The power of paper - Christopher Ondaatje

As a young bank employee in 1950s London, fledgling financier Christopher Ondaatje reflected on the fact that assigning monetary value to an otherwise nearly worthless piece of paper deemed it instantly powerful. It was an observation that compelled him to explore the remarkable power that paper holds and what it means for our future. Whether as a lasting record of our ideas or as a vessel of capitalist currency, paper has long interested Ondaatje as a symbol of civilisation. Here, the author undertakes a fascinating journey to examine its significance.