Speculative bubbles at the New Market, the banking crisis of 2008, and the Greek debt crisis—these are all topics that have moved and continue to move the financial markets. However, stepping back and looking at the bigger picture reveals that none of this is actually new! History provides valuable insights for understanding the present. The two authors illustrate how history repeats itself through numerous stories about money. Inflation, deflation, devaluation, irrational exuberance, bank failures, and bailouts have always existed: in 16th century Spain, 17th century Britain, 18th century France, and 19th century America. Rich in teaching and anecdotes, the authors convey a deep understanding of the origins of the financial system—along with its current fluctuations—almost incidentally. Thus, we see the journey from cowrie shells to credit crunches.