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Money, Magic, and How to Dismantle a Financial Bomb: Quantum Economics for the Real World
How quantum economics can dispel the illusions surrounding money and help us reform finance
Money has many apparently magical properties. It can be created out of the void - and vanish without so much as a puff of smoke. It can flash through space. It can grow without limit. And it can blow up without warning.
David Orrell argues that the emerging discipline of quantum economics, of which he is at the forefront, is the key to shattering the illusions that prevent us from understanding money's true nature.
In this colourful tour of the history, philosophy and mathematics of money, Orrell demonstrates how everything makes much more sense when we replace our classical economic models with ones based on quantum probability - and reveals the explosive reality of what is left once the illusions are stripped away.
Money has many apparently magical properties. It can be created out of the void - and vanish without so much as a puff of smoke. It can flash through space. It can grow without limit. And it can blow up without warning.
David Orrell argues that the emerging discipline of quantum economics, of which he is at the forefront, is the key to shattering the illusions that prevent us from understanding money's true nature.
In this colourful tour of the history, philosophy and mathematics of money, Orrell demonstrates how everything makes much more sense when we replace our classical economic models with ones based on quantum probability - and reveals the explosive reality of what is left once the illusions are stripped away.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 14, 2022
About the author
David Orrell
27 books47 followersDavid Orrell, Ph.D. is a scientist and author of popular science books. He studied mathematics at the University of Alberta, and obtained his Ph.D. from Oxford University on the prediction of nonlinear systems.
His work in mathematical modeling and complex systems research has led him to diverse areas such as weather forecasting, particle accelerator design, economics, and cancer biology. He has authored or coauthored research papers for journals including Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Nature Genetics, the International Journal of Bifurcations and Chaos, and Physica D.
He is the author of Economyths and The Other Side of the Coin: The Emerging Vision of Economics and Our Place in The World about new economic theories; and The Future of Everything: The Science of Prediction about prediction in weather, genetics, and economics, which was a national bestseller and finalist for the 2007 Canadian Science Writers' Association book award. Foresight called it "An engaging, as well as deeply insightful, discussion on the difficult task of prediction ... it can change the way you view forecasting."
David has been a guest on radio shows including Coast to Coast AM, NPR, and BBC, and his work has been featured in print media such as New Scientist and the Financial Times. He has spoken at many conferences and events including the Art Center Global Dialogues on Disruptive Thinking. He currently lives in Oxford, UK, where he runs a mathematical consultancy Systems Forecasting.
Awards
Finalist: Canadian Science Writers' Association book award (2007)
Finalist: National Business Book Award (2011)
His work in mathematical modeling and complex systems research has led him to diverse areas such as weather forecasting, particle accelerator design, economics, and cancer biology. He has authored or coauthored research papers for journals including Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Nature Genetics, the International Journal of Bifurcations and Chaos, and Physica D.
He is the author of Economyths and The Other Side of the Coin: The Emerging Vision of Economics and Our Place in The World about new economic theories; and The Future of Everything: The Science of Prediction about prediction in weather, genetics, and economics, which was a national bestseller and finalist for the 2007 Canadian Science Writers' Association book award. Foresight called it "An engaging, as well as deeply insightful, discussion on the difficult task of prediction ... it can change the way you view forecasting."
David has been a guest on radio shows including Coast to Coast AM, NPR, and BBC, and his work has been featured in print media such as New Scientist and the Financial Times. He has spoken at many conferences and events including the Art Center Global Dialogues on Disruptive Thinking. He currently lives in Oxford, UK, where he runs a mathematical consultancy Systems Forecasting.
Awards
Finalist: Canadian Science Writers' Association book award (2007)
Finalist: National Business Book Award (2011)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2022
If "Economyths" was a mathematically intellectual explosive thrown at The Equilibrium Academy, Orrell’s Magic Money Bomb is a missile prefigured to hover over The Academy, then suddenly explode into quantum memes to infiltrate it.
Beyond academia, the generally curious reader is in for a treat. If you appreciate David&David rewriting history, you enjoy this David rewriting not just economics. Orrell’s demystifying expositions let you catch up on quantum theory beyond yoga and cats. You don’t have to convert to quantum lingo to appreciate a thoughtful mathematician re-configuring big concepts like agency, objectivity or rationality from a new perspective. Especially if written as a galloping critique of generally accepted narratives , suppositions and theories like behavioural economics, game-theory and rational-choice-theory.
In his reckoning with rational man, Orrell excells in numerous economics episodes illustrating why some economists have been sending hate mails. The book entertains, educates and delights with crisp flashbacks to classical mythology, Greek philosophy, magic, alchemy and the Faustian bargain. He takes you on guided tours across logical history, hemispheric neurology, patriarchal archetypes and the Black–Scholes model to name just some of the interdisciplinary ingredients of this cocktail of ideas on quantum rocks, all spiced with anecdotal morsels like the one about revered math genius John von Neumann. Apparently von Neumann‘s mathematical thunder was twice stolen! ...
... read full review at blog gaiageld.com
Beyond academia, the generally curious reader is in for a treat. If you appreciate David&David rewriting history, you enjoy this David rewriting not just economics. Orrell’s demystifying expositions let you catch up on quantum theory beyond yoga and cats. You don’t have to convert to quantum lingo to appreciate a thoughtful mathematician re-configuring big concepts like agency, objectivity or rationality from a new perspective. Especially if written as a galloping critique of generally accepted narratives , suppositions and theories like behavioural economics, game-theory and rational-choice-theory.
In his reckoning with rational man, Orrell excells in numerous economics episodes illustrating why some economists have been sending hate mails. The book entertains, educates and delights with crisp flashbacks to classical mythology, Greek philosophy, magic, alchemy and the Faustian bargain. He takes you on guided tours across logical history, hemispheric neurology, patriarchal archetypes and the Black–Scholes model to name just some of the interdisciplinary ingredients of this cocktail of ideas on quantum rocks, all spiced with anecdotal morsels like the one about revered math genius John von Neumann. Apparently von Neumann‘s mathematical thunder was twice stolen! ...
... read full review at blog gaiageld.com
June 12, 2022
Orrell uses his words efficiently, amazingly and downright fantastically. Love this new book and am excited for many more to come
January 6, 2022
First confused, then engaged and interested in what was next - that is more or less an accurate description of my feelings while reading this book. If you like a philosophical approach to the world, go ahead and start reading this book. It is quite interesting and engaging and let you explore common and known things from new sides. If I were to pick up my top quote from this book, it would be "Money is a powerful social technology".
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews