The Price of Tomorrow

Why Deflation Is the Key to an Abundant Future

By: Jeff Booth

Narrated by: Brian Troxell

Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

We live in an extraordinary time. Technological advances are happening at a rate faster than our ability to understand them, and in a world that moves faster than we can imagine, we cannot afford to stand still. These advances bring efficiency and abundance - and they are profoundly deflationary.

Our economic systems were built for a pre-technology era when labor and capital were inextricably linked - an era that counted on growth and inflation and an era where we made money from inefficiency. That era is over, but we keep on pretending that those economic systems still work.

The only thing driving growth in the world today is easy credit, which is being created at a pace that is hard to comprehend and with it, debt that we will never be able to pay back. As we try to artificially drive an economic system built for the past, we are creating more than just economic trouble.

On our current path, our world will become profoundly more polarized and unsafe. We need to build a new framework for our local and global economies, and soon, we need to accept deflation and embrace the abundance it can bring. Otherwise, the same technology that has the power to bring abundance to us and our world will instead destroy it.

In this extraordinary contrarian book, Jeff Booth, a leading mind and CEO in e-commerce and technology for 20 years, details the technological and economic realities shaping our present and our future, and the choices we face as we go forward - a potentially alarming, but deeply hopeful situation.

©2019 Stanley Press (P)2020 Stanley Press

I've got this on constant repeat, 3 times already

I had some of the ideas in this book swimming around in my head, but not until I read this book did the lights really click on and connect what's happening to the markets and the economy. Booth puts it all together and tells a well-structured narrative about how our inability to see and admit whats right in front of our faces could result in a bleak outcome. We need to make the ideas in this book mainstream so that we are not so blindsided. Currently, we are headed off a cliff trying to preserve an old archaic economic model. Technological advances will soon crush any idea we have of maintaining that system. Booth convincingly argues the inevitability of this. We need to prepare now!

This book is not a fluffy academic exercise and doesn't contain flowery prose. Jeff Booth is simply trying to wake us all the hell up! In much the same way that Kahneman's Thinking Fast & Slow was successful in turning the onus on the reader, Jeff uses real examples to show how our minds trick us into not seeing the inevitability in front of us, especially when it comes to understanding exponentials, another Kahneman fave.

This book is like when Ed Thorp published Beat the Dealer about his new blackjack strategy in the 50s. At first it was ignored, then Vegas laughed at it. Now today, when you walk into a casino to play blackjack, they deal 6 decks and shuffle in the middle, all because of that book still. They were forced to change. We will be too.

I've also listened to all the podcasts Booth has been on. He is authentic and sounding an alarm out of genuine concern for humanity.

He drinks all the kool-aid

He believes in all the pipe dreams like Elon Musk, bitcoin, and every bubble like tech startup. The rest of the book is a long winded elementary level oversimplification of various economic and psychology related theories. He is too optimistic about AI and tech. The only thing I took away that was useful to consider from this book was that technology may act as one of the many deflationary pressure against which central banks will continue to fight. However the book was way too long for all of that.

brilliant

thought it was a solid easy listen, right on all accounts but superficial till the last chapter. then I got a bit upset as he touched on some areas I understand extremely well..... but the closer. wow.

this is how you build a coalition. through both truth and relating with others. nothing else can work.

So much wisdom

I'm half-way through second listening. Too many important ideas and well-developed insights to get it all on one pass. If I could recommend just one book today, this is it -- ESPECIALLY to young people.

probably the best audiobook I've listened to.

thought provoking and powerful, this book will likely change your worldview. this should be required reading for every citizen of every nation everywhere.

narration was excellent. I own the ebook too. I have a hard time finding audiobooks that meet or exceed expectations; this is one of the few.

Focus on the real topic, not on political labeling

Mr. Booth shouldn't get into political labels, such as "far-right AfD". Stick to economics please.

Solid overview of technological deflation...

....light on real solutions

3.5 of 5 stars (4 stars if removing “Us vs Them” chapter 10 and solutions for resolving our current economic imbalances)

Jeff Booth seems like a well read businessman who has the advantage of Executive experience when discussing technological development. His understanding of game theory, cognitive biases and exposure to great modern thinkers (Taleb, Shannon, Kahneman etc) make most of this a thoughtful and enjoyable read.

Booth’s central theory - that rapid advancements in IT are driving unprecedented deflation throughout the world economy is sound as is his criticism that rapid debt inflation is failing to address massive wealth inequality and making the situation worse.

While his attempts to address these challenges seem sincere, they are at best superficial and seem to lack an understanding of the deeper root causes of our current crises. The reasons for human conflict, though often based on scarcity, go beyond simple “Us vs Them” explanations.

The performance is good.

Depth

I already thought we were being robbed of deflation's benefits but Mr. Booth took me on an unexpected journey.

Prescient, timely, and thoughtful

This is an outstanding book that asks important questions. We need to think hard about those questions- and the right answers to those questions - as our future as a civilization mya very well depend on getting them right.

Stunning- Eye opening analysis of our new world.

Exceptional book. Written with layers upon layers of rationale and described in a spy novel fashion that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The world is evolving and opportunities are everywhere if you know where to look. This book helps in so many ways.

brilliant

must read for everyone. it changed my perspective of current world order and future. Author has done a tremendous job of estimating the future.

Fantastic.

This is a must read for anyone who gets frustrated with the state of the world whenever they turn onto one of the endlessly cycling news channels. Real insights into world debt and the extraordinary onward March of technology and A.I. Not too complex to follow either. It’s not often I will go back for another listen but I will with this one and I’ll be making notes.

Amazing book

This book is packed with knowledge and offers a great understanding of the path ahead.

Full of wisdom and well narrated

Brilliant, fairly succinct audio book which is easy to listen to if you sit down, stop everything you're doing and give it the attention it deserves.
I listened to the majority over 4 or 5 days during the New year.
Booth shared his personal experience which others have interpreted as being boastful, but I found they act as metaphors/lessons to relate more with my own life.
A must for someone who doesn't have a 5 year plan, and even those that do might want to rethink theirs.

Tow systems

Amazing book in right time- to understand where we are globally today , recommend for everyone .

Excellent book. An absolute must ‘read’

I really enjoyed the book. Being English and listening to Brian narrate, was similar to listening to Siri narrate a story

It’s my first audio book, so a little new to the sphere. Sorry Brian, but Morgan Freeman would have been my first choice for an American narrator

Leaders Listen In

If only our so called leaders would listen to this. They should start at the end by listening to the last 4 minutes before starting

Enlightened

Ever since 2008 I've suspected something is fundamental wrong with the current system and preached to others, most of the time on deaf ears.
Jeff's book has given me faith in a better world for all and strengthened my conviction.

Interesting perspective if a little tenuous.

The author cites basic studies (e.g. Maslow) and leaps to complex and unfounded (though logically congruent) conclusions. That said he poses some interesting questions around the economic consequences of technological trends.

mixing the singularity with economics

Awesome book. Had to take some time to introduce context and subject matters but once there, ran along at a nice pace and delivered well.