The best corporate memoir ever written, 14. Juli 2000

This is the book so many others have tried to imitate, Michael Lewis's classic account of his time as a bond salesman. Like many of his imitators, Lewis has a seemingly endless supply of funny stories about his time at Salomon's bond desk during its glory days. Unlike others, however, Lewis is also tremendously insightful about what the real meaning of his job was, and what such a culture implied for the state of the American economy and culture.

      Excellent Wall St expose, 24. Juni 2000

Lewis, as always, writes extremely well in this book. He spends most of the book explaining the details of bond futures, whole mortgages and other esoteric financial terms, but manages to do it in a way that never bores you. The book is filled with a colorful cast of characters who are entertaining throughout (although they're more down to earth than those in Po Bronson's Baombardiers).

The book looses a star, however, for its somewhat impersonal and inconsitant nature in parts. It starts with an account of Lewis's own start in Salomon Brothers, but then drifts into a narrative about people he heard about, or who worked with his friends, etc. In the last chapters, Lewis struggles to relate the story back to himself. Unfortunately, the ending left me frustrated -- Lewis talks about all the people leaving the firm for various reasons (mostly for more money) and says he'd never leave for money; "I'd leave Salomon Brothers for other reaons, however. And I did." That's more or less the end of the book. A wandering eplilogue closes without telling you any more about his motivations.

Those criticisms apart, Liar's Poker is a great book for anyone who's interested in how Wall Street really works, and especially what happened during the 80s boom.

      One of the classics, 15. Mai 2000

This is one of the classics on Wall Street trading rooms in the 80s. It is somewhat outdated by now. The book is fairly well written, although Lewis has an annoying habit of always telling you what he is planning on telling you before he actually tells you.

For a newer, fresher book I would suggest Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle. It does for investment banking what Liar's Poker did for trading. Enjoy it!

       Delightful Surprise, 10. Mai 2000

What an enjoyable book this was. I am so excited when I walk through a bookstore and come across a hidden treasure. The book describes life in a Wall Street investment bank in the 80s. What's so amazing about it is that it's real and all this actually happened somewhere sometime (and probably still does). An added bonus is the education you get on certain aspects of the markets such as fixed-income (bond) trading and how the industry is always looking for new ways to confuse the average joe. If you have some time on your hands, read this book, it can't hurt and it will only take about two days.

       Delightful Surprise, 10. Mai 2000

What an enjoyable book this was. I am so excited when I walk through a bookstore and come across a hidden treasure. The book describes life in a Wall Street investment bank in the 80s. What's so amazing about it is that it's real and all this actually happened somewhere sometime (and probably still does). An added bonus is the education you get on certain aspects of the markets such as fixed-income (bond) trading and how the industry is always looking for new ways to confuse the average joe. If you have some time on your hands, read this book, it can't hurt and it will only take about two days.