The End of Money: Counterfeiters, Preachers, Techies, Dreamers--and the Coming Cashless Society

For ages, money has meant little metal disks and rectangular slips of paper. Yet the usefulness of physical money -- to say nothing of its value -- is coming under fire as never before. Intrigued by the distinct possibility that cash will soon disappear, author and Wired contributing editor David Wolman sets out to investigate the future of money...and how it will affect your wallet.

Wolman begins his journey by deciding to shun cash for an entire year -- a surprisingly successful experimen...