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Mastering Bitcoin: Programming the Open Blockchain 2nd Edition
There is a newer edition of this item:
Join the technological revolution thatâ??s taking the financial world by storm. Mastering Bitcoin is your guide through the seemingly complex world of bitcoin, providing the knowledge you need to participate in the internet of money. Whether youâ??re building the next killer app, investing in a startup, or simply curious about the technology, this revised and expanded second edition provides essential detail to get you started.
Bitcoin, the first successful decentralized digital currency, is still in its early stages and yet itâ??s already spawned a multi-billion-dollar global economy open to anyone with the knowledge and passion to participate. Mastering Bitcoin provides the knowledge. You simply supply the passion.
The second edition includes:
- A broad introduction of bitcoin and its underlying blockchainâ??ideal for non-technical users, investors, and business executives
- An explanation of the technical foundations of bitcoin and cryptographic currencies for developers, engineers, and software and systems architects
- Details of the bitcoin decentralized network, peer-to-peer architecture, transaction lifecycle, and security principles
- New developments such as Segregated Witness, Payment Channels, and Lightning Network
- A deep dive into blockchain applications, including how to combine the building blocks offered by this platform into higher-level applications
- User stories, analogies, examples, and code snippets illustrating key technical concepts
- ISBN-101491954388
- ISBN-13978-1491954386
- Edition2nd
- PublisherO'Reilly Media
- Publication dateJuly 25, 2017
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions7 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
- Print length411 pages
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
As a bitcoin entrepreneur, Andreas has founded three bitcoin businesses and launched several community open-source projects. He often writes articles and blog posts on bitcoin, is a permanent host on Let’s Talk Bitcoin and prolific public speaker at technology events. Andreas serves on the advisory boards of several bitcoin startups.
Product details
- Publisher : O'Reilly Media; 2nd edition (July 25, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 411 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1491954388
- ISBN-13 : 978-1491954386
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #422,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #162 in Bitcoin & Cryptocurrencies
- #307 in Money & Monetary Policy (Books)
- #685 in E-Commerce (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Andreas M. Antonopoulos is an acclaimed author, speaker, educator, and one of the world’s foremost bitcoin and open blockchain experts. Andreas makes complex subjects accessible and easy to understand. He is known for delivering electric talks that combine economics, psychology, technology, and game theory with current events, personal anecdote, and historical precedent—effortlessly transliterating the complex issues of blockchain technology out of the abstract and into the real world.
In 2014, Antonopoulos authored the groundbreaking book, Mastering Bitcoin, widely considered to be the best technical guide ever written about the technology. His second book, The Internet of Money, unveiled the “why” of bitcoin—and became a bestseller on Amazon as did the follow up books The Internet of Money Volume Two, and The Internet of Money Volume Three. Mastering Ethereum, a technical guide to the Ethereum network, was published in late 2018. His most recent book Mastering the Lightning Network explains Bitcoin's second layer payment network. His books have been translated and published in 14 languages so far.
He is a teaching fellow with the University of Nicosia, serves on the Oversight Committee for the Bitcoin Reference Rate at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and has appeared as an expert witness in hearings around the world, including the Australian Senate Banking Committee and the Canadian Senate Commerce, Banking and Finance Committee.
As an entrepreneur, Andreas has founded a number of bitcoin businesses and launched several community open-source projects. He serves as an advisor to several bitcoin and crypto-currency companies. He is a widely published author of articles and blog posts on bitcoin, is a permanent host on the popular Speaking of Bitcoin Podcast, and a frequent speaker at technology and security conferences and meetups worldwide.
Andreas can be contacted via twitter (@aantonop) or via the contact forms on his website aantonop.com
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book informative and easy to understand. They appreciate the clear writing style and examples. Many consider it a solid, well-written, and good value for money. However, opinions differ on the programming knowledge required. Some find it great for beginners with a basic understanding of arrays and basic programming concepts, while others feel it's too technical and complex for beginners.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book informative and helpful for learning about Bitcoin. They say it provides a good overview of simple use cases and sample code. The book is described as one of the best technical books about blockchain technology, providing an explanation in detail for intermediate and advanced readers.
"...that this is exceedingly well-written, extremely useful, and incredibly enlightening, but still I was taken aback at the depth and quality of this..." Read more
"amazing book from a master of bitcoin. If want to understand how bitcoin actually works, this is a must read." Read more
"...The code snippets are followed by clear explanations of the processes portrayed, but even if you don't understand 100% of the technical parts, don't..." Read more
"...a few re-reads to get all the concepts but it is a great way to learn a about the Bitcoin network and from all aspects. From mining to wallers...." Read more
Customers find the book's writing quality good. They say the author is knowledgeable about Bitcoin and Blockchain Technology, and it's easy to read and follow. The content, writing style, and print quality are all top notch. Readers appreciate the clear and correct information all in one place. They mention the examples are accessible, and the book is an accessible resource for those with little or no experience in computer science.
"...programming books, it might be less surprising that this is exceedingly well-written, extremely useful, and incredibly enlightening, but still I was..." Read more
"...It is also nice to have clear and correct information all in one place, and presented in order...." Read more
"...The book is well-written and has been carefully edited for grammar, organization, diagrams, code examples, and so on...." Read more
"...This book follows the usual O'Reilly format, which, combined with the clear, working examples and top-down explanation makes the concepts easy to..." Read more
Customers find the book informative and well-written. They say the first few chapters provide the most grounded explanations. The book arrived in good condition.
"The book arrived about three days early in great condition." Read more
"...for a more technical audience but the first few chapters were the most grounded and clear explanation of Bitcoin...." Read more
"...As usual, O’Reilly delivers a solid and informative book. I have relied on O’Reilly for almost 20 years and this book does not disappoint...." Read more
"...in clear, concise prose suitable for layman while also containing substantial technical heft to satisfy seasoned developers looking to break into..." Read more
Customers find the book offers good value for money. They say it's a great buy if you are interested in cryptocurrency and coding.
"...Affordable (hence paperback), sturdy packaging and flawless delivery-- great buy!" Read more
"Despite all the free bitcoin resources, this book is more than worth the price..." Read more
"Best bitcoin book..." Read more
"Worthwhile purchase...." Read more
Customers have different views on the programming knowledge required for the book. Some find it useful if they have a programming background with an understanding of arrays and basic concepts, and it's great for introduction and mid-level programming. Others feel it's too technical and complex for beginners, with limited programming exercises.
"...for programmers, as a non-technical person I was able to grasp the main concepts perfectly...." Read more
"...well-written and has been carefully edited for grammar, organization, diagrams, code examples, and so on...." Read more
"...Much of it is reasonably complex and requires programming background, but the book does not require you to actually be plugging code into a command..." Read more
"This was a beginner friendly book packed with a ton of information...." Read more
Reviews with images
MASTERING BITCOIN
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2018I have read a lot of books on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and the quality of this one simply blows all the others out of the water. This is a very murky area informationally, and I was frankly shocked at just how good this book is. If you're familiar with other O'Reilly Press programming books, it might be less surprising that this is exceedingly well-written, extremely useful, and incredibly enlightening, but still I was taken aback at the depth and quality of this book. (I've said it already, but it bears repeating that cryptocurrency books vary widely in quality and frequently toe the line of marketing rather than informing.) In any event, kudos to Andreas and his editors and I have already preordered (and breathlessly await) his forthcoming Ethereum book.
One final note: this book is a great resource not just for programming, but simply understanding, Bitcoin. Much of it is reasonably complex and requires programming background, but the book does not require you to actually be plugging code into a command line to appreciate the insights and explanations.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2023I've purchased 3 books recently, plus one as a gift. I'm just trying to understand Bitcoin and crypto, for general knowledge not for investing. This was the best. 'The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains' by Antony Lewis was also very good. The other two books were essentially crypto fanboi marketing and poor.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024amazing book from a master of bitcoin. If want to understand how bitcoin actually works, this is a must read.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2022This book is a prereq for anyone who wants to understand how Bitcoin works. Even though it was made for programmers, as a non-technical person I was able to grasp the main concepts perfectly. The code snippets are followed by clear explanations of the processes portrayed, but even if you don't understand 100% of the technical parts, don't get stuck and don't give up. Move on, keep reading. Andreas is an impeccable communicator and any person can learn a lot from reading this masterpiece in its entirety. This book is fundamental if you want to have bitcoin in your life.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2021Great book to read. It is very in-depth and may take a few re-reads to get all the concepts but it is a great way to learn a about the Bitcoin network and from all aspects. From mining to wallers. The programming excersies are limited and for beginners might need more hand holding but this is a great reference to have for any bitcoiner.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2021I recently went back to Mastering Bitcoin and the graphical explanation of how to get from a public key to a P2PKH address is crystal clear. This is not the first time that I was using some internet source and ended up having to go back to Mastering Bitcoin to see what the correct answer was.
It is also nice to have clear and correct information all in one place, and presented in order. If you start at the beginning of this book and finish at the end, you will have covered everything you need to know about the bitcoin code protocol at the time the book was written.
Note that you can get this book online for free... in small pieces. If you are considering buying it maybe try using the online version to read about something you are on clear on before paying.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2018This is the best technical book I have found on the subject, where many other blockchain and bitcoin books appear to be more popular science than technical education. This book prepares the reader to develop on this platform, as well as architect solutions. Each chapter describes the ingenious approaches that developers have come up with to solve practical, as well as existential, problems of trust and distributed exchange. Even if you are not a developer, it is fascinating to read about the solutions that have been developed, and how each one builds on the ones that came before it. The book is well-written and has been carefully edited for grammar, organization, diagrams, code examples, and so on. Of course, one should probably expect this quality of technical writing and publication from O'Reilly. I enjoyed it and have pre-ordered "Mastering Ethereum", by the same author, Andreas M. Antonopoulos.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020Mastering Bitcoin does not disappoint. Most of the knowledge in this book is available online (the book is actually open-source on Github), but having every aspect of Bitcoin explained in one location has been very useful and convenient for me. This book follows the usual O'Reilly format, which, combined with the clear, working examples and top-down explanation makes the concepts easy to grasp, even with little to no past exposure. Everything I've struggled with while developing a block explorer and mobile wallet has been covered in this book... Base 58, encryption algorithms, signing transactions, block formats, multisig, segwit, BIPs, scripting capabilities... you name it, this book explains it.
Top reviews from other countries
- JoshReviewed in Canada on January 11, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Antonopoulos reveals Bitcoin as a ballet of cryptography!
Mastering Bitcoin covers all the main concepts and algorithms you need to understand Bitcoin and Antonopoulos breaks them down into easily understandable chunks.
Antonopoulos takes us on a journey to understand the marvel of cryptographic engineering that is Bitcoin.
- Salim BadakhchaniReviewed in Sweden on October 4, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for Bitcoiners.
It's the Bitcoin bible.
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Dim MakReviewed in Italy on July 22, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Must to read
Il miglior libro su bitcoin che ho letto.
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EverardoReviewed in Mexico on March 1, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars La Biblia para entender Bitcoin
Este libro es la mejor fuente de información para comprender Bitcoin en su totalidad. Si después de haber visto muchos videos en Youtube o leido miles de paginas web que escriben sobre Bitcoin, y aun así sigues teniendo muchas dudas, definitivamente tienes que adquirir este libro.
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César C.Reviewed in France on December 14, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars La Blockchain est très expliquée, claire et limpide.
J'ai acheté ce livre pour comprendre ce qu'était le Bitcoin et plus particulièrement la Blockchain. J'ai fini le livre en une nuit! Tous les concepts sont particulièrement bien expliqué d'une part pour les personnes peu expérimentées dans les nouvelles technologies et d'autre part, ce livre permet de créer sa propre Blockchain. Le travail de vulgarisation est très pertinent.
Je recommande cette ouvrage vivement.