Rethinking Money by Bernard Lietaer & Jacqui Dunne - Book review

Rethinking Money: How New Currencies Turn Scarcity into Prosperity

By: Bernard Lietaer, Jacqui Dunne

Published: February 4, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1609942965
ISBN-13: 978-1609942960
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers










"Regular people have discovered not only that it is possible to create money in sufficiency for their needs but also that it is simultaneously possible to build their societies with greater cooperation, care, and collaboration", write world renowned expert on money and financial systems, Bernar Lietaer; and award winning journalist and CEO of Danu Resource, Jacqui Dunne, in their visionary and thought provoking book Rethinking Money: How New Currencies Turn Scarcity into Prosperity. The authors describe what money really is, how it works, and why it causes scarcity and competition, and provide an alternative in the form complementary currencies to foster cooperation and prosperity.



Bernard Lietaer (photo left) and Jacqui Dunne understand that democratization of money is as critical for eliminating scarcity and establishing prosperity as democracy within the political process. The authors make a strong case that the current monetary system is obsolete and fails to create prosperity except for the very few. As a result, the authors recommend taking the bold step of revitalizing the system of money through the creation of complementary currencies.

The authors share evidence of how complementary currencies have increased prosperity levels when put into service. The new currencies rebuild depressed regions, revitalize urban cores, and strengthen small business and entrepreneurship. Not only are the complementary currencies builders of prosperity, but they also create a sustainable economy free of scarcity.



Jacqui Dunne (photo left) and Bernard Lietaer recognize that proponents of the current monetary system will raise objections to their complementary currency proposal. As a result, the authors painstakingly present a complete demolition of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the existing system of money; as well as the lack of understanding of complementary currencies. The authors share the proven benefits that result from the introduction of cooperative currencies and their role in achieving more widespread and sustainable prosperity.

The authors demonstrate how the use of complementary currencies provide an effective and proven road map to move from scarcity to prosperity in a single generation. The book is divided into three overarching sections, with sub-chapters that offer insights into how to address each of the larger concepts. The three main parts of the book are as follows:

Part One: Scarcity

* The failure of money: The competitive society
* The myth of money: What it really is
* A fate worse than debt: Interest's hidden consequences

Part Two: Prosperity

* The flying fish: A new perspective on money
* The future has arrived but isn't distributed evenly...yet
* Strategies for banking
* Strategies for business and entrepreneurs
* Strategies for governments
* Strategies for NGOs

Part Three: Rethinking Money

* Truth and consequences: Lessons learned
* Governance and we, the citizens: An ancient future?
* Our available future: The cooperative society
* Rethinking money: From scarcity to sustainable abundance

For me, the power of the book is how Bernard Lietaer and Jacqui Dunne combine a comprehensive examination of the reality of existing money system, and present a practical and workable alternative in the form of complementary currencies. The authors provide a devastating analysis of the current money system, exposing its flaws and fallacies, and the reasons that it contributes to scarcity and competition. In its place the authors offer the concept of complementary currencies, and how they have been utilized effectively in many locations around the world, to increase sustainable prosperity and cooperation.

The authors provide case studies of over four thousand the various forms of complementary currency in real world circumstances across the globe. The result of the introduction and usage of these alternative currencies is greater and more widely distributed prosperity based on cooperative activity. There is little doubt left to the reader as to their effectiveness in achieving and sustaining their success. In a time when only austerity and an ever widening gap between rich and poor, coupled with bailouts to the banking sector and crumbling inner cities and infrastructure of all kinds, it's time for an innovative approach to rebuilding the economy with benefit to as wide a populations base as possible.

I highly recommend the revolutionary and very optimistic book Rethinking Money: How New Currencies Turn Scarcity into Prosperity by Bernard Lietaer and Jacqui Dunne, to anyone in business, entrepreneurship, non-governmental organizations, local government, public policy making, and anyone seeking a proven alternative monetary approach to rebuilding a prosperous and equitable economy through cooperation rather than competition, This book provides real hope and a readily applicable blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable economy for all.