Liar's Poker is a non-fiction, semi-autobiographical book that details Michael Lewis's three-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street's premier investment firms in the 1980s. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of bond traders, highlighting the frat-boy camaraderie, killer instincts, and high-stakes games of bluffing and deception. Lewis describes the creation and use of mortgage bonds, the excessive bonuses, and the ruthless competition among traders. The narrative also touches on the author's disillusionment with the industry, leading to his resignation and transition into financial journalism.
Matt Cochrane & I are reuniting to discuss Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis.
Liar’s Poker is Michael Lewis’s first book about his time working at Salomon Brothers in the 1980’s.
Liar’s Poker chronicles an extraordinary boom on Wall Street in the 1980s and serves as an expose and cautionary tale about the excesses of Wall Street.
The world has changed a lot since then, but I think that the themes identified by Michael Lewis are still very much alive.
Links
* Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis: https://www.amazon.com/Liars-Poker-Norton-Paperback-Michael-ebook/dp/B003E20ZRY
* Michael Lewis Interview with Dash Riprock & Human Piranha, characters featured in the book: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules/other-peoples-money-dash-riprock-and-the-human-piranha-revealed
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