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
Pasture Perfect
The Talent Code
The Politics Industry
Getting It Done
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Rage Becomes Her
Going Infinite
More Money Than God
The Macintosh Way
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Ford vs. Ferrari
A Conflict of Visions
The Magic of Thinking Big
Capital Returns
Nothing To Lose
How To Buy Stocks
The Diversity Bonus
The Benedict Option
The Dragons of Eden
Jim Grant UNICEF Visionary
Ultralight Backpackin' Tips
Models of My Life
Pippi Longstocking
First Friends
No Bullshit Guide to Math and Physics
The Making of the President 1960
Numbers Don't Lie
Illusions
I'd Like To Play Alone, Please
Double your Profits
Seeing Serena
All Quiet on the Western Front
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
The Big Ship and Little Digger
Thing Explainer
The Second World War
Draft No. 4
The History of the Future
Machine Learning for Dummies
Liberal Privelege
AI Superpowers
The Making of a Manager
The British Are Coming
What We Owe the Future
She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Globalization and its Discontents
Changes in the Land
Open
Find Me Unafraid
Bitcoin is Venice
The Essential Writings
Aware
Googled
Benjamin Franklin
Invariances
In Other Words
The Individualists
The World That Wasn't
The Ascent of Money
United States of Socialism
Deep Learning
Die With Zero
Memoirs of My Life
Growth
State of the Art
Sun Rises in the Evening
The Wisdom Paradox
Delivering Happiness
The Intelligent Investor
Wind, Sand and Stars
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Co-Intelligence
Team Topologies
The New Jim Crow
The Art of Memoir
The Anatomy of Buzz
Dealing with China
The Passage of Power
Patient Capital
The MAGA Doctrine
The Columbian Exchange
On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right When You're Not
Monsoon
Maestro
Mess
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets
Dream Big
Predictably Irrational
Whiplash
Napoleon
Oranges
Who Is Michael Ovitz
The Start-up of You
Ice Age
The Future of Capitalism
The Last Lecture
The Journey of Crazy Horse
What's Our Problem?
The Sandman
Wing Leader