We use money every day. Yet the practice of exchanging paper or bytes for goods and services seems absurd if you think about it. 'Naked Money' explores why money exists and why it so often gets entire nations in trouble. Charles Wheelan explains with his trademark wit and refreshing clarity how our banks and monetary systems should work in ideal situations, and he reveals the havoc and suffering caused in real situations by inflation, deflation, illiquidity and other monetary effects.