Tuesday 24 November 2015

Flash Boys by Michael Lewis

Who would have thought that a book about high frequency traders, laying cables for high speed trading, and the fear and greed in corporate America could be interesting? Well, if Michael Lewis is writing it, it doesn’t stop at interesting, it is even quite exciting.

Michael Lewis wrote The Blind Side. You know the movie about the adopted kid who becomes an Amercian Football sensation? (Sandra Bullock plays mom– there you go!). Yes, that book was written by Michael Lewis. He worked at Salomon Brothers as a bond trader, and is a financial journalist, but has also penned many books and movie scripts.

A great storyteller can take a pretty ordinary situation, and make it into a plot, seeing the bizarre and opening that door wide, and highlighting the issues with unassuming characters fighting worthy causes, crusaders for us all. This was a story well told.

But you can’t have it all. The critics will say that this is one-sided, and not as well researched as it could have been. I agree – but I’m glad that the author made the choices he did. I think it was more entertaining. I listened to the Audible version, which was well narrated.

I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I think it would appeal to all readers, not only those interested in the world of high finance – because the story is about people and choices and outcomes. And who can’t relate to that?

4 out of 5 stars

ISBN: 9780393351590


Related: Misbehaving by Richard Thaler and Green Giants by E. Freya Williams

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