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The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order
Since the end of WWII, the United States has dominated the global economic stage. Not coincidentally, the US dollar has served as the world’s default currency. America has routinely rattled its saber to wage and win wars, cripple economies, leverage its soft power, and nudge its allies. Enemies who have dared to bear the brunt of America’s stifling economic sanctions have suffered the consequences.
For a bevy of reasons, however, America’s global financial reign is rapidly coming to a close. It’s not a question of if, but when. No dynasty lasts forever, and the US is proving to be no exception to this rule.
Blame—or thank, depending on your point of view—a diverse set of powerful catalysts. They include American political dysfunction, the invention of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance, the rise of tribalism, and others. Any one of these forces alone would challenge the mightiest of empires. Their combination, however, is accelerating the birth of a new financial world order.
But what will this new, uncertain financial system look like? What are the rules? Where are the minefields and opportunities? Moreover, how can a nation, its elected officials, a non-governmental organization, or a think tank navigate this often chaotic milieu? Policymakers’ and advisors’ answers to these existential questions are wanting.
Amanda Wick has seen these forces play out firsthand, both domestically and internationally. As a Senior Investigative Counsel for the US House of Representatives and a staff member of the January 6th Committee, she witnessed how a once-great nation attempted to whitewash an insurrection. On the global stage, she has advised organizations of all sorts and spoken frequently about the rise of cryptocurrency, web3, and blockchain technology.
Wick’s debut book—The The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order—could not have arrived at a more opportune moment. Insightful, timely, and essential, The Catalysts clearly explains what’s really happening, why, and what policy professionals can do to best position their constituents for the vastly different world ahead.
For a bevy of reasons, however, America’s global financial reign is rapidly coming to a close. It’s not a question of if, but when. No dynasty lasts forever, and the US is proving to be no exception to this rule.
Blame—or thank, depending on your point of view—a diverse set of powerful catalysts. They include American political dysfunction, the invention of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance, the rise of tribalism, and others. Any one of these forces alone would challenge the mightiest of empires. Their combination, however, is accelerating the birth of a new financial world order.
But what will this new, uncertain financial system look like? What are the rules? Where are the minefields and opportunities? Moreover, how can a nation, its elected officials, a non-governmental organization, or a think tank navigate this often chaotic milieu? Policymakers’ and advisors’ answers to these existential questions are wanting.
Amanda Wick has seen these forces play out firsthand, both domestically and internationally. As a Senior Investigative Counsel for the US House of Representatives and a staff member of the January 6th Committee, she witnessed how a once-great nation attempted to whitewash an insurrection. On the global stage, she has advised organizations of all sorts and spoken frequently about the rise of cryptocurrency, web3, and blockchain technology.
Wick’s debut book—The The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order—could not have arrived at a more opportune moment. Insightful, timely, and essential, The Catalysts clearly explains what’s really happening, why, and what policy professionals can do to best position their constituents for the vastly different world ahead.
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Published May 15, 2025
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August 4, 2025
The CATALYSTS, The Accelerating forces forging The New World Financial Order
2025, Amanda Wick
“I began this book describing the horrific events leading up to January 6, 2021. Historians will rightfully view that day as America’s tipping point. After decades of profound political disfunction, the US finally – and permanently – fractured. The results of the 2024 presidential election removed any lingering doubt: America’s cancer has metastasized. No single policy or leader can save it; its two parties are too broken to try.”
So begins the final chapter in Amanda Wick’s new book. Wick has some impressive credentials to delve into this topic. She served as a prosecutor in the justice department prosecuting money laundering and financial crimes unit for ten years and after 2012 investigating crimes related to Crypto currencies. In 2022 she was appointed to the House Select Committee Investigating 1/6 as chief counsel investigating the financial aspects of the incident as well as Trump’s subsequent fraudulent fund raising off the stolen election claims. What were the catalysts that led up to 1/6 and what are the current and future impacts on the US democracy and financial system as well as the worldwide impacts?
A strong middle class is the bedrock of not only a strong economy but a functional democracy. Throughout the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, “The average white American could easily afford to purchase suburban homes, cars, and annual vacations and provide their children with a college education.” In the subsequent decades that followed that dream began to unravel until today those abilities no longer exist. “Income inequality is rampant and even worse, intensifying. As a result, the United States is quickly becoming economically unviable for most of its citizens. The data is indisputable. Since 2000, wages have been stagnating while housing, healthcare costs, college tuition and food have posted in some cases triple digit increases. The federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised since 2009 and remains at $7.25. Meanwhile where has all this wealth gone? To the top 1% who since the Citizens United ruling in 2009, have managed to pollute the political system with billions of dollars of dark money to insure politicians do their bidding as well as rigging the tax system so that the average billionaire is paying less than 4% of their income in taxes. What is the result of such income inequality and impoverishment of the majority of voters? Anger and backlash against the existing government and people looking for scapegoats and a drastic overthrow of the establishment. A dictator?
How would a political party that was mostly responsible for the middle-class debacle use its now billionaire infused massive political war chest to shift blame and maintain power? Use the age-old technique of blaming woke liberals, minorities or immigrants for the problem? At this particular juncture in history there appears the perfect tools at hand: the internet and social media. “Social media platforms have become powerful tools for spreading misinformation, creating echo chambers, contributing to polarization. Distrust from social media and legacy media has created a perilous situation: People don’t know what’s real.” All social media obtains almost all of its revenue from ads and is dependent on the number of views or eyeballs. All sites uses algorithms that seek more views thus tending to amplify sensational lies and misinformation, so they form an almost perfect propaganda tool for autocrats. Add to this disfunction the Communications act of 1996 that gave social media companies civil immunity from any lies or misinformation on their sites. They are at this time free to spread whatever destructive information they want free from retribution. And then there is this: “Generative Ai tools are rapidly becoming more sophisticated. At what point will manufactured photos, videos and audio recordings become indistinguishable from real ones? The day is coming. We aren’t remotely prepared for such a future.”
As a result of lax enforcement and tax cuts for the upper incomes and corporations, the federal deficit has exploded to where interest on the debt is fast becoming the number one federal expenditure. As Wick explains: “At this point it’s necessary to ask a downright terrifying question. What happens if the US defaults on its burgeoning national debt? In this nightmare scenario, we can expect: 1.) Financial market volatility. 2.) An additional credit downgrade of outstanding US debt. 3.) A devastating economic recession or even depression. 4.) Ripple effects on interest rates. 5.) A massive disruption of government operations. Since the publication of this book Congress has passed The Big Beautiful Bill which will explode the already unsustainable debt and make the above scenario ever more likely.
On the surface this book presents a seemingly pessimistic outlook for democracy and economic well-being in the United States. It doesn’t offer any scenarios that will enable us to extract ourselves from the current downward spiral. It does posit that the current financial course of the US is not sustainable and that probably in the not-too-distant future there will be a reckoning possibly something like the depression of the thirties and that will provide the opportunity to overthrow the current regime of economic inequality just as FDR did in response. “At some point, the powers that be will no longer be able to use social engineering to convince the disenfranchised that immigrants or external forces are to blame for their stations in life.” Until that time the book offers a way to possibly protect yourself for the coming economic maelstrom. If you have assets maybe diversifying out of the US or in non-dollar assets. Definitely worth reading: JACK
2025, Amanda Wick
“I began this book describing the horrific events leading up to January 6, 2021. Historians will rightfully view that day as America’s tipping point. After decades of profound political disfunction, the US finally – and permanently – fractured. The results of the 2024 presidential election removed any lingering doubt: America’s cancer has metastasized. No single policy or leader can save it; its two parties are too broken to try.”
So begins the final chapter in Amanda Wick’s new book. Wick has some impressive credentials to delve into this topic. She served as a prosecutor in the justice department prosecuting money laundering and financial crimes unit for ten years and after 2012 investigating crimes related to Crypto currencies. In 2022 she was appointed to the House Select Committee Investigating 1/6 as chief counsel investigating the financial aspects of the incident as well as Trump’s subsequent fraudulent fund raising off the stolen election claims. What were the catalysts that led up to 1/6 and what are the current and future impacts on the US democracy and financial system as well as the worldwide impacts?
A strong middle class is the bedrock of not only a strong economy but a functional democracy. Throughout the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, “The average white American could easily afford to purchase suburban homes, cars, and annual vacations and provide their children with a college education.” In the subsequent decades that followed that dream began to unravel until today those abilities no longer exist. “Income inequality is rampant and even worse, intensifying. As a result, the United States is quickly becoming economically unviable for most of its citizens. The data is indisputable. Since 2000, wages have been stagnating while housing, healthcare costs, college tuition and food have posted in some cases triple digit increases. The federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised since 2009 and remains at $7.25. Meanwhile where has all this wealth gone? To the top 1% who since the Citizens United ruling in 2009, have managed to pollute the political system with billions of dollars of dark money to insure politicians do their bidding as well as rigging the tax system so that the average billionaire is paying less than 4% of their income in taxes. What is the result of such income inequality and impoverishment of the majority of voters? Anger and backlash against the existing government and people looking for scapegoats and a drastic overthrow of the establishment. A dictator?
How would a political party that was mostly responsible for the middle-class debacle use its now billionaire infused massive political war chest to shift blame and maintain power? Use the age-old technique of blaming woke liberals, minorities or immigrants for the problem? At this particular juncture in history there appears the perfect tools at hand: the internet and social media. “Social media platforms have become powerful tools for spreading misinformation, creating echo chambers, contributing to polarization. Distrust from social media and legacy media has created a perilous situation: People don’t know what’s real.” All social media obtains almost all of its revenue from ads and is dependent on the number of views or eyeballs. All sites uses algorithms that seek more views thus tending to amplify sensational lies and misinformation, so they form an almost perfect propaganda tool for autocrats. Add to this disfunction the Communications act of 1996 that gave social media companies civil immunity from any lies or misinformation on their sites. They are at this time free to spread whatever destructive information they want free from retribution. And then there is this: “Generative Ai tools are rapidly becoming more sophisticated. At what point will manufactured photos, videos and audio recordings become indistinguishable from real ones? The day is coming. We aren’t remotely prepared for such a future.”
As a result of lax enforcement and tax cuts for the upper incomes and corporations, the federal deficit has exploded to where interest on the debt is fast becoming the number one federal expenditure. As Wick explains: “At this point it’s necessary to ask a downright terrifying question. What happens if the US defaults on its burgeoning national debt? In this nightmare scenario, we can expect: 1.) Financial market volatility. 2.) An additional credit downgrade of outstanding US debt. 3.) A devastating economic recession or even depression. 4.) Ripple effects on interest rates. 5.) A massive disruption of government operations. Since the publication of this book Congress has passed The Big Beautiful Bill which will explode the already unsustainable debt and make the above scenario ever more likely.
On the surface this book presents a seemingly pessimistic outlook for democracy and economic well-being in the United States. It doesn’t offer any scenarios that will enable us to extract ourselves from the current downward spiral. It does posit that the current financial course of the US is not sustainable and that probably in the not-too-distant future there will be a reckoning possibly something like the depression of the thirties and that will provide the opportunity to overthrow the current regime of economic inequality just as FDR did in response. “At some point, the powers that be will no longer be able to use social engineering to convince the disenfranchised that immigrants or external forces are to blame for their stations in life.” Until that time the book offers a way to possibly protect yourself for the coming economic maelstrom. If you have assets maybe diversifying out of the US or in non-dollar assets. Definitely worth reading: JACK
September 10, 2025
Must read. If you want to understand the future, read this book.
May 18, 2025
The Catalysts is a sharp and timely analysis of the forces reshaping the global financial system, institutional distrust, polarisation, and the decline of U.S. dominance. Amanda Wick brings insider experience without falling into establishment apologism. As someone who is interest in systems and power, I found her insights into social engineering and institutional collapse particularly compelling.
The book occasionally drifts into dense detail, but overall it’s accessible, urgent, and thought-provoking. I only wish it had pushed further in critiquing the deeper capitalist structures beneath the chaos.
A valuable read for anyone trying to make sense of our shifting economic and political landscape.
The book occasionally drifts into dense detail, but overall it’s accessible, urgent, and thought-provoking. I only wish it had pushed further in critiquing the deeper capitalist structures beneath the chaos.
A valuable read for anyone trying to make sense of our shifting economic and political landscape.
March 27, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Amanda Wick’s The Catalysts is part personal story, part political behind-the-scenes, and part big-picture warning about how money, technology, and politics are colliding in ways we can’t afford to ignore. Wick doesn’t hold back — she pulls you right into the chaos of January 6th, then shows how that chaos ties directly to bigger forces like cryptocurrency, political dysfunction, and the fragile trust that holds the global financial system together.
What I love is how this book never feels like a dry economics lecture. Wick’s voice is blunt but human — she mixes her own eye-opening experiences investigating the Capitol attack with clear explanations of why our trust in money, government, and each other is the real currency we should be worrying about. It’s the kind of book that leaves you a little rattled but way more alert to how the world is shifting under our feet.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸
1) January 6th was fuelled by more than anger
Wick shows that money — especially sketchy fundraising and crypto channels — helped bankroll the lies and mobilize the crowds. It’s not something I’d really connected before, but seeing how digital money and disinformation feed off each other was eye-opening.
2) Crypto is powerful but risky
She’s clear-eyed about cryptocurrency — it’s not just a shiny new tech or an evil scam, but both a tool and a threat depending on who’s using it and who’s regulating it (or not). Wick gives you a way to think about crypto that’s practical, not hype-driven.
3) Dysfunction weakens the dollar’s crown
One of my biggest takeaways is how Wick shows the US dollar’s power depends on America protecting it — not just with tanks or trade deals but with trust. The dollar works as the world’s safe currency because people believe the US is stable enough to back it. Wick makes you see how all the infighting, disinformation, and half-baked policies slowly eat away at that trust. If the US keeps fighting itself, who protects the dollar then? And what fills the void if no one does? Or frankly, with what’s happening in America today, how long will the USD stay as the world’s reserve currency?
4) Money is just trust in disguise
I really felt this point: money only works because we all agree to believe in it. The second that shared belief cracks, everything changes. Wick ties this idea to how misinformation, polarization, and Big Tech manipulation chip away at that trust — and how fragile it really is.
5) The future of money is weird and already here
From biometric face payments in Brazil to the infamous Bitcoin pizza that’s now worth hundreds of millions, Wick peppers the book with stories that show how fast money is evolving — and how the old systems are struggling to keep up.
𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝟯 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
1. “Money is fundamentally an imaginary construct — a shared fiction that only works as long as we trust each other to keep pretending.”
2. “America has fallen, and it can’t get up.” (Hard to read, but she earns it.)
3. “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity — but only if we’re brave enough to see it for what it is.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀
Sometimes the book drifts a bit — Wick’s personal stories about the January 6th investigation are gripping, but they can overshadow the bigger money trends if you’re expecting a straightforward finance book. That said, I actually liked the raw honesty; it made it feel like you’re hearing this from someone who’s lived it, not just studied it.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
(4.5 out of 5)
I’m giving The Catalysts a strong 4.5 because it’s sharp, real, and timely; a book you’ll want to talk about afterward. It loses half a point only because the mix of memoir and policy might not click for readers wanting just one or the other. But if you want to understand how money, politics, and trust are tangled together (and why that matters for the future of the dollar and everything tied to it) this book is worth your time.
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Amanda Wick’s The Catalysts is part personal story, part political behind-the-scenes, and part big-picture warning about how money, technology, and politics are colliding in ways we can’t afford to ignore. Wick doesn’t hold back — she pulls you right into the chaos of January 6th, then shows how that chaos ties directly to bigger forces like cryptocurrency, political dysfunction, and the fragile trust that holds the global financial system together.
What I love is how this book never feels like a dry economics lecture. Wick’s voice is blunt but human — she mixes her own eye-opening experiences investigating the Capitol attack with clear explanations of why our trust in money, government, and each other is the real currency we should be worrying about. It’s the kind of book that leaves you a little rattled but way more alert to how the world is shifting under our feet.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸
1) January 6th was fuelled by more than anger
Wick shows that money — especially sketchy fundraising and crypto channels — helped bankroll the lies and mobilize the crowds. It’s not something I’d really connected before, but seeing how digital money and disinformation feed off each other was eye-opening.
2) Crypto is powerful but risky
She’s clear-eyed about cryptocurrency — it’s not just a shiny new tech or an evil scam, but both a tool and a threat depending on who’s using it and who’s regulating it (or not). Wick gives you a way to think about crypto that’s practical, not hype-driven.
3) Dysfunction weakens the dollar’s crown
One of my biggest takeaways is how Wick shows the US dollar’s power depends on America protecting it — not just with tanks or trade deals but with trust. The dollar works as the world’s safe currency because people believe the US is stable enough to back it. Wick makes you see how all the infighting, disinformation, and half-baked policies slowly eat away at that trust. If the US keeps fighting itself, who protects the dollar then? And what fills the void if no one does? Or frankly, with what’s happening in America today, how long will the USD stay as the world’s reserve currency?
4) Money is just trust in disguise
I really felt this point: money only works because we all agree to believe in it. The second that shared belief cracks, everything changes. Wick ties this idea to how misinformation, polarization, and Big Tech manipulation chip away at that trust — and how fragile it really is.
5) The future of money is weird and already here
From biometric face payments in Brazil to the infamous Bitcoin pizza that’s now worth hundreds of millions, Wick peppers the book with stories that show how fast money is evolving — and how the old systems are struggling to keep up.
𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝟯 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
1. “Money is fundamentally an imaginary construct — a shared fiction that only works as long as we trust each other to keep pretending.”
2. “America has fallen, and it can’t get up.” (Hard to read, but she earns it.)
3. “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity — but only if we’re brave enough to see it for what it is.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀
Sometimes the book drifts a bit — Wick’s personal stories about the January 6th investigation are gripping, but they can overshadow the bigger money trends if you’re expecting a straightforward finance book. That said, I actually liked the raw honesty; it made it feel like you’re hearing this from someone who’s lived it, not just studied it.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
(4.5 out of 5)
I’m giving The Catalysts a strong 4.5 because it’s sharp, real, and timely; a book you’ll want to talk about afterward. It loses half a point only because the mix of memoir and policy might not click for readers wanting just one or the other. But if you want to understand how money, politics, and trust are tangled together (and why that matters for the future of the dollar and everything tied to it) this book is worth your time.
May 21, 2025
💥 The Catalysts: Decoding the Invisible Hand Reshaping Global Finance -
Amanda Wick’s Masterclass on the Forces Redefining Money, Power, and Trust
📖 Book Description
In The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order, former DOJ prosecutor and fintech leader Amanda Wick dissects the seismic shifts transforming global finance—from cryptocurrency and AI-driven markets to geopolitical upheaval and decentralized economies. Blending forensic analysis with prophetic insight, Wick unveils the “accelerating forces” (tech, policy, and human behavior) rewriting the rules of money. This isn’t just a book; it’s a survival guide for the next era of capital.
🔍 Comprehensive Analysis
⚡ Structure & Flow
Three-Act Framework: Divides the chaos into Disruption (tech innovations), Power Shifts (geopolitics), and Survival (strategies for adaptation).
Case Studies: Anchors theory in real-world examples (e.g., CBDCs, crypto crashes, and regulatory wars).
Pacing: Accelerates like the markets it describes—dense but never stagnant, with “Key Takeaways” sections to anchor readers.
👥 Characters & Voice
The “Catalysts”: Not traditional characters, but forces (e.g., Bitcoin, central banks, Silicon Valley) personified with agency and consequence.
Wick’s Authority: Her prosecutor’s precision and fintech experience lend credibility; anecdotes from legal battles (e.g., prosecuting financial crimes) add grit.
✒️ Style
Tone: Urgent yet methodical—think Michael Lewis meets Yuval Noah Harari.
Jargon Handling: Demystifies complex concepts (e.g., DeFi, quantum finance) without dilution.
🎯 Ideal Readers
For: Finance professionals, policymakers, tech disruptors, and anyone who owns crypto (or worries about it).
Not For: Readers seeking light storytelling or partisan takes—this is data-driven, not polemical.
⭐ Star Breakdown (0-5)
Research Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — Wick’s DOJ/fintech dual expertise shines.
Narrative Drive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) — Thrilling but demands focus.
Practical Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — Actionable insights for investors/institutions.
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5) — Requires baseline financial literacy.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) — A rare blend of rigor and relevance.
📢 Reviewer Remarks
-Wick doesn’t just predict the future—she hands you the tools to build it.
-The Silent Spring of financial systems—exposes the toxins and the antidotes.
-If money is a language, The Catalysts is its Rosetta Stone.
🙏 Acknowledgments
Thank you to NetGalley and Racket Publishing for the ARC. This review reflects my honest evaluation.
💡 Final Thought
The Catalysts is more than a book; it’s a flare gun shot into the fog of financial uncertainty. After reading, you’ll see the storm—but Wick’s real gift is making you believe you can navigate it.
One Line Description:
Money 3.0: How Amanda Wick’s The Catalysts Cracks the Code of Finance’s Future
Amanda Wick’s Masterclass on the Forces Redefining Money, Power, and Trust
📖 Book Description
In The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order, former DOJ prosecutor and fintech leader Amanda Wick dissects the seismic shifts transforming global finance—from cryptocurrency and AI-driven markets to geopolitical upheaval and decentralized economies. Blending forensic analysis with prophetic insight, Wick unveils the “accelerating forces” (tech, policy, and human behavior) rewriting the rules of money. This isn’t just a book; it’s a survival guide for the next era of capital.
🔍 Comprehensive Analysis
⚡ Structure & Flow
Three-Act Framework: Divides the chaos into Disruption (tech innovations), Power Shifts (geopolitics), and Survival (strategies for adaptation).
Case Studies: Anchors theory in real-world examples (e.g., CBDCs, crypto crashes, and regulatory wars).
Pacing: Accelerates like the markets it describes—dense but never stagnant, with “Key Takeaways” sections to anchor readers.
👥 Characters & Voice
The “Catalysts”: Not traditional characters, but forces (e.g., Bitcoin, central banks, Silicon Valley) personified with agency and consequence.
Wick’s Authority: Her prosecutor’s precision and fintech experience lend credibility; anecdotes from legal battles (e.g., prosecuting financial crimes) add grit.
✒️ Style
Tone: Urgent yet methodical—think Michael Lewis meets Yuval Noah Harari.
Jargon Handling: Demystifies complex concepts (e.g., DeFi, quantum finance) without dilution.
🎯 Ideal Readers
For: Finance professionals, policymakers, tech disruptors, and anyone who owns crypto (or worries about it).
Not For: Readers seeking light storytelling or partisan takes—this is data-driven, not polemical.
⭐ Star Breakdown (0-5)
Research Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — Wick’s DOJ/fintech dual expertise shines.
Narrative Drive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) — Thrilling but demands focus.
Practical Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — Actionable insights for investors/institutions.
Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5) — Requires baseline financial literacy.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) — A rare blend of rigor and relevance.
📢 Reviewer Remarks
-Wick doesn’t just predict the future—she hands you the tools to build it.
-The Silent Spring of financial systems—exposes the toxins and the antidotes.
-If money is a language, The Catalysts is its Rosetta Stone.
🙏 Acknowledgments
Thank you to NetGalley and Racket Publishing for the ARC. This review reflects my honest evaluation.
💡 Final Thought
The Catalysts is more than a book; it’s a flare gun shot into the fog of financial uncertainty. After reading, you’ll see the storm—but Wick’s real gift is making you believe you can navigate it.
One Line Description:
Money 3.0: How Amanda Wick’s The Catalysts Cracks the Code of Finance’s Future
September 28, 2025
This book was such as disappointment because as head of a crypto women’s group, I thought the author would write about, well, more women in crypto. No, not happening.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is the overriding theme of the book. The word Trump and attacks on him appear dozens of times in 345 pages. That’s right, Trump the pro-crypto president. And how many references to anti-crypto Biden? Zero.
Instead, the author devotes chapter after chapter to attacking Trump’s non-crypto positions, and those of right-of-center political parties internationally as well. Her antidotes are the entire panoply of liberal-leftwing causes, including hiring quotas, gun control, abortion, universal basic income, global warming and evils of “fossil fuels” (Greta Thunberg gets a pat on the back) and increased government regulation and control over just about everything.
Incredibly, despite claiming to be an advocate of cryptocurrency, the author repeatedly endorses Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)! Let’s see now, the world’s Number One Promoter of CBDCs is Communist China, which has banned bitcoin transactions and enforces social credit scoring to control every step of citizens lives.
The book becomes more unhinged with each passing chapter. By page 331 the author recommends that all donors to any of Trump’s political campaigns be tracked by zip code to determine “which of its citizens are most likely to commit future terrorism in the homeland.”
Finally, sloppy editing. A congressman’s home state is misidentified, Cheyenne is described as located in Wisconsin, WWII is cited as ending in 1944 (actual is 1945 – difference of a million casualties), and the book claims Hilton Hotels owns 8,000 locations, when nearly all are managed or franchises.
Avoid this dumpster fire.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is the overriding theme of the book. The word Trump and attacks on him appear dozens of times in 345 pages. That’s right, Trump the pro-crypto president. And how many references to anti-crypto Biden? Zero.
Instead, the author devotes chapter after chapter to attacking Trump’s non-crypto positions, and those of right-of-center political parties internationally as well. Her antidotes are the entire panoply of liberal-leftwing causes, including hiring quotas, gun control, abortion, universal basic income, global warming and evils of “fossil fuels” (Greta Thunberg gets a pat on the back) and increased government regulation and control over just about everything.
Incredibly, despite claiming to be an advocate of cryptocurrency, the author repeatedly endorses Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)! Let’s see now, the world’s Number One Promoter of CBDCs is Communist China, which has banned bitcoin transactions and enforces social credit scoring to control every step of citizens lives.
The book becomes more unhinged with each passing chapter. By page 331 the author recommends that all donors to any of Trump’s political campaigns be tracked by zip code to determine “which of its citizens are most likely to commit future terrorism in the homeland.”
Finally, sloppy editing. A congressman’s home state is misidentified, Cheyenne is described as located in Wisconsin, WWII is cited as ending in 1944 (actual is 1945 – difference of a million casualties), and the book claims Hilton Hotels owns 8,000 locations, when nearly all are managed or franchises.
Avoid this dumpster fire.
July 11, 2025
Interesting book bringing together big trends in finance, geopolitics, society and more that are shaping the world. The author, who served on the January 6 committee staff, brings together a lot of different data points and provides a breezy look at many institutions, ideas, and trends. Unfortunately, many are shallowly explored, and collectively, this reads as a "I had a lot of ideas, and I've written them down" book, rather than a coherent, well-integrated whole.
2.5 stars rounding up for having a lot of information and ideas that unfortunately never quite gel into an excellent book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
2.5 stars rounding up for having a lot of information and ideas that unfortunately never quite gel into an excellent book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
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