The End of Money and the Future of Civilization

Like the proverbial fish who doesn’t know what water is, we swim in an economy built on money that few of us comprehend, and, most definitely, what we don’t know is hurting us.

Very few people realize that the nature of money has changed profoundly over the past three centuries, or—as has been clear with the latest global financial crisis—the extent to which it has become a political instrument used to centralize power, concentrate wealth, and subvert popular government. On top of that, the economic growth imperative inherent in the present global monetary system is a main driver of global warming and other environmental crises.

The End of Money and the Future of Civilization demystifies the subjects of money, banking, and finance by tracing historical landmarks and important evolutionary shifts that have changed the essential nature of money. Greco’s masterful work lays out the problems and then looks to the future for a next stage in money’s evolution that can liberate us as individuals and communities from the current grip of centralized and politicized money power.

Greco provides specific design proposals and exchange-system architectures for local, regional, national, and global financial systems. He offers strategies for their implementation and outlines actions grassroots organizations, businesses, and governments will need to take to achieve success.

Ultimately, The End of Money and the Future of Civilization provides the necessary understanding— for entrepreneurs, activists, and civic leaders—to implement approaches toward monetary liberation. These approaches would empower communities, preserve democratic institutions, and begin to build economies that are sustainable, democratic, and insulated from the financial crises that plague the dominant monetary system.

'Thomas H Greco Jr's new book on money challenges the growth fetish and gives practical examples of how community-based exchange systems can save the economy, and the environment, from collapse. The title is intriguing enough to make you pick it up and for a financially-challenged person like me, it is an eye-opener. The style of writing is clear and crisp... A refreshing read into the ails of the current global financial system. The book leaves you thinking that given the political will and empowerment of grassroots and community -based systems, the environment and civilisation as we know it is not doomed after all.' -- Jaswinder Kaur, The Ecologist, October 2009 'This book cuts to the very core of the [global financial] trouble -- and points toward several pathways that might allow us to slowly climb out of the pit into which we've stumbled.' -- Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy 'If anything could save this civilization from the calamity to which its economic madness has led it -- the unrelenting pursuit of materialism, the starkly inequitable division of wealth, the despoliation of the earth for profit -- it would be the widespread adoption of the wisdom embodied in Tom Greco's clear and forthright new book.' -- Kirkpatrick Sale, author of Human Scale 'For the growing ranks of monetary reformers worldwide, long-time expert Tom Greco's deeply researched new book is essential reading. This gripping blend of theory and practicality lays out all the options for creating saner money and credit systems.' -- Hazel Henderson, author of Ethical Markets 'This book is a concise and efficient way to get up to speed on the history of alternatives to conventional 'money' as well as enter the new world of technologically liberated exchange that has the potential to bring about the end of money as we have known it.' -- Paul Grignon, creator of the movie Money as Debt 'Thomas Greco, in his new book The End of Money and the Future of Civilization, outlines the increasingly familiar story of how things got so bad, and tells it as well as anyone has ever done. His style is precise and sometimes academic. Behind it though, is a passion for truth and the type of rock-solid integrity that refuses to sugar-coat a very bitter pill.' -- Richard C. Cook author of We Hold the Truths: The Hope of Monetary Reform 'With this book Tom Greco not only demonstrates a profound understanding of the nature of money, won through a lifetime of dedicated research, but he also manages to convey this understanding in a clear well-written and fascinating narrative. For this he deserves acclaim' -- Arthur Edwards, New View, Spring 2010 'Full to bursting with examples and ideas of alternative economic structures' -- The Friend, March 2010 'With this book Tom Greco not only demonstrates a profound understanding of the nature of money, won through a lifetime of dedicated research, but he also manages to convey this understanding in a clear, well-written and fascinating narrative. For this he deserves acclaim... Greco's account is technical, historical, pratical and to some degree visionary... It is written is comprehensive lay terms without losing any of the power of its insightful analysis.' --Arthur Edwards, New View, Spring 2010