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The Big Short

Inside the Doomsday Machine

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The Big Short

By: Michael Lewis
Narrated by: Jesse Boggs, Michael Lewis
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About this listen

The long-awaited follow-up to the global best-seller Liar's Poker, The Big Short tells a story of spectacular, epic folly.

It has taken the world's greatest financial meltdown to bring Michael Lewis back to the subject that made him famous. His international best seller Liar's Poker exposed the greed and carnage of the City and Wall Street in the 1980s; he wrote it as a cautionary tale, but people seem to have read it as a how-to guide. Now, he wants to settle accounts.

In this visceral tour to the heart of the money-making machine, Michael Lewis traces the origins of the crisis and introduces us to a new cast of compulsively fascinating characters. We meet the people who saw it coming, the people who were asleep at the wheel, and others who were actively driving us all off the cliff. Where did it all start? How could we have all been so deluded for quite so long? Did it really have to be this way? And who the hell can we blame? Michael Lewis has the answers.

No one is better qualified to reveal the dark truths about how our world really works. No one else could make it such an enjoyable ride along the way.

This edition includes a prologue read by the author, plus an exclusive author interview.

©2010 Michael Lewis (P)2010 Penguin Audio Wall Street Global Financial Crisis Great Recession

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Critic reviews

"Lewis is the finest storyteller of our generation." (Malcolm Gladwell)
"The funniest book about Wall Street I have ever read." (Tom Wolfe)
All stars
Most relevant  
The politicians blamed the bankers, the bankers blamed the poor, the business people blamed everyone and we didn't know who to blame. At last a book that tells what happened and where it all went wrong, without the writer needing to play a political or buisness position.

Be warned though, after listening to this you'll find it mighty hard to accept the bilge that passes for business, political and accepted truths about what is the World's biggest financial disaster. Do yourself a favour and wise up to what's been going on. Start taking action to avoid getting sucked in to all this. This story won't be completely played out for another ten years - so it's going to influence you, your wealth and income and your well being. Read the book and get ready.

What went wrong, in a way you'll understand.

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I enjoyed the book more than the movie. makes for a good insight into the corrupt world of finance..

More interesting than the movie

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OK, so I'm an accountant fascinated with the banking system, and a geek for detail....

But even so, anyone who wants to "TAKE THE RED PILL" and wake up and smell the coffee, seriously needs to PROPERLY UNDERSTAND what went on in the Wall Street investment banking world which lead to the crash of 2008.

Its utterly shocking.

Watching the film is not enuf. This book really digs into the detail of exactly what went on and helps you fully understand it.

Having watched the movie 6+ times before listening to this book I'm now desperate to watch the movie again, knowing that finally I will fully understand exactly what was happening.

I thought I understood the CDOs etc from watching the film (and rewinding the technical bits over and over).

But now my understanding really is clear. And the truth behind it all is utterly ludicrous.

Without doubt the most fascinating story I've ever listened to.

I listened to most of the book on 0.95 speed. Some of the technical explanations at 0.85 speed. And I found myself constantly rewinding parts to listen again because what you hear is so shocking you need to hear it again to let it properly sink in.

I lost count of how many bookmarks I made during my listen.

Remember...... It was on 31st October 2008 when the Bitcoin whitepaper was released.....

Shortly after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Bear Sterns.....

You are hearing the origin story of crypto and why it was deemed so urgently needed by society.

Next time the banks mess up, we will have an alternative solution already in place.

And one that CANNOT be corrupted.

Enjoy!

The origin story of BITCOIN and CRYPTO !!

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loved the film and loved the audiobook. really easy and terrifying real life take on the crisis.

I actually really enjoyed that

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Well I've not long started this book and I'm kind of struggling to make sense of it not because it's badly written or anything like that but because it's so blindly ignorant. It kind of reminds me of certain aspects of the second world war only here we're talking high finance. In other words it's all about the right hand and the left hand and one not quite knowing what the other one is doing and worst of all not even caring. It seems to me that in this book which amounts to a piece of investigative journalism in style half the people working in high finance don't know what they're talking about or doing and worst of all don't care and still raking it in. The mortgage payers don't have the faintest idea who they're paying for their homes or companies. Even I can't figure it out too well but if there's one thing I've worked out already it's the fact that nobody can be trusted and yet they're paid for their ignorance. Nice work if you can get it and all you need is balls and bluff and i don't mean that to sound offensive in any way. Well no surprise there then. I think to appreciate this book and all its implications you need a head for figures and high finance as well as a touch of cynicism so don't be shocked by this it's all right. Even the guys at the top can't tell you what they're doing and they're paid to know.

What the heck?

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This will leave you shocked but not surprised. You MUST listen to this gripping tale, oh but what this ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Unbelievable but true

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Great and awful story told in an engaging way through the eyes of a variety of players. I defy anybody to listen to this without having a visceral reaction.

Staggering

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Outstanding in every way this is superbly read with excellent extras. A life changing book

Outstanding

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but, terrifyingly, true. every word is important here ... am going to have to listen several times to get the nuance. not an 'easy' or 'relaxing' listen but definitely a bucket list book.

as gripping as a best seller thriller

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This audio tells the story that reinforces the madness of decision making and egos.. it’s superb

Watch the movie then read/listen to this

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