Damus
Lyn Alden profile picture
Lyn Alden
@LynAlden
Unless someone is setting out to be a professional author (very hard), nobody should write a book to make money.

When I set out to write Broken Money, it was because I *had* to, not because I wanted to. Spending a thousand hours on something that I get a profit of $5/copy for is not my best use of time.

Any time I spent on my research business revenue generation content, or leaning harder into my venture capital partnerships, would have been better on an hourly ROI basis. I have to sell 40 books to equal each newsletter subscription on my website; clearly the latter is better financially.

Almost regardless of how many copies I sell, it's a bad ROI for me. I'm overworked and the fact that I wrote a book while maintaining my existing business stressed my relationship and social life. And further, I am reinvesting most of my initial profits; the first 1,000 copy profits go to the Human Rights Foundation Bitcoin Development Fund, and the next 4,000 copy profits will go towards making a video about money and why it's broken.

And all of it was worth it. When a creator has something in their head, it's painful until they get it out into the world. I wrote this for bad ROI but because I wanted it to be out there for people to read, period.

Will I make a profit? Yes. But at a much lower hourly rate than I make on other work I do. It's a negative profit compared to having reinvested that thousand hours into my other existing work. But I consider it to be more important, which is why I spent the time.

I wrote Broken Money because I had to. The book concept formed in my head after many years of writing and research regarding money, and it would have been increasingly distracting to *not* write it. I didn't realistically have a choice. I felt compelled to write it. Part of it was altruistic; I wanted people to learn from my total monetary framework thoughts over five years of research. Part of it was egotistical; I wanted to timestamp something in the world, in physical form, and put it out there. Maybe it's the low time preference part of me; I'd like something of me to be mentionable to people in the distant future who look back at this time.

My background has been a blend of engineering and finance, with both ironically pointed toward bitcoin.

I don't care where you buy it from, and you can pirate it if you want, but it benefits bitcoin and @Saifedean Ammous if you buy it from his website. Circular economy rather than big fiat business. We've introduced a special edition hardcover with a cloth cover and dust jacket for those that prefer that premium format, only on his website. And you can buy it in fiat or sats.

https://academy.saifedean.com/product/broken-money-hardcover/
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Josh · 129w
It meant so much to me, I carried it up a trail over 11,000’ of elevation… It’s also a tiny bit possible I forgot it was in my pack before the hike. Either way, I appreciate the hell out of it! https://image.nostr.build/94b6bc57860179ff6a8cdb05d516c7f8280b68b3f9a1ae4109176621ea16285b.jpg https...
SATSMAN · 129w
👏
Narwhal Tacos · 129w
In your profession, writing books is like creating a high-effort Curriculum Vitae, and while you yourself Lyn likely don’t need it…I suspect its energy well spent. Much respect for the immense effort, srsly! Now back to my Bitcoin-themed erotic fiction….
Moss · 129w
A good book can last a hundred years. Congratulations on publishing Broken Money before the financial crisis.
🇩​𝔢𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔱 🇼​𝔦𝔰𝔡𝔬𝔪 · 129w
ROI doesn't need to be financial. The best ROI is the one that affects many in a positive way. Thank you for that! 💜🫂🧡
sawzall · 129w
I've purchased 5 copies, gave away to co-workers & friends. Plan to continue buying and dropping into free little libraries as I'm able to. Thank you for your efforts in this great work, it was most certainly "worth it" to your many appreciative fans
⚡️BTC REVOLUTION⚡️ · 129w
Thank you for your service Lyn. You are a class act and a scholar 🫡
Bernie · 129w
Lyn, thank you so much for your great work always and the efforts you put into the book. You left a stint in the universe. The book is too early for the masses, as many won’t understand. It’s difficult to get mass adoption if you are at the forefront of understanding, very similar to #bitcoin
deleted · 129w
Thank you Lyn! I unfortunately couldnt wait and bought it on amazon 😞 How is the audio book coming along ?
The Daniel 🖖 · 129w
I usually just tell people that they’re opting out of freedom technology.
The Realist · 129w
Tell that to Stormy Daniels
Joe · 129w
I bought the 5 hardcovers from his site. Since I had already purchased your book off Amazon a few weeks ago, I plan on donating that copy of Broken Money to the local library (never done that before, hoping they’ll take it).
Not Sure · 129w
brokenmoneybook.com I will still give you the domain of you want it.
5-MeO-DMT · 129w
Thank you Lyn for your very enriching, poor ROl project!
Today · 129w
Love it! Thank you. Waiting for my copy. Purchased with BTC 🤙🏼 "I h ad to" sounds like it's spirits purpose (whats beating your heart)
Willy Cooper · 128w
Everything doesn't have to revolve around money.
Legion XXI · 128w
But taking away a cold metric like ROI, the value it provided to your reputation and brand is incalculable. Everyone knows it’s hard to write a book!
Rowan · 128w
For what it’s worth I’ve learned more from reading this than I have from ten years of listening to podcasts and watching YouTube videos about bitcoin. Your book has changed my life and has opened my eyes in an almost religious way. Your writing is so clear, concise and accessible about a subjec...
C.S.Burner 🪙➡️🔥 · 128w
I really like the low time preference part of you! Your book is a gift for all who want to understand money.
Chako Chino · 128w
Thanks for all your efforts Lyn. I hope that one day you write about ancient Egypt and what it can teach us today. I also hope that you write more about how the martial arts can make us better people.
Gunson · 128w
Actually, people are profit maximizing agents so this can't be true. Kidding! Thanks for spending the time 🙏I'm really enjoying the book although had to buy it from Amazon with dirty fiat 😢
Elephant in the root · 128w
Indeed, this is similar to what Open Source contributors do.
zebra · 128w
you left me no chance not to read the book ) is there audio version?
nostrich · 128w
Thank you for writing it. I am loving reading your book and marvel at how easy to understand you made complex issues. I have no history in economics or anything financial (apart from just living and having to deal with the day to day of it) but find myself wanting to understand it all better. Thanks...
mutatrum · 128w
https://m.primal.net/HNbA.png
Tim Bouma · 128w
Thanks Lyn. I can only aspire to write as precisely, concisely, and as engaging as you. Chapter 15 is a veritable masterpiece. Being an engineer myself, I appreciate the no-nonsense diagrams like the one below that conveys the overall dynamics of the system. And your simplified model of Mary, Sara ...
Cafe Satoshi · 128w
Thank you for everything you're doing and all of the personal sacrifice that comes with it. Sometimes I stop and think about the incredibly profound time we are living through and wonder how I'll reflect on moments like these.. like being one of the very few who will read a Nostr note from the autho...
NyamiDev · 128w
Thank you for timestamping your incredible insight and intellect in one place. You could link it to a specific block in the timechain?
Christian · 128w
I think your work is great, I’ve learned a lot from it! Bought and read the book and will probably buy more copies when xmas comes around. That said, I think donations to HRF is a better way of spending the profit than video production, as there is so much good content out there. But that’s jus...
Bitcoin · 128w
Can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thank you for all that you do for #bitcoin and following through with your compelling thoughts. Proud of you to put it out there, even though you thought it might be egotistical. #teachbitcoin #brokenmoney #fixthemoneyfixtheworld Well done Lyn!
fquorich · 128w
I appreciate you, Lyn. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Especially in Nostr
Lost Knight · 128w
Thank you!
kevskewl · 128w
Sats, waiting not so patiently for my hard copy. Not a trader, but for me, your news letters are gems, yesterdays a much appreciated dot connecting lecture. Your daily insights, mostly over my head, explains why I needed you to write your book. Thinking all good things are generated through selfle...
pieceofdebri · 128w
Need an audiobook version so I can listen at work. No longer have the time to read, unfortunately.
rare · 128w
Spoken like a true arteest.
The ₿itcoin Artist · 128w
I get it. I have a book idea myself, and it is indeed painful not to write it.
₿it Achachi 🕳️🐇 · 128w
Lyn, when german translation and publish with aprycot.media?
Kate · 128w
🙏 for bringing what you create to the world 📜 thank you for sharing your voice 🧡 “The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily, in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself...
Darkhours · 128w
"I wanted to timestamp something in the world" That part of your post gets all the feels. A written time capsule if you will. Congrats. I look forward to reading your work.
StateSpace_Swe · 128w
And we really appriciate you did! Such a great read!
Splintern · 128w
Books that are written because the author *had* to write them are the only ones worth reading.
DracheTech11 · 128w
Your a voice of reason in this crazy world. #btc Helping others understand the financial system and why it is failing is critical. Looking forward to adding your book to my collection. Just got to get through the “Fiat standard” first by Saifedean
ruleswithoutrulers · 128w
Somethings you do for money and some for legacy. After all we only have a short period of time to make an impact.
dmeista · 126w
Lyn as shallow economists dont understand, but you certainly do, you also know that a book gives a lot of indirect not measurable ROI. It gives credibility which will lead to a good reputation which will lead to influence.
Runy Calmera · 39w
You gave 1000 hours of your time you will never get back. But you will get the blessings of the1000.000 prayers back of the lives you impacted. My 1 prayer is one of them for sure.