Gonzo Capitalism: How to Make Money in An Economy That Hates You

by Chris Guillebeau

Discover “new paths to prosperity you never knew existed” in this “must-read guide to the new economy.”  (Ozan Varol, author of Awaken Your Genius )

The traditional ways of earning a living are outdated, if not outright rigged. That’s why a growing number of enterprising individuals are instead turning to the growing ecosystem of decentralized, fast-moving virtual markets to pursue a host of previously unheard-of ways to pay the bills.
 
Join New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau on a fascinating tour of this brave new world where novelty is currency, and the creators are in control. Along the way, you’ll meet a colorful cast of renegades who are driving this money revolution,
 
Gonzo Capitalism is your field guide to the new rules of money, where any and everything is for sale. In it, you’ll learn how capitalize on today’s technology and platforms to turn your time, talents, and creativity into income—on your own terms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Finance, Money, Economics, Entrepreneurship

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 22, 2023

About the author

Chris Guillebeau is the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup and other books. During a lifetime of self-employment, he visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday. Every summer in Portland, Oregon he hosts the World Domination Summit, a gathering of creative, remarkable people. Chris also hosts Side Hustle School, a popular podcast that is downloaded more than 2 million times a month.

Reviews

[Karel Baloun · Rating 1 out of 5]

While shelved as business or career advice, this is better read as entertaining fantasy. Guillebeau claims to have travelled to all 193 countries and lived in Africa for at least 4 years. And much of this book contains interviews with real people, so I’m not saying the facts as he states them are fictional.

This book creates negative value for both individuals and society, and failed to even entertain. Here’s better timeless method from me: Find a growing industry / career. Find a way that you are best poised to participate. Keep growing your skills and networking to elevate the value you are creating. Keep improving your partnerships and processes. Know what’s enough, to help time your optimal exit.

Indeed, that young people are disenfranchised and disenchanted by the standard economy is sadly true.. corporations and automation leave too few good “careers”, even as technology allows each individual more leverage. The benefits and methods of this empowerment is what this book claims it teaches. Yet, this same reality only creates a very small number of winners. For example, everyone can feel rich as their crypto or meme stock rises, but few cash out big, and everyone else is holding an empty bag.

Perfect for this book would have been the story of the person selling jars of farts. Hey market for anything! Or the opportunity to scam the scammers who are pretending to fundraise for Trump's many cons, by joining them!

Attention is not currency, and the idea that money is a social construct is not revolutionary. He’s not selling a reliable system for success.. rather be is telling his youthful audience what they want to hear: that such a system exists if they look for it in the chaos of rapid change.

When presenting Axie as an example of earning, he realizes this platform failed, and screwed a lot of people in the Philippines, right? Oh, nope, he calls it “a great success”. Defi Kingdoms was worth $1B eh? Why not mention that it all vanished in mid-2022? Doesn’t this book sport a 2023 publication date? Instead he tries to say that he personally just about broke even. That’s somehow good?

Chapter 3 is seriously about betting as a reliable form of income. That alone should explain my 1-star rating. And chapter 12 is about finding and taking asymmetric risks… as if those were easy to exploit… and includes horrible advice about debt being fine, living large being okay, and speculating broadside instead of saving. Nothing about skills or growth.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no longer enough to work a job and expect things to work out for you. Chris’ book delivers on this idea by highlighting creativity and stories of weird experiments without falling into toxic hustle culture - it’s what you choose to do. I’ve read several of Chris’ books over the years and this gives both timely and timeless ideas.

[Krista Muscarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Chris Guillebeau since I read one of his first books, The Happiness of Pursuit. When I found out I was able to read an advanced copy of his latest book, Gonzo Capitalism: How to Make Money in An Economy That Hates You, I was ecstatic.

After all, my brother had been talking my ear off about meme stocks for the last year (or longer) so I was exceptionally pleased to see Gonzo Capitalism mention meme stocks. Do note, however, Chris goes much, much deeper into many of the unconventional ways to make money in the 21st century. In fact, the book is truly a field guide to the Money Revolution that is becoming more and more of a reality for the average consumer. Not only does this book give several examples of ways the average person can make money but many of the methods are presented in such an insightful yet approachable way that honestly had me thinking, "maybe I should try some of these approaches!"

While I don't think I can quite pull off multi-working two-full time jobs at once to truly double my paycheck, maybe I can try my hand at prediction markets or getting paid to be a gamer! I have even seen some of the live-streamers Chris profiles in Gonzo Capitalism while I was scrolling aimlessly on social media platforms, Miss Excel anyone? OH, and the AI cat drawings were another favorite of mine.

Learn the new rules of money by getting in early-ish on Gonzo Capitalism, you won't regret it!

[Kirsten Love dipatri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books by author Chris Guillebeau- I enjoy his accessible writing style. His consistent theme is non-conformity, outside the box thinking, and here he applies it to unique ways to make money now and going forward. I am drawn to his work because he challenges my conforming tendencies.

I learned many unique things from Gonzo Capitalism: blockchain, betting on prediction markets, multi working, play to earn gaming, sleepfluencing, the human IPO, misplaced odds, MOOCs, and the Hertz rental car company’s propensity for having its customers falsely arrested. I learned so much more than this short list!

If you are already a fan of Chris Guillebeau, you will love this book: it is Chris at his best. If this is your first book by the author, you will be excited to discover him and will also have a bunch of great books to catch up on. I received a copy of the book in advance but was not compensated or otherwise pressured for a positive review. I would have given this book 5 stars if I had found it on my own.

[Mary Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting if you’re someone who doesn’t already have a wire into new tech (or are otherwise on twitter. No I will not call it X.) Instantly dated, and doesn’t have enough in underlying concepts to create evergreen content.

[Chris Boutté · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guillebeau is an excellent author when it comes to writing about ways to make some extra money. In this book, he focuses on a wide range of unconventional ways to make money on the side, and I really liked it. I have a couple criticisms, but overall, this is a great book for anyone looking to make some extra money in our current system of capitalism.

One of my first criticisms is that while it’s super interesting, he starts the book off by discussing how you can make money gambling on political outcomes. I never knew that, but I don’t know if I’d come out the gate with gambling as a method of making extra money, but I can see how it can be profitable for someone with restraint who also follows the news closely.

Next, there’s quite a bit about making money from crypto in this book. I’m torn on that aspect. While Chris is pretty knowledgable about the topic, it’s insanely risky, and right now, I don’t know if I’d encourage people to pursue it as an option. I also want to make very clear that Chris does an excellent job explaining all the risks and red flags when getting involved with different crypto projects.

Overall, it’s a solid book that has a ton of different ways for people to make extra money. When I learned that there are people working multiple full-time jobs, that blew my mind.

[Kenneth Griswold · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not every section is for everyone (I'm not into the quiet quitting phenom or games-for-money), if you are looking for an unconventional way to make money that goes beyond driving for Uber or Doordash, this will get those creative juices flowing. And if you find a section in his book that really speaks to you, you're going to be doubly in luck because not only will he give you the idea, but he'll give you really solid advice on how to do it.

My section was about course creation. This was where the gold nuggets were for me. Here's just one piece of advice that I would have probably made mistakes with if not for this book. "If you want to make a successful cohort-based course, you need to transfer a skill or set of knowledge form your head to your students. But notice that I said ->a<- skill or set of knowledge - not dozens of skills or sets of knowledge. Resist the urge to teach them everything you know about a topic... they don't want the kitchen sink!" Great advice!

If you have a $500k a year job, this book isn't for you, but you also aren't reading this review. But if you want to find suggestions that will make you go "hmm.... maybe...." Read this book! It could change your life.

[Jill Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting ideas, easy read

I’ve been following Guillebeau for years now, though I haven’t read his most recent books. This one looked particularly interesting, as I am transitioning out of the traditional workforce due to a rare eye disorder. The chapters towards the end of the book about digital investment assets, “DeFi” and bitcoin weren’t really my cup of tea, but maybe it’s yours. But the first two thirds of the book were really interesting though (some I already knew a lot about), and I’ve ended up talking about a few of his concepts at cocktail parties and other social events.

[Kevin Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and fun read. Guillebeau has a way of talking about money and business that's interesting and engaging. I particularly appreciate his real-world examples. Many of them are pretty goofy but provide much insight.

[Imaculate Mosha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Chris as usual!

[Megan Vick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: At some point in recent history, the global economy stopped making sense.

Synopsis: The old rules of making money and living a “good life” are out. Millennials and Gen Z are now rewriting the rules of money, money-making, and economics as prices rise and wages stagnate. Guillebeau dives into the unconventional ways people are making money - from influencers, digital entrepreneurs, crypto-gamers, and taking on big corporations in lawsuits. As young people rewrite the game's rules, the future is more uncertain than ever with traditional economics.

Why does this book beguile? I’ve been a big fan of Guillebeau for a long time. Originally a travel blogger, Guillebeau’s unconventional way of making money and taking on the world has been inspirational. I frequently gift The Art of Non-Conformity* to interns and high-school grads to help illustrate that there are many paths forward and ways to make money and define success. Gonzo Capitalism is a tactical book that supplements the concepts in The Art of Non-Conformity. Will all these entrepreneurial ideas make money in the future? Unlikely. Even now, as this book is published, the future of crypto is uncertain. But there are many undiscovered ways of earning a living that some enterprising person will discover. Gonzo Capitalism looks at what our economy used to be, what it can be, and the ever-changing definition of capitalism.

[Liran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this 3.5 stars if I could. I’ve read most of Guillebeau’s other books and found them useful but I have to agree with others that this one fell short. While interesting, I felt a good amount of the ideas were not useful (e.g., suing a company) or earth shattering (maybe it’s just me but hacking credit card promos is news of the past). I would have liked for this book to expand more on ideas that are more realistic for everyone to employ— especially with more details and resources on “how to.” That said, I did bookmark a few things I found useful, so if you have the time, it’s worth the quick read or listen for a few good nuggets of advice!

[Juan Nadie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un desastre.

Para empezar, el título en español no se corresponde con el contenido. No va sobre "capitalismo digital", sino, como dice en inglés "gonzo capitalism", es decir, formas bizarras o extrañas de ganarse la vida.

y, ¿Cuáles son esas formas extrañas? Pues a cual más absurda y poco recomendable. Algunos ejemplos:

- Dedicarse al mundo de las apuestas sobre predicciones políticas. Como es evidente que en apuestas deportivas hay que saber de verdad, en ese otro "mercado", que está menos profesionalizado hay posibilidades de ganar dinero. Sin comentarios.
-Convertirse en una granja humana de juegos con recompensa. Dedicar horas de tu vida a jugar por pequeñas recompensas que luego puedes intercambiar con otros jugadores por dinero. Probablemente la peor forma de usar tu tiempo posible.
- Engañar a tu empresa y tener dos trabajos a la vez. Mejor no entro.
- Hacer cursos online síncronos (él no usa ese término, pero es lo que hay). Pero claro, de algo hay que saber. Ejemplo: aprender a usar las pieles de animales salvajes que has cazado para hacer ropa. Gran modelo de negocio, sin duda.

Y así todo lo demás que viene. Envuelto, eso si, en chorradas del tipo "solo los luditas siguen el camino clásico de ir a la universidad y tener un trabajo" y memeces por el estilo.

Por si alguien es tan tonto para creerse lo que dice, debería venir con un disclaimer al estilo de las cajetillas de tabaco: "información potencialmente peligrosa para mentes débiles".

[Daniel Hardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay but not great. It works much better as a book exploring the post 2000s financial trends than a book offering much/any practical financial advice. It also doesn't really address "economy that hates you" (except a slight about in the final chapter, in the way that late stage capitalism hates everyone but the most wealthy; this is NOT a book targeted for the oppressed (racially, sex/gender, ability, age).
The advice ranged from vague/ unhelpful (figure out what the next big trend is and get in ahead of others), (just use this type of gambling, it'll be great - also I lost "a lot" of money doing it) (people used to do this, but you can't really make money doing that any more. Figure out what the next thing like this will be) to simply toxic (you should ignore your morals when making bets, you'll bet better. Also I'm so ashamed and remorseful of doing this on the Brittney Spears conservatorship that I literally named the entire chapter "Bet on Brittney").
2 stars as it was neat to learn about the niche ways /other people/ made money that would clearly not be options now. The other 3 are missing because simply adding advice for the outdated anecdotes- just learn from the /theme/ of the stories and apply their /concept/ to current life- it's useless without describing the theme, concept or applicability to these outdated stories.

[Tim Mathis · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Chris Guillebeau's books are engaging reads that communicate interesting ideas in accessible ways. This is also that.

Honestly though, the most interesting thing here is probably the premise, that making money isn't what it used to be. He runs through a general survey of modern money-making schemes and non-traditional side hustles that new technology has made possible. Some of it is useful to the person interested in doing the same, but I felt like the book was trying to do too much.

As a sociological overview of the new economy that tech is creating, it was interesting and fun. Both thought and anxiety provoking. Worth reading for that reason.

There's a lot of space spent on "how to" type material as well though, and because the topics are so broad and varied (crypto, creating an online course, online gambling, etc.), everything felt like it got a cursory treatment. I almost feel like it would've worked better to review and tell stories about each of the topics to illustrate the broader social change, and include an appendix of resources for people wanting to replicate some of the business/money making ideas themselves.

In any case though, it's a good, fun read about an interesting topic. A great primer on the ways that tech is reshaping investing and entrepreneurship.

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine meeting people who do tech jobs while also delivering food or a teenager who made tons of money just by naming babies! And there are even people who get paid to play video games. Sounds crazy, right?

You know how many people struggle with student loans, low pay, and the high cost of living? Well, this book shows how some folks are saying "no" to the usual 9-to-5 job and finding cool new ways to make a living.

Gonzo Capitalism by Chris Guillebeau is like a thrilling adventure into the world of work today.

What makes this book awesome is that it explains how our crazy economy actually works. It takes you behind the scenes and shows you the secrets of how these new ways of working happen.

Chris Guillebeau tells these stories so well that you can't help but feel inspired.

This book isn't just about today; it's like a map for the future. It's perfect for anyone who wants to find their own path to success in a world where you can create your own opportunities.

So, if you want to break free from the norm and find your own way to succeed, give this book a read.

[Trevor Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated that this book acknowledges the massive changes in the economy and world since the pandemic. However, his ideas for making money in this new economy are, at worst, unethical, and at best, foolish. Ideas like working two jobs at the same time while neither employer knows about the other may be legal and within your right as an employee, but the secrecy, the sneakiness, and the inability to be open about the experience may tell us about the ethical issues with such a practice. Betting on things like Britney Spears being released from a controlling and abusive relationship may be a way to make money, but this is also a woman’s life you are trying to profit off of. The author makes statements like governments and businesses are corrupt and cheat, so why don’t you?!? Governments don’t pay their debts, so why are you trying to pay yours?? Foolish.

These are not new methods of investment for a new economy. This is a book of speculation, pure and simple. Some of his means of speculating are fine, but a lot of them have sketchy, unethical undertones.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the title but didn't find an explanation for it anywhere in the book. My guess is that it is somehow related to Gonzo journalism (though I do remember seeing a slide of the muppet Gonzo with the book during his book tour presentation.)

This book is unlike his others. It is about as current as it could be, referencing all the changes the pandemic brought on with the Great Resignation and the ability to work (remotely) two jobs at once without the other employer knowing. That is something I wouldn't try myself, but I can picture some of my competent and workaholic friends pulling it off.

I appreciate the outreach to Millennials and GenZ readers; I believe this book was written mostly for them, with many of the ideas utilizing social media and AI. Of all the ideas, the one I would feel most qualified to do are the online classes. I like the idea of "transforming" instead of merely informing.
I also love the AI art section and am a big fan of that milkshake drinking cat.

[Jamin Garoutte · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Chris Guillebeau’s other books continue to be relevant for those seeking new solutions to income-related issues, this book provides an updated perspective on how the game has changed drastically in recent years and offers some great tactics for how you can capitalize on those changes.

In typical Chris Guillebeau fashion, you’ll find solid explanations of complex issues covering a broad range of case studies—complete with the occasional pun. You’ll discover what led to these unconventional ideas, why they work, and what to be careful of. Anyone curious enough to dip their toe in the pool will find specific and helpful tips for getting started; some of them grounded in the author’s own personal successes and failures. Even for the methods you disagree with or have no desire to pursue yourself, there’s plenty of insight to consider adapting to your own situation.

[Jen (bookscoffeedogs) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Started reading it for interesting takes on ways to make money that might generate ideas. I began skimming it about 1/3 of the way through and reading the bits that might be more interesting to me personally, playing video games for a living is truly NOT something I’m interested in doing so why waist time reading about it? Time is money after all. I wouldn’t say this book had any super brilliant ideas, a few examples of people making money in strange ways, suing McDonald’s for not supporting their franchisees in serving soft serve is great I guess, but not a feasible way to move forward in life, more like a luck of the draw moment which many of the examples are. Are they outside the box? Yup, but many are risky and have sections of why it didn’t work. Why do I need to read it in the first place then?

[Vovka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't published long ago, but is already sorely dated. It recommends Axie Infinity as a money-making scheme, and this example is typical of the half-baked money-making ideas that are espoused by the author. Another example: mattress firms often have lengthy money-back guarantees. The author actually suggests stringing together a bunch of money-back guarantees for mattresses so that you can sleep for "free" simply by returning one mattress after another. This is a terrible idea for many reasons: time, hassle, smell, and environmental impact, just to name a few. I wish the book had been better.

[Ryan Manganiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that highlights the absurdity of the new ways in which economies around the world now work.

I especially enjoyed the chapter on remote work where certain individuals had multiple online only jobs and were making insane amounts of money.

Heck, one guy was on track to make over a million dollars in a single year with the amount of Fortune 100 jobs he managed to accumulate.

There were a few parts of the book I thought the author should have frowned upon more, hence the 4 star rating, but other than that, the book is a rock solid read in my opinion.


One of my favorite entries from the book was:

"A revolution without rules is just a riot."

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new book from Chris Guillebeau is a little different from previous books, and it's an eye opener. He starts out talking about how the economy is changing, and how we make money is changing. And then he shares experiences from both himself and others about some of these different ways to look at careers and earning. From betting on things you'd never think about to cryptocurrency and video gaming for pay, it's all about being innovative, creative, and bold. This one is a must-read if you're trying to figure out your next financial moves.

[CJ Earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

First a confession. I’ve been a fan of Chris Guillebeau since first reading The Art of Nonconformity. In my opinion, Gonzo Capitalism stands above all his other books. The book is filled with observations and examples of market participants thinking differently in response to the profound market responses to the pandemic. As times change, people need to adapt. I believe the proffered advice and observations in this book are priceless. I am very grateful for Chris’s insights into creative ways to beat the system.

[Christian Jespersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Guillebeau is absurdy inspireret and I admire him for recording his own books. However this was In poor audio quality. Whether that's the provider I don't know.

The book is an interesting introduction to all the wacky ways to make money. But never really amazed me. There were a few really inspireret moments, but never the peaks he had in Happiness of Pursuit and Sidehustle.

I still recommend people of all age to read tk get an insight how the world is, I many ways, very crazy when it comes to ways to make money.

[Hans Van Wesenbeeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

The captivating title certainly helped me make an instant purchase decision as I walked into a Swiss bookstore 1 minute before closing time (closing time is taken very seriously in Switzerland). The content is entertaining and reads like a blog in book format, with each blog post turned into a chapter. I had hoped for a little more spine, coherence and depth, and to learn why the economy hates me. Still, the book offers some encouragement to someone who hasn't followed the tired advice from the personal finance industry.

[Nita Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever wanted more security and control over your life read this book! Chris Guillebeau will challenge your thinking on how to make and even spend your money in this new economy so that you can live a better life.

This book walks you through unconventional ways to make money that are tested by the author but be prepared to be inspired to dream up your own unique ways to earn more! After reading this book the possibilities for freedom and opportunity seem endless.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always appreciated Chris's take on things, and the many things he has pursued in his personal journey that he parlays into interesting perspectives that encourage and empower people to be remarkable. I love getting to see the arc of those perspectives develop and reflect on the ongoing current events and issues of our time, along with truly useful and actionable advice for how to thrive among them.

[Serenity Bohon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Chris Guillebeau's revolutionary message that traditional day jobs are not even close to the only way to make a living in this economy. This book is packed with tons of weird, risky, and inventive ways it's being done. Very few of them seemed like something I am bold enough to try, but Guillebeau is clear that these are just ideas. The message is the same whether you try the specific ideas or not.

[Moin Uddin · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Gonzo Capitalism' @chrisguillebeau is a mind-bending journey into entrepreneurship. What sets it apart is Guillebeau's fearless, unconventional approach. He advocates for risk-taking that defies the norm, combining web 3 technologies with audacious strategies. It's a 'try at your own risk' adventure, challenging you to break free from the ordinary and embrace bold, uncharted paths in the business world. 🚀💥 #GonzoCapitalism #UnconventionalBiz #RiskTaker #BookRecommendations