In this ambitious and controversial work, E. Michael Jones reinterprets the history of capitalism through the moral lens of Catholic social teaching, framing it as a centuries-long struggle between productive labor and exploitative usury. Barren Metal traverses economic theory, historical events, and theological debates, making a case that modern finance has strayed far from its ethical roots. Jones draws on figures from Adam Smith to Marx, weaving a narrative that challenges conventional economic thought and calls for a re-evaluation of money, work, and justice.