I received this book from a friend who has already left the UK.

I regarded it as a form of leisure reading.

It was indeed quite enjoyable. However, I do have the thought that the culture which Michael was depicting seemed to be a little bit out of date.

It was solely concentrated on the pre-Crisis era.

This might make the readers feel a certain sense of disconnection from the present.

Nonetheless, it still provides some interesting insights into the past.

Perhaps it can serve as a reminder of how things were before the Crisis and how much has changed since then.

Overall, despite its limitations, the book has its own charm and value for those who are interested in exploring different cultures and time periods.

Fascinating.

It may be about the 1980s, but it is still very relevant.

The 1980s was a decade filled with unique cultural, social, and technological changes.

From the rise of new wave music and the popularity of arcade games to the introduction of personal computers and the growth of the internet, the 1980s set the stage for many of the trends and developments that we see today.

Even though the world has changed significantly since then, many of the issues and challenges that were faced in the 1980s are still relevant today.

For example, concerns about the environment, social inequality, and the impact of technology on our lives continue to be important topics of discussion.

In addition, the fashion, music, and art of the 1980s have had a lasting influence on popular culture and continue to inspire new generations.

Overall, the 1980s was a decade that was both exciting and influential, and its legacy can still be felt today.

This is a collection of essays that Michael Lewis penned regarding diverse finance-related subjects in the 1980s.

Virtually all of the content is now obsolete. However, it is captivating to peruse from a historical vantage point, yet not overly pertinent in the present day.

In fact, an engaging portion of the book delved into how an earthquake in Japan could have a traumatizing impact on the financial markets. I read this around the time (2011) when a real and severe earthquake and tsunami struck Japan.

But I was unable to draw any connections between what I had read and what was transpiring on the ground in Japan, including the damage to the nuclear reactor.

It seems that despite the interesting theories and discussions in the essays, they did not quite align with the actual events and circumstances that unfolded in Japan during that fateful time.

This perhaps highlights the limitations of relying solely on historical accounts and theories when dealing with real-world situations that are complex and constantly evolving.

Left a lot on the table

This phrase implies that there was potential or opportunity that was not fully utilized or taken advantage of. It could refer to a variety of situations, such as in business, where a deal was not closed or a project was not maximized. It might also apply to personal relationships, where someone failed to express their true feelings or take a chance on something meaningful.

When we leave a lot on the table, we may later regret not having done more or made a different decision. However, it's important to remember that every situation presents new opportunities, and we can learn from our past experiences to make better choices in the future.

Instead of dwelling on what was left behind, we should focus on the possibilities that lie ahead and strive to make the most of them. By being more proactive and seizing opportunities as they arise, we can avoid leaving so much on the table and achieve greater success and fulfillment in our lives.

This book truly turned out to be a major disappointment.

Don't misunderstand me. I am a massive enthusiast of Michael Lewis. "Liar's Poker" and "The Big Short" are two of the finest books regarding Wall Street greed and its consequences on Main Street that I have ever perused. However, "The Money Culture" is essentially nothing more than a time capsule. It was copyrighted in 1991 and reprinted in 2011 (when people came to the realization that Michael Lewis knows what he is discussing). The back of the book depicts it as a "warts-and-all portrait of the 1980s financial scene." In reality, it is a compilation of Michael Lewis' columns from the late 1980s and early 1990s. There is no updating apart from footnotes indicating when the column was written. I constantly found myself pondering what had occurred since then. There were three sections, with articles on the U.S., Europe, and Japan. I discovered the U.S. section extremely fascinating (albeit unsatisfying), the section on Europe moderately interesting, and the section on Japan rather difficult to get through. I would very much like to re-read this book with updates on the current status of the players and the markets.

A collection of newspaper articles that is compelled to be unified under a common title

didn't function that superbly on this occasion.

It is essential to exert an effort - do peruse the original works instead of relying solely on this compendium.

Often, when articles are grouped together under a single title, the individual nuances and unique perspectives of each piece can get lost in the shuffle.

This particular collection may not have managed to capture the full essence and depth of the original newspaper articles.

Readers are encouraged to go back to the source and engage with the original works to truly understand the stories and ideas being presented.

By doing so, they can gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the subject matter, rather than settling for the condensed and perhaps somewhat diluted version presented in this compendium.

I have a deep affection for Michael Lewis' writings. However, this particular book, which is essentially a compilation of short articles or stories, has not endured the passage of time well.

I managed to obtain a copy that had been previously discarded by a library through an online reseller. Fortunately, I was able to get it at a very reasonable price.

It is advisable to focus on his newer and more contemporary works. These are likely to offer more relevant and engaging content that reflects the current times and issues. While this older collection may have had some merit at one point, it has unfortunately lost its luster over the years.

It serves as a reminder that even the works of a highly regarded author may not all stand the test of time equally.

Written in the 90s, it is still applicable today, especially when he talks about Trump. Honestly, every Lewis book is a masterpiece.

Wall Street Rules:

#1 Never pay in cash.

#2 Always lie.

#3 Never play by the rules.

The Japanese strategy in the 90s was to borrow money from US companies to weaken them and then buy them at a low price. US companies believed that by borrowing, when a crisis hit, they could cut costs without any resistance and use it as a nice trick.

It's not the investors outplaying the market anymore. Wall Street guys have found a new and more efficient way: reverse IPO, switching back to private ownership, and other complex tricks.

When you see information, if the data is fast enough, it's already included in the market price.

Japan has been controlling the ecosystem for the long term compared to the US's short-term or free market approach. However, it has the same fate as everyone who wants to control the system.

Japan uses art work as an investment, and it has grown five times compared to the market.

Japan is unable to use technology in the market because they are too conservative.

Japan sees traders as middlemen, and their culture views middlemen as pumps.

I've read five books by Lewis. Usually, he never talks about religion except in this book. He talks about God in a very ironic way, just like he does for everything else.

This book is a collection of essays penned by the author during his years covering Wall Street.

It offers a fascinating and engaging read, providing valuable insights into the complex and dynamic world of finance.

The author's unique perspective and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter shine through in each essay, making it a must-read for anyone interested in Wall Street and the financial markets.

Whether you are a seasoned investor or simply curious about the inner workings of the financial world, this collection of essays is sure to captivate and inform you.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this interesting read that takes you on a journey through the author's experiences and observations on Wall Street.

This is a fairly scattered and somewhat dated batch of essays.

However, Lewis' writing truly shines throughout, as it always does.

Despite the collection's flaws in terms of organization and timeliness, Lewis' unique voice and style manage to captivate the reader.

His words have a certain charm and elegance that draw one in and keep them engaged.

Each essay offers a glimpse into Lewis' thoughts and perspectives on various topics, and although some of the ideas may seem a bit old-fashioned, there is still much to be gained from reading them.

Overall, while this may not be the most polished or up-to-date collection of essays, it is still a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Lewis' work.

His writing has a timeless quality that makes it relevant and enjoyable even today.

An entertaining but not overly educational book.

What did I learn? Leveraged buyouts have been driving up private debt and influencing the American economy. It seems like a rather twisted phoenix scheme. At the highest levels of the S&P, CEOs will introduce operational inefficiencies to depress their stock value, then buy out the companies with crazy leverage, fix the inefficiencies they initially created, and reintroduce the company to the public market for a profit.

This book was written in 1991, yet it forecasts many of the institutional problems on Wall Street that have affected our economies. This includes the junk bonds that led to the downfall of the banks in 2007. It emphasizes the cowboy mentality prevalent on trading floors, made famous by M&A firms, and which eventually spread to European, Australian, and Japanese financial markets.

All in all, it depicts bankers and money managers not as genius traders and statistics wizards, but as individuals who know how to game the system for personal gain, at the expense of everyone's future. Fiscal responsibility on a quarter-by-quarter basis essentially gives rise to these problems.

There is nothing wrong with this statement. However, it is also not something that is terribly useful. It is simply a short and rather funny observation. It makes you stop and think for a moment about the nature of what is being said. It's one of those things that can bring a smile to your face or a light chuckle. Maybe it's a reminder that not everything has to be profound or life-changing to have some value. Sometimes, a simple and funny comment can brighten up your day and add a bit of levity to the situation. So, while it may not be earth-shattering, it still has its place in the world of communication and entertainment.