# best book on the gold standard

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-book-on-the-gold-standard/645474>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 29, 2012, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-book-on-the-gold-standard/645474 "2012-12-29T10:41:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grodinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/57b2e6/32.png) [@grodinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grodinsky)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-book-on-the-gold-standard/645474/1 "2012-12-29T10:41:12Z")

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looking for a title about the history and rationale of the gold standard. no conspiracy or kooky stuff. something pragmatic. thanks in advance and sorry if this was the wrong forum for such a specific request.

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**Author:** ![Hellestal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hellestal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hellestal)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-book-on-the-gold-standard/645474/2 "2012-12-29T12:09:35Z")

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[The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession](http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Gold-Obsession-ebook/dp/B004G0A0I2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0) is a good’un. The best general history I know. No conspiracy stuff. Starts in ancient history and develops into the 20th century. A honest exploration into why gold was chosen in the past but would no longer work so well today.