Mastering Blockchain: Inner workings of blockchain, from cryptography and decentralized identities, to DeFi, NFTs and Web3, 4th Edition 4th Edition

The author makes extremely complex topics approachable. It helps to have some experience with Bitcoin or Ethereum, cryptography, databases and basic networking, but it isn't required. All the background you need is presented methodically if you start on page 1. One thing I particularly enjoyed is the author's optimism about the technology while staying realistic about real world use cases and problems. If you really want to understand what blockchains are but aren't sure where to start, this is it.

The book starts off really well with Chapter 1, Blockchain 101, explaining what a blockchain is. It provides the history and connection with Bitcoin, outlines the generic elements, and describes the benefits, features, and limitations, as well as the different types of blockchains. Subsequent chapters explain in more detail aspects mentioned in first chapter.The book presents information about Bitcoin and Ethereum, starting in the first chapter. This is an interesting point, "Bitcoin’s scripting language is not Turing complete, whereas Ethereum’s Solidity language is." This is further explained, "To facilitate arbitrary program development on a blockchain, a Turing-complete programming language is needed, and it is now a very desirable feature tohave for blockchains."Chapter 12 provides practical examples and a final project of "Web3 Development Using Ethereum", allowing hands-on practice. This example is explained further "work with various tools such as Ganache, the Geth client console, and the Remix IDE to develop, test, and deploy smart contracts. Use the Truffle framework to test and migrate smart contracts. Explore how IPFS can be used to host the webpages for our DApp, serving as the decentralized storage layer of the blockchain ecosystem".I am looking forward to spending time with Chapter 14, Hyperledger, to learn more about the blockchain projects introduced by the members of the Linux Foundation's Hyperledger project. The first paragraph clearly explains that the Hyperledger project "is not a blockchain but a project that was initiated by the Linux Foundation in December 2015 to advance blockchain technology", that it "can be used to develop and implement blockchain applications and systems", and can be used to "support global business transactions". The project also focuses on " improving the reliability and performance of blockchain systems".Chapter 22, Blockchain Applications and What's Next, provides excellent content for learning about the various applications of blockchain technology in addition to cryptocurrency, such as Internet of Things, government, media, and finance, and research efforts related to the blockchain technology. This chapter includes a neat example with code for connecting an IoT device to the Ethereum blockchain using a Raspberry Pi device. A door is unlocked (represented by an LED device) when an appropriate amount of funds are sent.Finally, Chapter 23 provides bonus content online about Alternative Blockchains; for example, new blockchains such as Solana, and protocols such as Ripple and Kadena, and concepts such as sidechains and drivechains are discussed. It's not surprising, but it's good to read and know that "blockchain is a very fast-moving field, and there are many other blockchain projects".This book has 783 pages including an index. It's not a "blockchain for dummies" or a "blockchain in 100 pages" kind of book. It is clearly written and easy to read, so it is accessible to the beginner to blockchain. The Table of Contents and the Index can help you move around to read the parts as you're ready.It has definitely helped me to better understand Blockchain.

I've read up to 50% of the book so far. I have been interested in Blockchain since 2013 and was involved in Bitcoin projects for more than one year full-time. As much new stuff has come out since then, I wanted to catch up with the latest concepts, tools, blockchain, etcetera.This is a good book to have an overview of all the things related to Blockchain and to understand how Blockchain was based on many years of cryptography research. After reading the first chapters, I realized how Bitcoin was the result of many people's efforts before. I have fundamental cryptography knowledge, and this book gives you a very good introduction to it and consensus algorithms.The explanation for Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains is good, but maybe not enough if it's your first time reading about this topic. The practical guides for Ethereum development are ok but also maybe too fast for someone newbie in the field.So far, I think this book is very good for people who have a basic understanding and want to:- Check the actual industry state of the art.- Understand or know better the Blockchain foundations.- Complete their understanding of other aspects.- Refresh some concepts if, like me, you have not been involved lately in the Blockchain ecosystem.I definitively recommend it for Blockchain developers who want to go further or improve their generic Blockchain knowledge.Besides, some people call it the "Blockchain Bible", and sometimes it has much information to digest, so It's a book you have to read with patience or just to get ideas but without expecting a profound understanding. It would be impossible to deeply understand all the concepts, although the explanations are good, and there are some details, I would need more examples for some parts.But, as I said I've only read 50% of the book. I will update my review after finishing it.