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Grokking Bitcoin

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Summary

If you think Bitcoin is just an alternative currency for geeks, it's time to think again. Grokking Bitcoin opens up this powerful distributed ledger system, exploring the technology that enables applications both for Bitcoin-based financial transactions and using the blockchain for registering physical property ownership. With this fully illustrated, easy-to-read guide, you'll finally understand how Bitcoin works, how you can use it, and why you can trust the blockchain.

Foreword by David A. Harding, Contributor to Bitcoin documentation.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the Technology

Inflation, depressed economies, debased currencies ... these are just a few of the problems centralized banking has caused throughout history. Bitcoin, a digital currency created with the ambition to shift control away from change-prone governments, has the potential to bring an end to those problems once and for all. It's time to find out how it can help you.

About the Book

Grokking Bitcoin explains why Bitcoin's supporters trust it so deeply, and why you can too. This approachable book will introduce you to Bitcoin's groundbreaking technology, which is the key to this world-changing system. This illustrated, easy-to-read guide prepares you for a new way of thinking with easy-to-follow diagrams and exercises. You'll discover how Bitcoin mining works, how to accept Bitcoin, how to participate in the Bitcoin network, and how to set up a digital wallet.

What's inside


About the Reader

Intended for anyone interested in learning about Bitcoin technology. While a basic understanding of technical concepts is beneficial, no programming skills are necessary.

About the Author

Kalle Rosenbaum is a computer scientist, an avid Bitcoin supporter, and the founder of Propeller, a Bitcoin consultancy.

Table of Contents

480 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2019

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Warren Mcpherson.
195 reviews29 followers
June 18, 2019
Strong, up to date, look at the technology of bitcoin. The explanations of core concepts is good. The book covers a good selection of topics that are relevant in the current environment.
Hash functions, digital signatures, addresses, wallets, transactions, the blockchain, proof of work, peer-to-peer network, segregated witness, forks.
I think it is a good companion to Programming bitcoin as it has a completely different style that will be helpful to some people.
Profile Image for Johan.
1,159 reviews2 followers
October 23, 2021
As a non-native English speaker I had to look up the word grokking: understand (something) intuitively. That sounded great. I was sold. Take my money.

Oh boy, my enthusiasm didn't last long. I've been following the news about Bitcoin for the past decade, but this book is much too technical for me. I was in over my head, way over my head. It looks impressive, I managed to understand some concepts, and for the rest I barely had an idea what is was about.
I don't know about you, but this level of depth isn't my idea understanding something on a intuitive level. For me an intuitive understanding is how to use it, what to do and when, without the inner workings.

Might keep it around in case I find a book that prepares me for this book.
19 reviews
January 15, 2022
A great book, especially for anyone who doesn't have a lot of tech experience. The first 8 chapters of the book take you through an alternative system(Cookie Token) which bulids upon to be how Bitcoin works.
It uses enough repetetion to help you commit many concepts to your brain.
Although to keep it simple author sometimes uses an alternative(e.g uses signatures instead of Proof of work until he comes to the chapter on it), which might cause confusion.
This book can help you get high level understanding of how everything works under hood regardless of your technical background.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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