Coined by Kabir Sehgal Summary
Overview of Coined
Dive into money's untold history with this New York Times bestseller that examines currency through biology, psychology, and theology. Called "endlessly fascinating" by critics, Sehgal's multidimensional exploration reveals how the cash in your wallet shapes human behavior more than you ever imagined.
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Why We'll Do Anything for Pieces of Paper We Can't Eat
Picture a beggar boarding your Jakarta taxi-not to ask for money, but to help you access the carpool lane. This strange transaction captures something profound: money isn't just about economics. It lights up the same brain regions as cocaine, triggers ancient survival instincts, and shapes how we connect with strangers. When we anticipate financial gain, our nucleus accumbens fires with excitement; when we fear loss, our amygdala screams danger. Yet we rarely pause to ask: What exactly is this force that governs so much of human life? Long before humans invented currency, life itself was trading. In the Galapagos, wrasse fish clean parasites off sea turtles. Coral polyps swap nutrients with algae. These partnerships aren't modern innovations-they began 3.8 billion years ago when one prokaryote swallowed another that became the mitochondrion, the energy factory inside every cell in your body. That ancient merger created all complex life through exchange: shelter for power. Flowers and bees perfected this dance 100 million years ago. Plants advertise with color and scent, offering sugar-rich nectar while receiving reproductive assistance. Bees transform this nectar into honey, essentially banking energy for winter scarcity. When a bumblebee lands on a flower, an electric exchange occurs-negatively charged petals attract positively charged insects, facilitating pollen transfer. Energy flows as nature's original currency. Understanding money's journey-from biological exchange to digital abstraction-reveals not just economic history, but the story of human cooperation, creativity, and our endless capacity to create meaning from symbols.
The Evolutionary Origins of Human Exchange and Cooperation
The Irrational Brain Behind Financial Choices and Social Obligations
From Metal to Authority: How Governments Seized Control of Currency
Paper Promises and the Transformation to Soft Money Systems
The Digital Revolution and Money's Multiple Possible Futures
Beyond the Ledger: What Money Cannot Buy and What Truly Endures
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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