Let me tell you a story. When I was doing my undergraduate I used to hang out with a bunch of people I knew from school. Towards the end of our respective degrees they all started applying for jobs, all of them to investment banks. I was asked by quite a few of them as to the reasons why I wasn’t applying as well. It was an interesting idea and they really sold it well what with explaining the whole get rich fast mentality and so on. I did what everyone in my shoes would do: I did not apply to an investment bank and most importantly I found new friends. After reading Liar’s Poker I have to say: Best decisions ever.
There are two parts in Liar’s Poker, at least that’s how I understand it. The first part gives a background on the economic situation of the 1980’s, the rise of mortgage bonds, junk bonds and other things I undoubtedly misunderstood. That is another thing you should know about me, although not an idiot (so I like to think) I don’t get along with economics. I still understand inflation using shopping baskets to give you an idea… The first part of the book managed somehow to make even me understand at least the outline of what was going in on in the 80’s and how the housing market can actually affect the whole economy. Hooray for a very patient writer that takes his time to explain things in stick drawing equivalents! The only problem is that everything I now managed to understand is slightly outdated by say 20 years…
The second part is autobiographical and follows the author’s rise from trainee to expert salesman in Salomon Brothers. It also follows how he slowly but surely sold his soul to the devil. The devil, I tell you! The autobiographical parts were much easier for me to read because it didn’t feel like a constant effort of trying to understand technical bits that after twenty pages I had forgotten about and I had to go back to remember what they were for the story to make sense (I’m looking at you Ginnie Mae…).
The whole book was written with humour but somehow I didn’t laugh. That’s probably because I was too busy being horrified! Where do I start: the fact that some of the actual acts in this book were truly evil, setting investors up and lining them up for slaughter, the horrendous bonuses, the fact that the author was miffed about a 45 thousand dollars bonus! My heart is breaking for him… Poor little rich boy! World’s tiniest violin playing just for him! The good thing is that all the things that horrified me are actually acknowledged as really soul-destroying parts of the Wall Street Culture so at least Michael Lewis and I are on the same page. Well, his part of the page is probably made out of platinum sheets but that’s just technicalities.
I never expected to enjoy this book but I really did. It made me feel that with enough patience even I could understand how markets worked. The basics at the very least! And since my knowledge was so limited I really just took his word for practically everything… Now in terms of catching up for the last 20 years, that might be trickier!
Enjoyed it: Yes!
Read again: Probably, if I’m brave enough!
348 days remaining – 5 books down, 95 left.
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