Do you want to get into Bitcoin but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you thought it was a great investment until you heard about its environmental impacts. Maybe you’ve already bought into cryptocurrency and are looking into how to level up your knowledge to take your portfolio to the next level.
If any of those situations sound familiar, then you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a collection of Bitcoin books we think any self-respecting miner would have under their belt. They range from technical how-to’s to social impact discussions, to a look at Bitcoin from a financial planner.
There’s something for everyone on this list — even you! Read below to find the right book for your cryptocurrency curriculum.
The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age
Some books are creepily predictive without meaning to be, and this book is one of them. It was written in 1999 when the internet was just barely accessible to the general public. At that point, most people didn’t have computers in their homes.
So, how is this a bitcoin book if it was written before the idea even existed? Well, it’s not technically. It lays more of the mental groundwork needed to understand how different the information age is than all the years before, and how revolutionary something like Bitcoin could be.
If you’re really trying to start at ground zero, this is the best book for the job. If you want something more specific, try….
The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains
This book is another good starting point, as you can see from the title. It’s written by Antony Lewis and it will do everything from explaining the technology and how to get started, to defining certain terms or vocabulary words used in the industry.
This book is one of the most popular starter books on Bitcoin and is best for someone who wants to dip their toe in the water. It’s a great pick if you think you want to get into the crypto game, but aren’t quite sure.
You’ll have your mind made up by the end of the 400 pages.
Why Buy Bitcoin by Andy Edstrom
If you’re looking at Bitcoin as part of your investment portfolio, especially if you expect someone else to do the trading part for you, you’ve got to read this book. While The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains are the lay-it-all-out starter guide, this book focuses more on the financial planning and investment potential of crypto.
If you have a financial planner or wealth manager and want to bring up the idea of investing in Crypto to them, we’d highly recommend you read this book first, because they’re going to have a lot of questions for you about potential risks.
Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and The World
We listed this book next because it’s what financial planners (see above) are most worried about when it comes to crypto. While there are some pro-crypto planners out there, they’re few and far between because of how our current system helps them profit. Hey – they have bills too.
Anything disruptive scares people, which is exactly what this book both explains and addresses. This is more of a look at cryptocurrency from a social sciences and economy point of view and doesn’t go into the complicated technical details. It would be a great follow-up – or precursor really – to the Basics of Bitcoin book cited above. Just depends on how your brain works.
Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Currencies
If you’re looking for something that’s past the basics level but is still easily understood by the average reader, then give this book a try. It’s another very popular choice among coin newbies, but it feels more elevated than something like Bitcoin for Dummies. It covers everything from how to use sites like www.bytefederal.com to which coin is which.
It’s a longer book, so don’t order it if you want something you can finish in a few hours, or even in a week. This kind of comprehensive almost-textbook will take you some time to finish, which is a good thing for the longevity of your Bitcoin knowledge.
The Blocksize War: The Battle for Control Over Bitcoin’s Protocol Rules
If you’re an attorney, work in government, or are generally interested in economic law/policy, order this book right now. It’s a must-read for anyone that wants to keep track of and understand how different entities are trying to control a currency that isn’t meant to be controlled by any ruling parties.
While the book gives good information, it is subjective and anti-centralization/control – so know that going in. But given that you’re looking into Bitcoin, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money
Our final choice is more of a narrative and story-telling book about the who and the why of crypto, while the other books are more about the “how” of it all. If you’re someone who understands and values human experiences when it comes to learning, you’ll love this book. It has truth and history but almost reads like a collection of interviews.
It may be one of our favorite crypto books, ever.
Bitcoin Books: Listen, Read, or Scan
We all have different ways of reading books these days. A lot of us have transitioned to audiobooks because we can listen and learn while we’re doing the thousands of tasks we have to do every day. And yes — listening to an audiobook does “count” as reading, so don’t let anyone tell you differently.
No matter how you like to consume books, we hope that our list of assorted Bitcoin books sparked your interest and gave you something to be excited about. If you like this content, subscribe to our email list. It’s worth it!
