Funny Money: In Search of Alternative Cash [Paperback]

‘An inspirational book, crammed with ideas’
TES

Only our limited idea of money is keeping us poor. David Boyle introduces us to alternative cash and people who can conjure money – that is, spending power – out of nothing.

Until recently, the growth of alternative cash had been the province of big business: phone cards, stamps, air miles and Tesco’s clubcard points all have purchasing power, yet are not cash as we know it. Now, locally created money systems like ‘time dollars’, ‘Womanshare’ and ‘Ithaca hours’ are being invented by communities for communities.

With clarity and great humour, Boyle tells the story of this extraordinary revolution: he travels to the USA to visit the people behind local money systems; relates their vision of the future; and describes how to set up your own currency. This is no dry theoretical tome: Boyle writes about his subject in a way that is concrete, illuminating, often very funny and always highly readable.

This paperback edition includes a new epilogue with an update on the latest alternative currency ideas: ‘You just have to cast doubt on the real existence of the money markets and they could just shrivel away. Anything could happen.’

A revolution is underway now: this book tells the story of its leaders and the ideas that inspired them.

Only our limited idea of money is keeping us poor.
A revolution is going on in the world of money. The financial system is increasingly unreliable for ordinary people like us who depend on it, so people are finding ways of creating new kinds of money to underpin our lives - from time dollars or LETS to hours, the printed currency in upstate New York. These 'new alchemists' are in the forefront of a protestant revolution in money. Just like the protestants who did without priests as intermediaries, so they are discovering ways of creating money without banks. Funny Money is a journey through America to find these new alchemists who are showing us a way forward - and a personal investigation into the peculiar virtual nature of money at the end of the 20th century. The Times Educational Supplement says:"Part travelogue, part polemic, Funny Money is an inspirational book, crammed with ideas and crowded with eccentrics, the pioneers of alternatives to cash. After reading it, the Queen's head on Britain's bank notes looks somehow less impressive…"

In 'Funny Money' David Boyle introduces us to alternative cash and people who can conjure money – that is, spending power -out of nothing.

Until recently, the growth of alternative cash has been the province of big business. Cyberwealth, phone cards, stamps, air miles, supermarket reward points and much more besides all have purchasing power, yet are not cash as we traditionally know it.

Now, a revolution is underway – locally created money systems are being invented by communities for communities all over the world. They bypass banks and governments to develop a type of wealth previously only dreamt of – inflation – proof, non-taxable and inherently stable – which can promote social cohesion and individual empowerment.

Boyle tells the story of this extraordinary movement with wit and clarity: he travels to the USA, home to the greatest number and variety of local currencies; meets the prophets, organizers and innovators behind local money and relates their vision of the future; and describes how you too can take control and set up your own currency.

This book will change the way you think about money forever.

“Part travelogue, part polemic, 'Funny Money' is an inspirational book, crammed with ideas and crowded with eccentrics, the pioneers of alternatives to cash. After reading it, the Queen’s head on Britain’s banknotes looks somehow less impressive.”
TES

David Boyle is a journalist and alternative economist who has been writing about new ideas in economics in the New Statesman, Guardian and European for more than a decade. He is the editor of New Economics magazine and presenter of Channel Four’s Worldwise Reports and BBC2’s Midnight Hour.