Coined by Kabir Sehgal Summary

Coined by Kabir Sehgal explores money’s profound influence on human civilization through interdisciplinary lenses, including biology, psychology, anthropology, and theology. It traces money’s evolution from ancient symbiosis with nature to modern digital currencies, revealing how it shapes emotions, risk-taking, and societal success metrics.

This book is ideal for readers interested in economics, history, or behavioral psychology, as well as general audiences curious about money’s cultural and psychological impact. Professionals in finance, policymakers, and students will value its multidisciplinary insights into currency’s role across societies.

Yes. Praised by figures like Sir Richard Branson and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Coined combines rigorous research with engaging storytelling. It offers fresh perspectives on money’s historical roots and its future in an increasingly digital world.

Sehgal examines money through biology (comparing it to natural exchange systems), psychology (emotional decision-making), anthropology (cultural rituals), and theology (moral implications). This approach reveals money as a foundational force in human development.

The book highlights how cognitive biases, emotions, and societal pressures drive financial behavior. For example, fear of loss or societal status symbols often override rational economic choices, shaping everything from personal savings to global markets.

Sehgal contrasts metallism (money’s value rooted in physical commodities like gold) with chartalism (value derived from government decree). This debate frames historical shifts, such as the move from metal coins to fiat currency and modern digital systems.

It predicts increasing reliance on digital payment technologies, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance. Sehgal argues that money’s symbolic role will persist even as its forms evolve, influencing global trade and personal identity.

• Money as a “living system”: Mirroring biological symbiosis, where trade sustains societies like ecosystems.
• Hard vs. soft money: Metallist stability vs. chartalist flexibility.
• Wealth as a “yardstick”: How societies measure success through financial metrics.

Unlike purely economic treatises, Coined blends narrative storytelling with cross-disciplinary analysis. It’s closer to Sapiens in scope but focuses specifically on money’s cultural and psychological dimensions.

The book provides context for modern debates about cryptocurrency, income inequality, and digital transactions. By understanding money’s historical role, readers gain tools to navigate its evolving future.

As a Wall Street veteran and bestselling author, Sehgal combines financial expertise with global storytelling. His fieldwork across cultures and eras adds depth to theories about money’s universal yet contested role.

Sehgal argues that money transcends economics—it reflects values, power structures, and collective myths. From ancient rituals to modern investing, it remains a mirror of humanity’s aspirations and fears.