Pawnonomics by Stephen Krupnik tells the rich and notorious history of the pawn broking industry and sheds new light on this venerable and still relevant financial institution. Five thousand years of history, much of it shrouded in misinformation, have supported the claim that the pawn broking industry is the second oldest profession. Krupnik explores common myths and misconceptions about pawn broking and explains in lay-terms the innermost workings and machinery of the industry, so that readers can appreciate its complexity and its value. He also delves into the sometimes-deserved dark reputation of pawn broking, speculating on how the business of usury can sometimes be its own worst enemy. Told from an insider's perspective, Pawnonomics busts old ideas and builds new bridges of understanding for this much maligned and misunderstood tradition. Through masterful prose and a dash of humor, Stephen Krupnik has written a book that will both educate and entertain.