Liar's Poker

Michael Lewis

Book Reviews

Chamath Palihapitiya: "Probably my favorite book"

Tim Ferriss: "It's a very exciting book."

Book Synopsis

"Liar's Poker" is a captivating non-fiction book written by Michael Lewis that takes readers on a thrilling journey inside the world of Wall Street in the 1980s. Lewis, a former bond salesman at Salomon Brothers, provides a fascinating insider's account of the high-stakes world of investment banking.

Through vivid storytelling, Lewis exposes the outrageous and often absurd culture that dominated Wall Street during this era. He reveals the intense competition, greed, and excess that permeated the trading floors, where young, aggressive traders engaged in a merciless pursuit of money and status.

Lewis explores the rise of the mortgage bond market and the game of "liar's poker," a gambling-style game where traders would bet on the prices of bonds. He delves into the fascinating techniques and strategies used by traders, exposing the manipulation and deceit that often accompanied their dealings.

In "Liar's Poker," Lewis pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of one of the most powerful industries in the world, shedding light on the reckless behavior and unchecked power of those involved. The book serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangerous consequences of unbridled ambition and the devastating impact it can have on both individuals and the economy as a whole.

With its sharp wit and gripping narrative, "Liar's Poker" offers readers an eye-opening and thought-provoking exploration of the financial industry's dark side. Lewis's keen observations and candid storytelling make this book an indispensable read for anyone interested in understanding the forces that shaped Wall Street and continue to influence global finance today.

Explore More Books

See All
Blueprint
The God Proof
The Player of Games
Planetary
The Sum of Us
These Truths
The New Economics
Dictionary of Untranslatables
The Unincorporated Man
Competition Demystified
Markings
Letters of Note
Moby Dick
The Humane Economy
The Rise and Fall of the British Empire
Awareness
Happiness
The Works
High
Drawing Life
The Giving Tree
Powernomics
Secret Sauce
The Moment of Lift
The Jungle
The Virgin Suicides
Night Sky with Exit Wounds
Poor Numbers
How To Buy Stocks
Memoirs
Bobby Kennedy
The Principia
How Innovation Works
The Great Mental Models
In Search of Lost Time
Fall of Constantinople
A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things
The Art of Spirited Away
March
Mortal Republic
The Psychology of Achievement
Trading Bases
Benjamin Franklin
The Obstacle Is the Way
Death Rattle
Daemon
Structures
The Minefield Girl
Million Dollar Weekend
Flowers for Algernon
Vagabonding
Orwell's Revenge
Black Edge
The Inner Lives of Markets
A Story Lately Told
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman
The Power of Full Engagement
More Money Than God
The Lord of the Rings
Monetizing Innovation
The Light Of Other Days
The Bully Pulpit
The Professor in the Cage
Meditations
High Output Management
The Story of Design
The DevOps Handbook
The Great Rupture
Whole Earth Discipline
When Genius Failed
The Clash of the Cultures
The Master Switch
That's What She Said
The Kelly Capital Growth Investment Criterion
Dreamland
The Promise of a Pencil
Use of Weapons
Makers
In Defense of Food
Principles of Economics
The Amateur
Happy Money
Liftoff
The Macintosh Way
Competing Against Luck
Start-up Nation
Gridiron Genius
No Two Alike
War
A Short Guide to a Happy Life
The Upanishads
Home Game
Astrophysics for People In a Hurry
Out of Mao's Shadow
A Pattern Language
The Oxford History of Britain
The Demon Under The Microscope
Thank God for Bitcoin
There Must Be A Pony In Here Somewhere
Behind the Cloud