I have been doing a series of book reviews on the financial crisis. To see my five previous reviews click here. The latest book is Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin. Sorkin is a financial columnist for the New York Times. After reading the book, I am not surprised why the book has become a best seller.
Too Big to Fail gives an extremely comprehensive account of the events that begin with the collapse of Bear Sterns, and end around the time TARP is passed. The author does an excellent job of providing a brief history of many of the characters who played a major role in the events surrounding the collapse of the financial system. This includes well known figures such as Ben Bernanke, Henry Paulson, Tim Geithner, Lloyd Blankenfein, Jamie Dimon, John Mack, Ken Lewis. The author also provides a history of people who were played a major but are less known to the public. This list includes John Varley (CEO Barclays), Walid Chammah (President Morgan Stanley), Steven Black ( Head, Investment Bank JP Morgan.
I normally like to list something new I learned from reading a book, but with Too Big to Fail there are so many new facts I learned I cannot begin to think where to start. As someone who followed closely the events surrounding the collapse of Lehman Brothers and subsequent news coverage since, I thought I read everything. However, I learned so many details from the book that I never picked up in the financial news. Some of these new facts I learned were numerous mergers that Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Wachovia tried to pursue after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
There will be people who will be disappointed by this book. Henry Paulson is painted in a very positive light by the author. (We will soon get the story from Henry Paulson’s side. Paulson is releasing a book on his perspective of the financial crisis which I will be reviewing in the coming weeks). Even Dick Fuld is portrayed as someone who was trying his best to save his firm. The author also rejects the popular conspiracy theories about Goldman Sachs bringing down other firms or controlling the Government. The only evidence of this, are unsubstantiated rumors by Fuld that David Einhorn, other short sellers, and Goldman Sachs were spreading rumors to bring down Lehman Brothers. This may disappoint people who do not like Henry Paulson, Goldman Sachs or Dick Fuld. The author is most critical towards Sheila Bair, Christopher Cox, Vikram Pandit and Charles Gasparino (CNBC)
However, regardless of what one’s opinions are of Goldman Sachs or the former Treasury Secretary and Former CEO of Lehman Brothers, the book is a masterpiece. The author does an excellent job of explaining in detail what really happened in the several weeks in September and October 2008 when it appeared the financial system was on the verge of collapse. One cannot ask for more detail as the author devotes over 200 pages towards this critical time period alone. Sorkin clearly had extensive access to many of the key people in the book. The book is entertaining and could be enjoyed by someone with or without a degree in finance.
To purchase the book on amazon.com click here
For anyone following my series of book reviews on the financial crisis my next book will be More Mortgage Meltdown by Whitney Tilson or This Time is Different by Kenneth Rogoff.
Disclosure: New FTC guidelines require me to disclose I have a material connection because I received a free copy of the book to review.
Too Big to Fail gives an extremely comprehensive account of the events that begin with the collapse of Bear Sterns, and end around the time TARP is passed. The author does an excellent job of providing a brief history of many of the characters who played a major role in the events surrounding the collapse of the financial system. This includes well known figures such as Ben Bernanke, Henry Paulson, Tim Geithner, Lloyd Blankenfein, Jamie Dimon, John Mack, Ken Lewis. The author also provides a history of people who were played a major but are less known to the public. This list includes John Varley (CEO Barclays), Walid Chammah (President Morgan Stanley), Steven Black ( Head, Investment Bank JP Morgan.
I normally like to list something new I learned from reading a book, but with Too Big to Fail there are so many new facts I learned I cannot begin to think where to start. As someone who followed closely the events surrounding the collapse of Lehman Brothers and subsequent news coverage since, I thought I read everything. However, I learned so many details from the book that I never picked up in the financial news. Some of these new facts I learned were numerous mergers that Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Wachovia tried to pursue after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
There will be people who will be disappointed by this book. Henry Paulson is painted in a very positive light by the author. (We will soon get the story from Henry Paulson’s side. Paulson is releasing a book on his perspective of the financial crisis which I will be reviewing in the coming weeks). Even Dick Fuld is portrayed as someone who was trying his best to save his firm. The author also rejects the popular conspiracy theories about Goldman Sachs bringing down other firms or controlling the Government. The only evidence of this, are unsubstantiated rumors by Fuld that David Einhorn, other short sellers, and Goldman Sachs were spreading rumors to bring down Lehman Brothers. This may disappoint people who do not like Henry Paulson, Goldman Sachs or Dick Fuld. The author is most critical towards Sheila Bair, Christopher Cox, Vikram Pandit and Charles Gasparino (CNBC)
However, regardless of what one’s opinions are of Goldman Sachs or the former Treasury Secretary and Former CEO of Lehman Brothers, the book is a masterpiece. The author does an excellent job of explaining in detail what really happened in the several weeks in September and October 2008 when it appeared the financial system was on the verge of collapse. One cannot ask for more detail as the author devotes over 200 pages towards this critical time period alone. Sorkin clearly had extensive access to many of the key people in the book. The book is entertaining and could be enjoyed by someone with or without a degree in finance.
To purchase the book on amazon.com click here
For anyone following my series of book reviews on the financial crisis my next book will be More Mortgage Meltdown by Whitney Tilson or This Time is Different by Kenneth Rogoff.
Disclosure: New FTC guidelines require me to disclose I have a material connection because I received a free copy of the book to review.
