and WhatsApp's upcoming cryptocurrencies
Currency tokenization and China's efforts to tokenize the yuan
Blockchain, IoT, and the tangle
Cryptocurrencies vs. fiat vs. the gold standard
Predictions about the future of money, business, and currency
Why blockchains would do better on Mars than Earth
You'll learn the core concepts of these technologies and understand their strengths and weaknesses from real-world case studies; dive deep into their technical, economic, political, and legal complexities; and gain insights about their future from exclusive interviews with dozens of tech industry leaders. No coding or math needed!
Are cryptocurrencies and blockchains a bubble or a revolution? We'll help you decide for yourself.
What's inside:
Bitcoin and the blockchain
How Bitcoin and blockchains work from a technical perspective with no assumed technical knowledge
Satoshi Nakamoto and the history of Bitcoin, the original blockchain
A thorough overview of crucial crypto concepts (eg. blocks, keys, mining, nodes, etc.)
Frameworks for understanding when it actually makes sense to use blockchain
Major application scenarios for blockchain and cryptocurrencies and where it'll fall flat
Public blockchains and altcoins
Emerging trends in blockchain technology
What you should know before buying any cryptocurrency
An overview of Etherum and smart contracts
An overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the top altcoins and stable coins, including Monero (XMR), Tether (USDT), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Alternatives to blockchain and cryptocurrencies
New kinds of decentralized ledger technology (dlt)
The economics of both traditional payment methods and cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrency security best practices and major breach case studies
Private blockchains
How blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and traditional banking and finance will interact with one another in the future
Public blockchains vs private blockchains
Limitations and shortcomings of public blockchains and cryptocurrencies
The role of blockchain in the strategy of top tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft
Case studies of how non-tech companies are effectively utilizing blockchain (eg. Walmart using it to prevent foodborne illness)
Business blockchain case studies ranging from gaming (e.g. Xbox) to cloud services (e.g. Microsoft Azure's blockchain-as-a-service and Amazon's AWS offering)
Blockchain's use for big data, internet of things (IoT), and machine learning (ML)
Cryptocurrency regulation and policy
ICOs vs STOs vs IPOs
ICOs' status as securities
The SEC's STO rules and Reg A+/CF/D/S
KYC and AML laws
The debate over whether cryptocurrencies are securities
The official stance of various countries on crypto
An overview of crypto policy and regulatory hurdles
The role of crypto in emerging markets and China
Digital democracy and voting on the blockchain
The future of decentralized technology
If, how, and when the tokenization of national currencies will play out
Facebook and WhatsApp's upcoming cryptocurrencies
Currency tokenization and China's efforts to tokenize the yuan
Blockchain, IoT, and the tangle
Cryptocurrencies vs. fiat vs. the gold standard
Predictions about the future of money, business, and currency
Why blockchains would do better on Mars than Earth
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
806 people are currently reading
2696 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
August 30, 2019
As an MBB consultant for the tech industry, I have spent a lot of time trying to get a good understanding of blockchain and its future. Bubble or Revolution is the only book I have read that does exactly this. It does a fantastic job of explaining how blockchain technology works (about one fourth of the book). I really like how the authors use creative metaphors to explain what is happening behind the scenes - I feel like I can now explain how tech works to a 5th grader.
The remaining three fourths of the book focuses on the use cases for blockchains and cryptocurrencies in the form of case studies and research (other books like Blockchain Basics spend 60% of the book explaining the tech in micro details that are irrelevant). There is a lot of thoughtful analysis when dissecting these case studies that helped me understand some of the shortcomings and weaknesses of blockchain technology.
I have read a lot of overly bullish books (like Blockchain Revolution), but Bubble or Revolution differs in that it offers frameworks for helping you understand in what use cases the pros of blockchain technology outweigh the cons. The authors do a fantastic job of making predictions on how major countries (e.g. China) and major companies (e.g. Facebook and Microsoft) will adopt blockchain and the reasons behind it.
If you are looking for an easy to understand overview of how blockchain works, why it matters, AND where the technology is headed from an unbiased perspective, I'd highly recommend checking out Bubble or Revolution!
The remaining three fourths of the book focuses on the use cases for blockchains and cryptocurrencies in the form of case studies and research (other books like Blockchain Basics spend 60% of the book explaining the tech in micro details that are irrelevant). There is a lot of thoughtful analysis when dissecting these case studies that helped me understand some of the shortcomings and weaknesses of blockchain technology.
I have read a lot of overly bullish books (like Blockchain Revolution), but Bubble or Revolution differs in that it offers frameworks for helping you understand in what use cases the pros of blockchain technology outweigh the cons. The authors do a fantastic job of making predictions on how major countries (e.g. China) and major companies (e.g. Facebook and Microsoft) will adopt blockchain and the reasons behind it.
If you are looking for an easy to understand overview of how blockchain works, why it matters, AND where the technology is headed from an unbiased perspective, I'd highly recommend checking out Bubble or Revolution!
September 25, 2019
Do bitcoins and blockchains defy comprehension to you, like perhaps quantum mechanics? Well, no more, if you read this primer, written in easy-to-comprehend language. There are over a thousand versions of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin being the best known and most widely used. Cryptocurrencies are here to stay, I suspect, though many will fail individually. Venezuela's attempt at its own cryptocurrency, supposedly backed by the country's oil, is one example. Facebook is toying with launching its own cryptocurrency.
Then there is the blockchain, the backbone of cryptocurrencies. It's a separate concept, with a use in other realm besides cryptocurrencies. Keeping track of the production, distribution, transportation, and ultimate destination of all manner of goods, from agricultural produce grown in California to manufactured items in Asia, that ultimately wind up in consumer outlets, like Walmart, for instance. The blockchains allows someone with access to it to immediately track that item from beginning to end; every link is there, permanently. So tracking a bad batch of, say, lettuce from the growing field to the produce department is easy and quick.
Cryptocurrencies have not only financial implications but geopolitical consequences as well. Read about China's quest to use cryptocurrencies to help make its yuan a universal currency, on par with the U.S. dollar and the EU euro.
The pros and cons of cryptocurrencies are discussed.
Blockchains, like cryptocurrencies, are here to stay. Educate yourself about them with this primer.
Then there is the blockchain, the backbone of cryptocurrencies. It's a separate concept, with a use in other realm besides cryptocurrencies. Keeping track of the production, distribution, transportation, and ultimate destination of all manner of goods, from agricultural produce grown in California to manufactured items in Asia, that ultimately wind up in consumer outlets, like Walmart, for instance. The blockchains allows someone with access to it to immediately track that item from beginning to end; every link is there, permanently. So tracking a bad batch of, say, lettuce from the growing field to the produce department is easy and quick.
Cryptocurrencies have not only financial implications but geopolitical consequences as well. Read about China's quest to use cryptocurrencies to help make its yuan a universal currency, on par with the U.S. dollar and the EU euro.
The pros and cons of cryptocurrencies are discussed.
Blockchains, like cryptocurrencies, are here to stay. Educate yourself about them with this primer.
September 25, 2019
I've tried reading other books on the topic of blockchain, but the problem is most other books on the topic are written by those who have a stake in the success of blockchain. Those books end up being way more optimistic and bullish than seems realistic.
Bubble or Revolution takes a pretty balanced approach/tone, as the perspective is from those working at the tech companies (Google/Microsoft/Facebook) instead of those who work in the blockchain industry. Overall, they take an optimistic view on blockchain, but also with some healthy skepticism. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in learning more!
Bubble or Revolution takes a pretty balanced approach/tone, as the perspective is from those working at the tech companies (Google/Microsoft/Facebook) instead of those who work in the blockchain industry. Overall, they take an optimistic view on blockchain, but also with some healthy skepticism. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in learning more!
September 25, 2019
I work in banking in SF and can't stop hearing about how blockchain & crypto are going to disrupt fintech, banking, the economy, etc. My friends recommended this book to me and I'm so glad I got it -- I finally understand how these technologies work and what effect they'll *actually* have on the finance space. It's refreshing to get a balanced assessment of crypto and not empty rants about how "disruptive" this tech is. Also, these guys have a solid handle on macro -- the chapter about monetary policy and inflation/deflation was really good.
August 30, 2019
I've had one foot in the door of cryptocurrency since 2013, when I started mining bitcoin. I have a technical background - I've worked for Google and Apple, and can quickly tell when someone is trying to take about something they don’t have expertise in.
I can honestly say that this is one of the most refreshing takes on the state of crypto currency in a while. The authors are not trying to peddle a specific coin, or have any vested interest in cryptocurrency that might confuse or lead astray the average consumer. They take the difficult-to-comprehend concepts and masterfully break them down, explaining how the current state of crypto came to be.
The book starts with a great introduction to how cryptocurrencies work. They do not go into the weeds or make it boring, they go into just the right amount of detail for a layperson to understand how a block chain works, without stressing the difficult math. If you’re interested, though, they provide a ton of resources in the end notes as well!
They also make insightful analyses without being too verbose; they accurately distinguish between when crypto currency actually has the potential to revolutionize the world and when it’s just being used to inflate and confound investors. The case studies help reinforce this delineation of coins - when they’re valuable, how they provide proof of work, and how they can actually be used to circumvent some common economic pitfalls that have plagued countries for decades. Read the book cover to cover in a day - a must read for anyone who is new to the world of crypto!
I can honestly say that this is one of the most refreshing takes on the state of crypto currency in a while. The authors are not trying to peddle a specific coin, or have any vested interest in cryptocurrency that might confuse or lead astray the average consumer. They take the difficult-to-comprehend concepts and masterfully break them down, explaining how the current state of crypto came to be.
The book starts with a great introduction to how cryptocurrencies work. They do not go into the weeds or make it boring, they go into just the right amount of detail for a layperson to understand how a block chain works, without stressing the difficult math. If you’re interested, though, they provide a ton of resources in the end notes as well!
They also make insightful analyses without being too verbose; they accurately distinguish between when crypto currency actually has the potential to revolutionize the world and when it’s just being used to inflate and confound investors. The case studies help reinforce this delineation of coins - when they’re valuable, how they provide proof of work, and how they can actually be used to circumvent some common economic pitfalls that have plagued countries for decades. Read the book cover to cover in a day - a must read for anyone who is new to the world of crypto!
August 30, 2019
I took a course called "Cryptocurrencies, Blockchains, and Applications" this spring at Carnegie Mellon University, which gave me a strong understanding of how blockchains work under the hood and how to program with them; however, what that class glossed over was the societal implications of blockchain and cryptocurrency and how the tech giants are utilizing them. So I decided to find a book to help fill in my knowledge gaps. I was immediately drawn to Bubble or Revolution as I have read Swipe to Unlock by the same authors and loved it!
So the first third of the book does an amazing job breaking down how blockchain technology works with easy to understand analogies and non-technical examples. The other two-thirds of the book breaks down the bigger picture questions around blockchain like when does a blockchain make sense to use, what are the main challenges hindering blockchain adoption, which countries are innovating in crypto and which are trying to ban it, and more.
What I found most valuable were the breakdowns of what various tech giants (e.g. Microsoft, Facebook, etc.) and major non-tech companies (e.g. Walmart) are doing in the blockchain space and why. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-researched perspective on what blockchain is today and what it may be 5-10 years down the road.
So the first third of the book does an amazing job breaking down how blockchain technology works with easy to understand analogies and non-technical examples. The other two-thirds of the book breaks down the bigger picture questions around blockchain like when does a blockchain make sense to use, what are the main challenges hindering blockchain adoption, which countries are innovating in crypto and which are trying to ban it, and more.
What I found most valuable were the breakdowns of what various tech giants (e.g. Microsoft, Facebook, etc.) and major non-tech companies (e.g. Walmart) are doing in the blockchain space and why. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-researched perspective on what blockchain is today and what it may be 5-10 years down the road.
September 25, 2019
I got into crypto in 2017 and made a 3x return trading bitcoin, ether and various alt coins with no understanding of the underlying technology or difference between the various coins. So naturally, in 2018, I lost All my paper gains and my crypto portfolio fell well below principle. As crypto has begun to surge again now in 2019, I decided to read this book to help get a better understanding of the fundamentals. Bubble or Revolution has great overview of bitcoin, ether, and various top alt coins. Although it’s not written for crypto readers per say, I think Anyone considering making a blockchain investment should read this book to get to high level lay of the land.
August 29, 2019
This was hands down one of the best TECH books I have read in a long time! The differentiating factor for me was the depth and unbiasedness of it! A lot of technology books tend to be more interesting to people within that realm, who have previous knowledge of that specific field. However, this book can be an interesting read for anyone and everyone! Especially, your average reader whose just trying to understand cryptocurrencies on a basic level. Whether it be a mom, a neighbor, or your boss who is not quite tech savvy, Bubble or Revolution can do wonders for them!
September 25, 2019
Who should read this book:
People interested in learning about the history of both blockchain and "traditional" money
People who want to know how blockchains actually work with no assumed knowledge
People who want to learn frameworks and case studies to help them understand what is real and what is hype when it comes to blockchain
Who shouldn't read this book:
People trying to program a blockchain
People trying to figure out which altcoins to buy to get rich overnight
People interested in learning about the history of both blockchain and "traditional" money
People who want to know how blockchains actually work with no assumed knowledge
People who want to learn frameworks and case studies to help them understand what is real and what is hype when it comes to blockchain
Who shouldn't read this book:
People trying to program a blockchain
People trying to figure out which altcoins to buy to get rich overnight
September 25, 2019
I follow the authors of this book on Linekdin where they regularly share their tech industry analysis and predictions. I was kind of expecting them to just repackage that content into a book to squeeze out some extra cash like many influencers do. I was very pleasantly surprised to find the book was all new, original content; its also hyper up to date with the latest crypto developments (eg. Facebook's Libra) and has very well researched insights on the crypto space. If you like Parth, Adi, and Neel's Linkedin content, you will LOVE this book!
September 25, 2019
This book provides a great intro to the world of crypto and blockchain, and I highly recommend it to everyone no matter whether you do or do not have prior knowledge of this space. I have been spending tons of time reading through various blog posts and articles to learn more about the blockchain space and could never really build the understanding. However, this book has solved for that need. The authors have done a great job explaining the blockchain technology so that even an elementary school kid could understand the intricacies of it.
The book also dives into case studies that help describe how blockchain technology can be used in the real world. It highlights the pros, while also detailing the weaknesses of the technology. The authors also throw in some fun, predictive material, describing how this technology can be used by major companies today.
I highly recommend this book if you want to learn what blockchain is, why it is important, and how it is and can be used in the world today!
The book also dives into case studies that help describe how blockchain technology can be used in the real world. It highlights the pros, while also detailing the weaknesses of the technology. The authors also throw in some fun, predictive material, describing how this technology can be used by major companies today.
I highly recommend this book if you want to learn what blockchain is, why it is important, and how it is and can be used in the world today!
September 25, 2019
Blockchain and cryptocurrency are undoubtedly some of the hottest buzzwords in the realm of technology right now. As someone who had only heard about the controversial stories regarding cryptocurrencies, I'm so glad that I chose Bubble or Revolution as my gateway to this fascinating world.
Bubble or Revolution is the perfect blend of technical and applicable knowledge. The authors effectively break down myriad complicated concepts while sprinkling in real-world stories and examples to solidify the reader's understanding. I highly recommend this to anyone from novices like me who just want to learn more to experts who are looking for a fresh, new perspective.
What I loved the most was that true to their words in the beginning of the book, the authors impart as little of their own personal biases and beliefs into the content of the book. Bubble or Revolution presents the facts so that the reader can come to their own conclusions on the future of this technology because really only time can tell us if blockchain and cryptocurrency will be a Bubble or Revolution!
Bubble or Revolution is the perfect blend of technical and applicable knowledge. The authors effectively break down myriad complicated concepts while sprinkling in real-world stories and examples to solidify the reader's understanding. I highly recommend this to anyone from novices like me who just want to learn more to experts who are looking for a fresh, new perspective.
What I loved the most was that true to their words in the beginning of the book, the authors impart as little of their own personal biases and beliefs into the content of the book. Bubble or Revolution presents the facts so that the reader can come to their own conclusions on the future of this technology because really only time can tell us if blockchain and cryptocurrency will be a Bubble or Revolution!
September 25, 2019
I just started getting into the realm of cryptocurrencies, and I have to say that this book significantly helped me with clearing my initial confusions and concerns about the market. If you're interested in getting involved in block chain and cryptocurrencies as well I highly recommend this read, as it will give you an overview of this landscape in an incredibly easy-to-follow manner. Without this book I certainly would not be excelling as well as I have been in the market this year so far!
August 30, 2019
Bubble or Revolution is a great start for beginning to understand the world of crypto and blockchain. The authors do a really good job of explaining the concepts so that people of varying levels of technical expertise can understand and learn more. The content covers everything you would need to know to get immersed in this crypto world with many useful analogies and stories along the way. It is a must read for everyone even remotely interested in crypto!
September 25, 2019
I write this as less of a technologist than I'd like to profess given my role in a tech & data services company with a live enterprise-level blockchain product. That being said, I picked this book up to close my gaps of understanding and at least be able to be conversant with more technical colleagues & clients. Since blockchain is one of the most discussed yet least understood topics I looked to the 'Swipe to Unlock' guys to break it all down for me and provide a point of view on the future of the technology as well to consider potential applications and ramifications. The authors' use welcoming yet straightforward writing, clever analogies, and other approaches to help establish a solid understanding of cryptocurrency and blockchain first. There are plenty of footnotes to follow up on for the curious. The rest of the book breaks down case studies across the globe and industries which helps build the scope of the technology's current and future reach. Fantastic primer that I am sure to revisit from time to time.
September 25, 2019
I was initially skeptical of this group's second book, since few authors can knock it out of the park with more than one book. However, I am super pleasantly surprised. As a former blockchain enthusiast who has tried to read countless blockchain books, I must say this book is amazing. Much like Swipe to Unlock, Bubble or Revolution clearly illustrates complex concepts using simple metaphors. Furthermore, it clearly explains the significance of blockchain innovation, disputes in the community, and the pros and cons of blockchain moving forward. I think that is the true value add of this book. It's easy to read, and despite focusing on a difficult and sometimes dry subject, I can't put it down!
September 25, 2019
As an undergraduate business student, I have been bombarded with mixed information surrounding the importance and value of blockchain technology. After reading this book, the authors have once again done a phenomenal job of highlighting key concepts that are pertinent to the technology industry.
The book goes into extreme depth into what exactly Blockchain is as a technology and how it works. I then uses clear analogies and comparisons to help explain to the reading the technologies importance to the world. The authors also take an objective stance on the topic at hand, which is extremely difficult to find when dealing with Blockchain and cryptocurrency discussions.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an introduction into Blockchain technology!
The book goes into extreme depth into what exactly Blockchain is as a technology and how it works. I then uses clear analogies and comparisons to help explain to the reading the technologies importance to the world. The authors also take an objective stance on the topic at hand, which is extremely difficult to find when dealing with Blockchain and cryptocurrency discussions.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an introduction into Blockchain technology!
August 30, 2019
I became a big fan of the authors after reading "Swipe to Unlock", and I am nothing short of impressed with this book. The authors have a fantastic grasp of deeply technical concepts, and are able to explicate them to just about anyone -- whether or not you've written a single line of code -- effectively demystifying the world of blockchain, one analogy at a time. The amount of research and enthusiasm the authors put into this book is clearly apparent, and I've developed a deep appreciation and gratitude for their hard work, and for sharing their expertise with the greater tech community. This is a brilliant must read that you should add to your summer reading list now!
August 27, 2019
I follow the authors of this book on Linkedin where they regularly share their tech industry analysis and predictions. I was kind of expecting them to just repackage that content into a book to squeeze out some extra cash like many influencers do. I was very pleasantly surprised to find the book was all new, original content; its also hyper up to date with the latest crypto developments (eg. Facebook's Libra) and has very well researched insights on the crypto space. If you like Parth, Adi, and Neel's Linkedin content, you will LOVE this book!
September 25, 2019
Being a total novice on Blockchain and related technologies, i consider this book a great non-technical introduction to the subject. Easily read and systematic, this book provides a great overview of what these technologies offer and how they work. Also really liked how the authors clearly are objective about this technology and really just leave the reader with information to decide for him-/herself what to think about blockchain.
August 30, 2019
I have just read half of the book and it has gotten me alot more curious around cryptocurrency research and the knowledge gained will help me invest wisely in future. The authors provide amazing insights around the necessity of crypto currency and present all their research in unbiased way.
This book is written lucid enough which targets not only technology oriented people but also layman with basic finance understanding. A must read for anyone who is curious about technologies of future.
Helpful!
This book is written lucid enough which targets not only technology oriented people but also layman with basic finance understanding. A must read for anyone who is curious about technologies of future.
Helpful!
August 30, 2019
This book is a must read. I started off with minimal knowledge of blockchain technology. It has been a buzz word which I’ve been hearing from everyone around me - but I never even understood the basic concept of it. Reading this book helped me understand the basic foundations of blockchain technology as well as the more intricate details of it. High recommend it for everyone who is interested in learning about this field!
August 30, 2019
As someone who works in finance, I was getting sick of feeling out of the loop on crypto conversations. The attitudes of my friends range from "crypto is a scam" to "Bitcoin is going to hit $100,000." So the title of this book definitely got my attention. Digging a bit deeper, I also found none of the authors of this book have direct financial interest in blockchain or cryptocurrency nor work directly in the space. I hate books which are really just advertising and that definitely wasn't the case here so I decided to pull the trigger and buy Bubble or Revolution.
The book begins by thoroughly explaining how blockchain technology works with no assumed technical knowledge. The authors did an amazing job providing just the right amount of detail on this. They then go into the history of bitcoin and the social/economic context behind its creation. Then they describe the shortcoming of traditional payments infrastructure and how blockchain/cryptocurrency can add value. They also describe in detail the shortcoming of blockchain technology and the challenges it will face in garnering mainstream adoption.
My favorite part of the book was all the case studies which help thoroughly break down how and when blockchain can be a gamechanger and when its being used purely for unwarranted hype. The book also offers really insightful analysis on the blockchain plays of top companies like Microsoft and Facebook and makes bold predictions on how blockchain technology will be adopted.
I finished the entire book in a single two and half hour sitting. The authors did an amazing job making an educational read fun! Could not recommend this book enough and I believe everyone should check out this book!
The book begins by thoroughly explaining how blockchain technology works with no assumed technical knowledge. The authors did an amazing job providing just the right amount of detail on this. They then go into the history of bitcoin and the social/economic context behind its creation. Then they describe the shortcoming of traditional payments infrastructure and how blockchain/cryptocurrency can add value. They also describe in detail the shortcoming of blockchain technology and the challenges it will face in garnering mainstream adoption.
My favorite part of the book was all the case studies which help thoroughly break down how and when blockchain can be a gamechanger and when its being used purely for unwarranted hype. The book also offers really insightful analysis on the blockchain plays of top companies like Microsoft and Facebook and makes bold predictions on how blockchain technology will be adopted.
I finished the entire book in a single two and half hour sitting. The authors did an amazing job making an educational read fun! Could not recommend this book enough and I believe everyone should check out this book!
August 15, 2019
After reading AI Superpowers, I discovered I really love learning about new technologies and how they will influence the world going forward. I think Bubble or Revolution does for blockchain what AI Superpowers does for artificial intelligence and machine learning - it breaks down how the technology works, how it will most likely be adopted and its role on a global stage, and both the positive and negative externalities that will result from it.
Bubble or Revolution does a wonderful job explaining the technical details of blockchain without jargon and then storytelling the history of the technology and its evolution to getting to where it is today. The book then looks forward and provides thoughtful takes on how different companies and governments will utilize blockchain in the next three to five years. All claims and predictions made are very well backed up with data and research. After reading Bubble or Revolution, I am thoroughly convinced that China will be the first major country to tokenize their currency!
Bubble or Revolution does a wonderful job explaining the technical details of blockchain without jargon and then storytelling the history of the technology and its evolution to getting to where it is today. The book then looks forward and provides thoughtful takes on how different companies and governments will utilize blockchain in the next three to five years. All claims and predictions made are very well backed up with data and research. After reading Bubble or Revolution, I am thoroughly convinced that China will be the first major country to tokenize their currency!
August 30, 2019
About a year ago, I left Google to start my own blockchain company focused on supply chain tracking. I recently heard about this book from my friends still at Google; it's gotten really popular there (not surprising given the author currently works at Google). The title got my attention so I decided to buy the book.
I skimmed past the first couple of chapters as I have a computer science degree and a thorough understanding of how blockchain works already. I found the analysis on the history of money and how traditional payment systems work really interesting though. The author has some really good frameworks for understanding when it makes sense to use blockchain. He also shares some very well researched predictions on the future of blockchain. Overall, I really liked this book and have been recommending it to all my friends and family to don't understand how blockchain tech works and why I left Google to start a blockchain company haha.
I skimmed past the first couple of chapters as I have a computer science degree and a thorough understanding of how blockchain works already. I found the analysis on the history of money and how traditional payment systems work really interesting though. The author has some really good frameworks for understanding when it makes sense to use blockchain. He also shares some very well researched predictions on the future of blockchain. Overall, I really liked this book and have been recommending it to all my friends and family to don't understand how blockchain tech works and why I left Google to start a blockchain company haha.
August 30, 2019
I read both "Blockchain Bubble or Revolution" and "Blockchain Basics" and strongly preferred Bubble or Revolution. I found myself zoning out while reading Blockchain Basics as it went into very granular technical detail almost entirely glossing over why it all mattered and the real world use cases.
Conversely, Bubble or Revolution spends at least two thirds of the book on real world blockchain case studies and analysis which I found to beo the most interesting part of the book. Despite Bubble or Revolution being roughly twice as long as Blockchain Basics, both books took me roughly the same amount of time to read as I found myself needing to reread parts of Blockchain Basics multiple times for it to make sense. For anyone seeking a big picture overview of the blockchain/crypto landscape, I'd recommend reading Blockchain Bubble or Revolution.
Conversely, Bubble or Revolution spends at least two thirds of the book on real world blockchain case studies and analysis which I found to beo the most interesting part of the book. Despite Bubble or Revolution being roughly twice as long as Blockchain Basics, both books took me roughly the same amount of time to read as I found myself needing to reread parts of Blockchain Basics multiple times for it to make sense. For anyone seeking a big picture overview of the blockchain/crypto landscape, I'd recommend reading Blockchain Bubble or Revolution.
September 25, 2019
From start to finish, this book was an engaging read. As part of the healthcare industry, I have heard the potential uses for blockchain but never completely understood the reasons behind it-which has since changed after reading this book. What made this book stand out was how the information was presented in an objective, easy to digest manner. For someone like me who does not have a robust programming background, I was so excited to find a book that helped me understand complex themes like Bitcoin and blockchain and didn't assume prior knowledge. The robust examples provided helped explain each topic and gave me the tools to make my own inferences about the subject matter. I couldn't put this book down and am excited for what these authors do next!
August 27, 2019
Bubble or Revolution is a great start for beginning to understand the world of crypto and blockchain. The authors do a really good job of explaining the concepts so that people of varying levels of technical expertise can understand and learn more. The content covers everything you would need to know to get immersed in this crypto world with many useful analogies and stories along the way. It is a must read for everyone even remotely interested in crypto!
August 14, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It presents the arguments for both sides, and the information is comprehendible even for a layperson. As a person with very LITTLE knowledge on blockchains and cryptocurrencies, I finished this book a more informed consumer and was never bored while reading! Highly recommend!
August 15, 2019
My son works with blockchain technology and has tried to explain exactly what he does to me countless times to no avail. This book did a great job explaining the in and outs of blockchain and cryptocurrencies to someone new to the space and unfamiliar with the lingos of it. The cases were very interesting and I’m thankful I can speak to my son more fluently now.
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