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Liar's Poker: Summary

Everything you need to know about Michael Lewis's Liar's Poker, in 1 paragraph.
An illustration of a reader enjoying Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis in a cosy interior
A reader enjoying Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis
Liar's Poker is a non-fiction book written by Michael Lewis that details his experience working on Wall Street in the 1980s. The book follows Lewis as he moves from a trainee at Salomon Brothers to a bond salesman, critiquing the Wall Street culture and examining the impact of financial deregulation. It highlights the cutthroat competition and large egos amongst traders, and explores concepts such as bond pricing, mortgage-backed securities and junk bonds. Alongside its humorous anecdotes, the book provides an informative insight into the high-stakes world of finance.

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Liar's Poker: Key Points

  1. 1. Liar’s Poker is a memoir about Michael Lewis' time at Solomon Brothers, a bond trading firm in New York City in the late 1980s. 2. The book provides an inside look at Wall Street, including the culture, competitive nature and the risks taken by traders. 3. It examines how the firm changed from a partnership to a publicly traded company and how this change led to financial recklessness and ultimately the firm's downfall. 4. The book also looks at how bonds were sold, bought and traded during this period of time. 5. It examines how traders used their wits and ability to bluff to outsmart their opponents in order to make profits. 6. The book also explores the relationship between traders and their clients, as well as the importance of teamwork and trust within firms like Solomon Brothers.

What to say about Liar's Poker

  • "Liar's Poker is a remarkable look into the financial world of the 1980s and its insight into the culture of Wall Street remains relevant to this day."
  • "Michael Lewis' narrative style in Liar's Poker is captivating, making it an entertaining and educational read."
  • "Liar's Poker offers an eye-opening account into the inner workings of the financial industry and has been credited with helping bring greater public awareness to complex financial instruments."
  • "The characters depicted in Liar's Poker provide a vivid picture of the cutthroat competitive environment that exists on Wall Street, making for an engaging read."
  • "The book does a great job of highlighting how human foibles can lead to disastrous consequences in financial markets, as well as offering lessons for anyone looking to work on Wall Street."
  • "Liar's Poker provides an intriguing glimpse into the life of a bond trader and shows how personal relationships can play a significant role in their success or failure."
  • "The book serves as a cautionary tale for those looking to enter the world of high finance, demonstrating how greed and recklessness can quickly lead to disaster."
  • "Liar's Poker paints a vivid portrait of how money, power and ambition can lead to ethical compromises and moral blindness among those working on Wall Street."
  • "Michael Lewis' classic book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of Wall Street and its impact on global markets."
  • "With its unique blend of wit, humor, and hard-hitting analysis, Liar's Poker remains one of the most important books about modern finance."

What to post on LinkedIn or Twitter about Liar's Poker

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  • I'm always looking to improve my knowledge of the finance world and Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis was a great way to do that! The book provides a unique perspective on the players and strategies in the financial markets. Highly recommended! #LiarPoker #Finance #MichaelLewis
  • If you're eager to learn more about the financial markets, pick up Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis! It's an engaging and informative look at the people who work in Wall Street and their strategies. #LiarPoker #Finance #MichaelLewis
  • Looking for a great read to help you understand the financial markets? Check out Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis - it dives into the lives of Wall Street traders and helps provide insight into their strategies. #LiarPoker #Finance #MichaelLewis
  • An absolute classic: Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about Wall Street and the people who work there. Highly recommended! #LiarPoker #Finance #MichaelLewis

Top 5 Quotes from Liar's Poker

  1. "The trick was to make money when other people were losing it."
  2. "I didn't know it at the time, but what I had stumbled into was a game of liar's poker."
  3. "The bond traders on Wall Street weren't like normal human beings."
  4. "In the end, Wall Street doesn't much care if you're right or wrong; it just cares if you're making money."
  5. "It was a world populated by geniuses who had turned their backs on conventional success and chosen instead to pursue the ultimate con: money for nothing."

Other books by Michael Lewis

  • The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
  • Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
  • The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
  • Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt
  • The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds
  • Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World
  • The Fifth Risk
  • Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood
  • Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life

Did you know?

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Liar's Poker was the first book written by Michael Lewis, and it became a national bestseller when it was published in 1989.