John Shelburne
“Going Infinite” by Michael Lewis is a compelling deep dive into the high-stakes world of finance and trading. Michael Lewis, known for his knack for making complex financial systems understandable, does it again in this book.
From the first page, you're hooked into the whirlwind lives of characters who live on the edge of market chaos. Lewis's storytelling shines as he blends intricate details with relatable human elements, making you feel both the tension and excitement of the trading floor.
For someone like me, who enjoys clear and accessible explanations, this book is a goldmine. Lewis breaks down the sophisticated jargon and strategies of high-frequency trading into digestible, almost thrilling narratives. It's like he's having a conversation with you, ensuring you're never lost in the technicalities.
The characters are well-drawn, each with their quirks and motivations, adding depth to the narrative. Lewis doesn't just give you a look at the systems; he shows you the people behind them, making the stakes feel real and immediate.
“Going Infinite” is more than just a book about finance; it's a story about ambition, risk, and the relentless pursuit of success. Whether you're a finance novice or a seasoned trader, Lewis's ability to weave complex topics into engaging stories makes this book a must-read. It's informative, entertaining, and above all, a fascinating look at a world where fortunes are made and lost in milliseconds.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the distressed debt market, from its history to its current state. The author's insights into the market are valuable, and her stories about her career are engaging. However, at times the author's tone can be arrogant and condescending. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the recent history distressed debt market.
Note - If all you are looking for is a detailed account of the modern-day mechanics behind a short trade, Chapter 10 is where you want to start and then read every page. The epilogue, appendix, glossary, notes and references are fantastic for those who want to learn about short selling.In Chapter 10. Sloan did some incredible research to find a hearing in 1989 called “The Short-Selling Activity in the Stock Market: The Effects on Small Companies and the Need for Regulation.” I can't imagine the amount of hours he spent in front of a microfiche machine at the New York Public Library. The transcripts on the hearing are not easy to find but since Google is digitalizing EVERYTHING you can find on the Google Play Store.As I finished, I kept thinking of the saying “History will always repeat itself.” I had to look up the origin of the saying and found out that it can be credited to George Santayana -“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”[b:Don't Blame the Shorts: Why Short Sellers Are Always Blamed for Market Crashes and How History Is Repeating Itself 7165115 Don't Blame the Shorts Why Short Sellers Are Always Blamed for Market Crashes and How History Is Repeating Itself Robert Sloan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348597957l/7165115.SX50.jpg 7532575] is a historical account of the public outrage and knee-jerk government policies after financial panics. The one consistent pattern of behavior is the blame towards market participants known as short-sellers.What is unique about Sloan's research is that he does not focus on events after 1929. He shows the reader that this pattern of behavior in the United States has been happening from the days of Jefferson and Hamilton. The plethora of examples help build his case that the stock market needs short-sellers for orderly market activity because they provide liquidity. The use of simple analogies and comparisons throughout the book help the reader understand the complexities of selling a stock short in the market. For example, his use of Frank Partnoys's comparison of the stock market to a pari-mutuel betting window at a racetrack (page 6) made me appreciate the operational processes in place for borrowing shares and repayment of funds.The book has jaw-dropping stories that demonstrate his argument that the cycle of public outrage about short sellers after a financial meltdown followed by congressional committees is does nothing b/c the market needs short sellers.Look at how many times a congressional committee or congressperson has blamed a short-selling after a massive financial panic: 1907Pujo Committee was called to investigate the existence and power of “money trusts.”1929 crash That was a biggie; therefore, quite a bit of peacocking happened in DC for several yearsSenator Smith Brookhart of Iowa swiftly introduced legislation banning short selling.The “BEAR RAID” Senate Committee on Banking and Currency. Btw...why aren't we still using the term BEAR RAID? Its so much fun to say.The Pecora CommissionDowntick RuleUptick RuleSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, which gave the Federal Reserve control of short sale marginsTemporary National Economic Committee1953Judge Medina shoots down the Justice Department (United States vs. JP Morgan juniors son, aka Henry) by telling them to stop chasing phantom conspiracies constructed from flimsy circumstantial evidence. The judge barred bringing any similar litigation against the banks!1986Commerce, Consumer, and Monetary Affairs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Government Operations hearing2009The Book Was Published in 2010, which leaves Mr. Sloan a wonderful opportunity to write more chapters.[a:Robert Sloan 491718 Robert Sloan https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] in this book proves that history does in fact repeat itself.PS - In the acknowledgments, the reader gains great respect for Robert Sloan. He recounts a story that will induce nausea for any writer. He lost his computer that contained the epilogue of this book at Kennedy Airport. No Backup File....Ten Days later, Liz Cummings called him and said she had found his computer, NOW THAT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT!
As a fan of TCU, I have been mesmerised by the change of offensive play since Sonny Cumbie became the offensive coordinator in 2014. I knew that Cumbie played under Mike Leach at Texas Tech but I never understood Leach's system. I considered Leach to be an eccentric coach running a version of the Run and Shoot offence. This book allowed me to dive deep into the genius and origin of Leach's offence. Gwynne does a masterful job at telling the story of the forward pass and the god father of the modern spread offence. I didn't know Hal Mumme before I started the book and now I want to watch every game he coached.
I recommend this book to any fan of American Football. This is the top book I have read about the sport.
The amount of research that went into this book is phenomenal. Bilton built a case that will leave no doubt about the true identity of Dread Pirate Roberts. I used to have sympathy for Ross Ulbricht and had some doubts if he was capable of building The Silk Road. This book changed all of my preconceived thoughts.
If the point of this book was to piss you off about the lifestyle of the rich kids of LA in the 80's, then this book deserves five stars. It is the story of a bunch of whinging strung out psychos whose parents are permissive about everything.
I hated every character and wanted them all to end up like Julian. A massive waste of time for me.
Duhig does insightful analysis on the traits of a habit. He explores three areas of habits: individuals, organizations, and societies. This is not a good book on how to form a habit. It is a series of case studies that look at successful and self-destructing habits in individuals, organizations and societies.
What happens to your personality when you get behind the steering wheel of a car? This book explains the emotional state of humans while driving. It's probably a fun book to play on audible while driving across the country. I decided to read this book after listening to a podcast by Malcolm Gladwell called Blame Game.
http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/08-blame-game
I just looked up this book to find the short story about the elf on the shelf. I was laughing for days reading about this poor abused elf sent to Tampa Bay. The altercation with Rudolph will have u in tears.
Here is link to the story.
https://kielarowski.net/2013/12/20/my-career-as-an-elf-on-the-shelf/
The best account of what happened at Long-Term Capital Management. Dunbar does a better job of detailing the trading strategies than Lowenstein's When Genius Failed.
This is a great book! I am loving it! Why don't politicians act more like coaches in sports. Look at Bill Belichik or Nick Saban during an interview or a press conference.
This is the best time killer of all time. It is a hilarious book of pictures of the great leader looking at things. This book is the best Christmas present you will ever give to a loved one.
Some facts about Kim Jong Il you might not have known:
Kim Jong-Il was a fashion icon
Kim Jong-Il Invented The Hamburger
Kim Jong-il was a master golfer - he had 11 hole in ones in HIS FIRST ROUND
The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that Dan Lyons is a complete douchebag. The Hubspot blog is a good resource and I don't even use Hubspot. Total smear job. The company should send Lyons a stock price update on a daily basis. This book is not aging well with HUBS trading north of $400.