People's History of Money

A People's History of Money is a graphic ethnography that explains one of the most important yet least understood institutions shaping contemporary life. At a time when inflation, rising living costs, increasing inequality, technological innovation, and debates over digital currencies spark heated public discussion, the book asks and answers a deceptively simple question: What is money? Drawing on anthropology, archaeology, history, and political economy, it reveals money not as a neutral economic tool but as a social institution that organizes human relationships, distributes power, and shapes both opportunity and inequality. The book follows Emilio, a young adult whose parents are undocumented immigrants. As Emilio struggles to understand why his family must work multiple jobs, what makes prices keep rising, and persistent financial insecurity around him, he encounters Moneta, a dream spirit inspired by an ancient Roman goddess. Moneta guides Emilio on an illustrated journey from the earliest accounting systems in ancient Mesopotamia to coins, paper money, banking, credit, central banks, cryptocurrencies, and community currencies. Along the way, Emilio discovers how different forms of money have emerged, how they have transformed human communities, and why some monetary systems produce greater inequality than others. Combining engaging storytelling with accessible scholarship, A People's History of Money galvanizes readers to think critically about money—not just as something we use every day, but as a human invention that can be redesigned to create more equitable and inclusive futures.