What do cacao beans, cowrie shells, cigarettes, and digital databases all have in common? At some time, they have been used as a form of money. In this illustrated history, mathematician David Orrell traces the role, growth, and impact of finance on civilizations, which are shaped by the boom and bust of their economies. While surveying commerce from the credit system of ancient Mesopotamia to the cryptocurrencies of today, Orrell also examines how the pursuit of wealth can corrupt individuals but also create widespread prosperity.