“Mellor has a superb understanding of the nature of money, of the institutions that underpin our monetary system, and of the economic frameworks within which monetary systems operate. I have looked forward to the publication of this book and highly recommend it to readers. Because money is nothing more than civilization's social and economic relationships expressed in monetary terms, it should be a matter of intense focus of study for sociologists, as well as economists. Sadly, neither discipline has paid the subject sufficient attention. Mellor is one of two fine sociologists (the other is Geoffrey Ingham) who writes authoritatively about money—and whose writing is highly accessible.”
— Ann Pettifor, director, PRIME: Policy Research in Macroeconomics and a fellow of the New Economics Foundation
“By challenging entrenched myths about money and economic value, Mellor demonstrates the need to change the way in which money is created, in order to stop the private sector undermining the public sector and enable a shift to an economy that is environmentally sustainable and socially just. Fresh, clear, and incisive.”
— Andrew Sayer, Lancaster University, UK
“Prospering without growth requires reclaiming the creation of money from private banks. Now that even the likes of the IMF and the Bank of England entertain the idea of public money, how money is to be made public is as important as ever. And Mellor's book has the right answers.”
— Giorgos Kallis, Autonomous University of Barcelona and SOAS, University of London
“An insightful and thought-provoking analysis. This book clearly shows why a monetary system based on debt inevitably leads to crisis.”
— Ben Dyson, founder and head of research, Positive Money
"An important book devoid of the jargon that often accompanies works on money and banking. Tightly packed and insightful, it reflects a deep and wide reading of the relevant literature yet is accessible enough that people without much background in economics will find it quite readable. Mellor shreds the conventional financial ideology that while consumers are encouraged to take on debt, governments must avoid debt like the plague. The resulting starvation of important government policies leads to slow growth and human suffering. No short review can capture the depth and importance of this valuable book. Essential."
— Choice