📚 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Bitcoiner Books #14
Robert A. Heinlein’s 1966 novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a sci-fi classic and a cornerstone of libertarian thought. Set in 2075, it follows a lunar colony’s rebellion against Earth’s control. The story centres on Manny, a technician who discovers the colony's central computer, “Mike,” has become self-aware. With Mike’s help, Manny, Professor de la Paz, and activist Wyoming Knott lead a tech-driven revolution to win Luna’s independence.
The novel explores themes of freedom, self-governance, and resistance to centralised power, echoing values central to the Bitcoin movement. Heinlein popularised the phrase “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” (TANSTAAFL), highlighting personal responsibility and economic realism.
More than a tale of rebellion, it’s a vision of decentralised systems and individual sovereignty, making it especially resonant for those drawn to Bitcoin’s ideals. In the video below, Michael Saylor talks about how the book relates to the Bitcoin revolution. (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress/Bitcoin part starts from 24 minutes into the video)
Let us know your thoughts below! If you haven’t read it yet, you can buy a copy here on Amazon! 📖
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We are interested in low time preference thinking and how FreedomTech (Bitcoin, Nostr, encryption, the internet etc) can help build a better and freer future. Like Bitcoin, this newsletter is politically non-partisan; Bitcoin is for everyone! The content we share, including videos, memes & social media accounts, does not necessarily reflect the views of this newsletter.
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