Banking Exposé Books | Summaries & Audio

Exile on Wall Street

by Mike Mayo • 2011

Wall Street learned nothing from 2008. One analyst who saw it coming explains why.

3.69

260

🏦 Banking Industry 📖 Wall Street Memoirs 📉 Financial Crises 🏛️ Corporate Governance 🧮 Creative Accounting

Exile on Wall Street 91%

Wall Street learned nothing from 2008. One analyst who saw it coming explains why.

by Mike Mayo 2011

3.69

260 ratings

🏦 Banking Industry 📖 Wall Street Memoirs 📉 Financial Crises 🏛️ Corporate Governance 🧮 Creative Accounting

Swimming With Sharks

by Joris Luyendijk • 2015

Inside London's financial tribe: how it nearly collapsed the world economy, and why it still could.

3.84

7k+

🏦 Investment Banking 💥 Financial Crisis ⚠️ Systemic Risk 🎯 Perverse Incentives 🔍 Workplace Ethnography

Swimming With Sharks 91%

Inside London's financial tribe: how it nearly collapsed the world economy, and why it still could.

by Joris Luyendijk 2015

3.84

7k+ ratings

🏦 Investment Banking 💥 Financial Crisis ⚠️ Systemic Risk 🎯 Perverse Incentives 🔍 Workplace Ethnography

It Takes a Pillage

by Nomi Prins • 2009

Bankers designed the crisis. Government paid the tab. The $13 trillion bill landed on your desk.

3.96

195

🏦 Investment Banking 💰 Government Bailouts 🏢 Too Big To Fail 🚪 Revolving Door 📊 Financial Derivatives

It Takes a Pillage 91%

Bankers designed the crisis. Government paid the tab. The $13 trillion bill landed on your desk.

by Nomi Prins 2009

3.96

195 ratings

🏦 Investment Banking 💰 Government Bailouts 🏢 Too Big To Fail 🚪 Revolving Door 📊 Financial Derivatives

The Spider Network

by David Enrich • 2017

A math savant rigged Libor. His bank confessed; he alone went to prison.

4.07

7k+

🏦 Banking Scandals 👔 White Collar Crime 📉 Market Manipulation ⚠️ Regulatory Failure 🎯 Scapegoating

The Spider Network 91%

A math savant rigged Libor. His bank confessed; he alone went to prison.

by David Enrich 2017

4.07

7k+ ratings

🏦 Banking Scandals 👔 White Collar Crime 📉 Market Manipulation ⚠️ Regulatory Failure 🎯 Scapegoating

Too Big to Fail

by Gary H. Stern • 2004

Policymakers always blink when big banks teeter. The fix borrows from how Volcker broke inflation.

3.60

🏦 Banking Regulation 📉 Financial Crises ⚠️ Moral Hazard 🔗 Systemic Risk 💰 Bank Bailouts

Too Big to Fail 91%

Policymakers always blink when big banks teeter. The fix borrows from how Volcker broke inflation.

by Gary H. Stern 2004

3.60

25 ratings

🏦 Banking Regulation 📉 Financial Crises ⚠️ Moral Hazard 🔗 Systemic Risk 💰 Bank Bailouts

The Bankers' New Clothes

by Anat Admati • 2013

The simple fix for the next financial crisis: make banks use 20% equity, not 2%.

3.83

776

🏦 Banking Regulation 🐍 Regulatory Capture 🏛️ Too Big To Fail ⚠️ Moral Hazard 📉 Leverage

The Bankers' New Clothes 91%

The simple fix for the next financial crisis: make banks use 20% equity, not 2%.

by Anat Admati 2013

3.83

776 ratings

🏦 Banking Regulation 🐍 Regulatory Capture 🏛️ Too Big To Fail ⚠️ Moral Hazard 📉 Leverage

Griftopia

by Matt Taibbi • 2010

From the ballot box to the commodities pit, one unified hustle is picking every American pocket.

4.16

10k+

📰 Financial Journalism 🫧 Bubble Economics 🏛️ Systemic Corruption 🎛️ Regulatory Capture 💸 Predatory Finance

Griftopia 91%

From the ballot box to the commodities pit, one unified hustle is picking every American pocket.

by Matt Taibbi 2010

4.16

10k+ ratings

📰 Financial Journalism 🫧 Bubble Economics 🏛️ Systemic Corruption 🎛️ Regulatory Capture 💸 Predatory Finance

The Lost Bank

by Kirsten Grind • 2012

A $1.88 billion fire sale and a silent bank run: inside the collapse of Washington Mutual.

4.12

1k+

🏦 Banking History 💥 Financial Crises 💸 Subprime Lending ☣️ Toxic Corporate Culture ⚖️ Regulatory Failure

The Lost Bank 91%

A $1.88 billion fire sale and a silent bank run: inside the collapse of Washington Mutual.

by Kirsten Grind 2012

4.12

1k+ ratings

🏦 Banking History 💥 Financial Crises 💸 Subprime Lending ☣️ Toxic Corporate Culture ⚖️ Regulatory Failure

Reckless Endangerment

by Gretchen Morgenson • 2011

Good intentions met Wall Street greed and captured regulators. The crisis was built to order.

3.96

2k+

🏦 Financial Crises ⚖️ Regulatory Failure 🏚️ Subprime Lending 💰 Wall Street Excess 🔍 Investigative Journalism

Reckless Endangerment 91%

Good intentions met Wall Street greed and captured regulators. The crisis was built to order.

by Gretchen Morgenson 2011

3.96

2k+ ratings

🏦 Financial Crises ⚖️ Regulatory Failure 🏚️ Subprime Lending 💰 Wall Street Excess 🔍 Investigative Journalism

Pound Foolish

by Helaine Olen • 2012

The personal finance industry wants you anxious, not wealthy. Your worry is their business model.

3.67

2k+

🦈 Predatory Finance 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💥 Anti-Self-Help 🏦 Retirement Crisis 🛡️ Consumer Advocacy

Pound Foolish 91%

The personal finance industry wants you anxious, not wealthy. Your worry is their business model.

by Helaine Olen 2012

3.67

2k+ ratings

🦈 Predatory Finance 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💥 Anti-Self-Help 🏦 Retirement Crisis 🛡️ Consumer Advocacy

How the Other Half Banks

by Mehrsa Baradaran • 2015

Banks get public support but exclude the poor. The public option that restores the social contract.

4.09

626

🏦 Banking History 📜 Financial Regulation 🇺🇸 Us Economic Policy 🎣 Predatory Lending 🚫 Financial Exclusion

How the Other Half Banks 90%

Banks get public support but exclude the poor. The public option that restores the social contract.

by Mehrsa Baradaran 2015

4.09

626 ratings

🏦 Banking History 📜 Financial Regulation 🇺🇸 Us Economic Policy 🎣 Predatory Lending 🚫 Financial Exclusion

Treasure Islands

by Nicholas Shaxson • 2011

For every dollar in foreign aid, ten flee into tax havens. London's hidden City runs the system.

4.18

2k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance ⚖️ Global Inequality 🏢 Corporate Crime 🏦 Financial Regulation 📜 Economic History

Treasure Islands 90%

For every dollar in foreign aid, ten flee into tax havens. London's hidden City runs the system.

by Nicholas Shaxson 2011

4.18

2k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance ⚖️ Global Inequality 🏢 Corporate Crime 🏦 Financial Regulation 📜 Economic History

Predator Nation

by Charles Ferguson • 2012

The 2008 crash was no accident; it was a crime, and the perpetrators run the country.

4.11

491

🏦 Financial Crises 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📉 Income Inequality 🗳️ Political Corruption 📜 Deregulation

Predator Nation 90%

The 2008 crash was no accident; it was a crime, and the perpetrators run the country.

by Charles Ferguson 2012

4.11

491 ratings

🏦 Financial Crises 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📉 Income Inequality 🗳️ Political Corruption 📜 Deregulation

The Panama Papers

by Frederik Obermaier • 2016

11.5 million documents arrived at a German newspaper, exposing the secret world of offshore wealth.

4.08

5k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🏛️ Political Corruption 🔍 Investigative Journalism 📢 Whistleblowing 💰 Money Laundering

The Panama Papers 90%

11.5 million documents arrived at a German newspaper, exposing the secret world of offshore wealth.

by Frederik Obermaier 2016

4.08

5k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🏛️ Political Corruption 🔍 Investigative Journalism 📢 Whistleblowing 💰 Money Laundering

Bailout Nation

by Barry Ritholtz • 2009

Wall Street keeps the upside. Taxpayers eat the losses. How America rewrote the rules of capitalism.

3.87

572

🏦 Financial Crises 💵 Monetary Policy 🏠 Housing Bubbles 💰 Corporate Bailouts ⚠️ Moral Hazard

Bailout Nation 90%

Wall Street keeps the upside. Taxpayers eat the losses. How America rewrote the rules of capitalism.

by Barry Ritholtz 2009

3.87

572 ratings

🏦 Financial Crises 💵 Monetary Policy 🏠 Housing Bubbles 💰 Corporate Bailouts ⚠️ Moral Hazard

The Great Taking

by David Rogers Webb • 2023

Your stocks aren't yours. They're collateral for a derivatives bet you never made.

4.13

157

🕵️ Financial Conspiracy 🏦 Central Banking ⛓️ Debt And Power 💻 Digital Currencies 📉 Financial Collapse

The Great Taking 90%

Your stocks aren't yours. They're collateral for a derivatives bet you never made.

by David Rogers Webb 2023

4.13

157 ratings

🕵️ Financial Conspiracy 🏦 Central Banking ⛓️ Debt And Power 💻 Digital Currencies 📉 Financial Collapse

Modernising Money

by Andrew Jackson • 2012

Banks create 97% of all money through lending. That hidden power drives every crash.

4.34

🔄 Monetary Reform 🏛️ Banking Reform 💵 Money Creation 🔒 Full-Reserve Banking 🗳️ Economic Democracy

Modernising Money 90%

Banks create 97% of all money through lending. That hidden power drives every crash.

by Andrew Jackson 2012

4.34

53 ratings

🔄 Monetary Reform 🏛️ Banking Reform 💵 Money Creation 🔒 Full-Reserve Banking 🗳️ Economic Democracy

The Money Problem

by Morgan Ricks • 2016

Panics, not bubbles, destroy economies. And panics start wherever short-term debt acts like cash.

4.33

📋 Financial Regulation 🏦 Shadow Banking 🏃 Bank Runs 💵 Money Creation 👑 Sovereign Money

The Money Problem 90%

Panics, not bubbles, destroy economies. And panics start wherever short-term debt acts like cash.

by Morgan Ricks 2016

4.33

45 ratings

📋 Financial Regulation 🏦 Shadow Banking 🏃 Bank Runs 💵 Money Creation 👑 Sovereign Money

Bull by the Horns

by Sheila Bair • 2012

She buried the banks Washington wanted saved. The FDIC chair's account of the 2008 bailout wars.

3.91

494

🏦 Financial Regulation 🎭 Regulatory Capture 🏛️ Too Big To Fail ⚠️ Moral Hazard 🛡️ Predatory Lending

Bull by the Horns 90%

She buried the banks Washington wanted saved. The FDIC chair's account of the 2008 bailout wars.

by Sheila Bair 2012

3.91

494 ratings

🏦 Financial Regulation 🎭 Regulatory Capture 🏛️ Too Big To Fail ⚠️ Moral Hazard 🛡️ Predatory Lending

All the Presidents' Bankers

by Nomi Prins • 2014

A century of backroom deals: how bankers, not presidents, drove America's rise to global power.

4.07

539

🏦 Banking History 💰 Political Economy 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📉 Financial Crises 🗽 American Empire

All the Presidents' Bankers 90%

A century of backroom deals: how bankers, not presidents, drove America's rise to global power.

by Nomi Prins 2014

4.07

539 ratings

🏦 Banking History 💰 Political Economy 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📉 Financial Crises 🗽 American Empire

Broke, USA

by Gary Rivlin • 2010

How pawnshops and payday lenders turned the working poor into a multi-billion dollar market.

3.71

1k+

🦈 Predatory Lending 🏚️ Poverty Economics 🚪 Financial Exclusion 🏠 Subprime Crisis 🔄 Debt Cycles

Broke, USA 90%

How pawnshops and payday lenders turned the working poor into a multi-billion dollar market.

by Gary Rivlin 2010

3.71

1k+ ratings

🦈 Predatory Lending 🏚️ Poverty Economics 🚪 Financial Exclusion 🏠 Subprime Crisis 🔄 Debt Cycles

Tower of Basel

by Adam LeBor • 2013

The untouchable bank that laundered Nazi gold, escaped its execution, and then designed the Euro.

3.83

697

🏦 Central Banking 🌐 International Finance 📜 Monetary History 💣 Wartime Finance 🇪🇺 European Integration

Tower of Basel 90%

The untouchable bank that laundered Nazi gold, escaped its execution, and then designed the Euro.

by Adam LeBor 2013

3.83

697 ratings

🏦 Central Banking 🌐 International Finance 📜 Monetary History 💣 Wartime Finance 🇪🇺 European Integration

Money Men

by Dan McCrum • 2022

When a reporter questioned Wirecard's Asian billions, the company hired spies to destroy him.

4.03

3k+

🏦 Corporate Fraud 🔍 Investigative Journalism 📢 Whistleblowers ⚖️ Regulatory Failure 📉 Short Sellers

Money Men 90%

When a reporter questioned Wirecard's Asian billions, the company hired spies to destroy him.

by Dan McCrum 2022

4.03

3k+ ratings

🏦 Corporate Fraud 🔍 Investigative Journalism 📢 Whistleblowers ⚖️ Regulatory Failure 📉 Short Sellers

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

by John Perkins • 2016

Empire runs on rigged loans and broken countries. One of its architects tells all.

3.93

8k+

🏴 Neocolonialism 🌐 Global Finance 📣 Whistleblower Accounts 🏢 Corporate Power 💸 Debt And Power

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man Summary

The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man 90%

Empire runs on rigged loans and broken countries. One of its architects tells all.

by John Perkins 2016

3.93

8k+ ratings

🏴 Neocolonialism 🌐 Global Finance 📣 Whistleblower Accounts 🏢 Corporate Power 💸 Debt And Power

Butler to the World

by Oliver Bullough • 2022

How post-imperial Britain became a concierge service for oligarchs, criminals, and tax dodgers.

3.98

3k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance 💸 Money Laundering 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💰 Financial Crime

Butler to the World 90%

How post-imperial Britain became a concierge service for oligarchs, criminals, and tax dodgers.

by Oliver Bullough 2022

3.98

3k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance 💸 Money Laundering 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💰 Financial Crime

Other People's Money

by John Kay • 2015

Daily currency trading exceeds global trade a hundredfold. The rest is finance feeding on finance.

3.92

1k+

🏦 Financial Systems 📈 Financialization ⚠️ Systemic Risk 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 🎲 Moral Hazard

Other People's Money 90%

Daily currency trading exceeds global trade a hundredfold. The rest is finance feeding on finance.

by John Kay 2015

3.92

1k+ ratings

🏦 Financial Systems 📈 Financialization ⚠️ Systemic Risk 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 🎲 Moral Hazard

Rogue Trader

by Nick Leeson • 1996

A 233-year-old bank collapsed because one young trader was allowed to hide his own losses.

3.93

1k+

🔍 Financial Fraud 🏦 Banking Failures 📊 Derivatives Trading ⚠️ Risk Management 📝 Confession Memoirs

Rogue Trader 90%

A 233-year-old bank collapsed because one young trader was allowed to hide his own losses.

by Nick Leeson 1996

3.93

1k+ ratings

🔍 Financial Fraud 🏦 Banking Failures 📊 Derivatives Trading ⚠️ Risk Management 📝 Confession Memoirs

Moneyland

by Oliver Bullough • 2018

Stolen wealth has a home: a borderless financial nation built by Western lawyers and accountants.

4.18

7k+

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🔒 Financial Secrecy 💰 Kleptocracy 🧺 Money Laundering 🌐 Global Corruption

Moneyland 90%

Stolen wealth has a home: a borderless financial nation built by Western lawyers and accountants.

by Oliver Bullough 2018

4.18

7k+ ratings

🏝️ Offshore Finance 🔒 Financial Secrecy 💰 Kleptocracy 🧺 Money Laundering 🌐 Global Corruption

The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One

by William K. Black • 1995

Bank CEOs were the biggest bank robbers, using deregulation to loot their own institutions.

4.06

185

🏦 Financial Fraud 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📊 Accounting Fraud ⚠️ Systemic Risk 🎲 Moral Hazard

The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One Summary

The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One 90%

Bank CEOs were the biggest bank robbers, using deregulation to loot their own institutions.

by William K. Black 1995

4.06

185 ratings

🏦 Financial Fraud 🏛️ Regulatory Capture 📊 Accounting Fraud ⚠️ Systemic Risk 🎲 Moral Hazard

The Accidental Investment Banker

by Jonathan A. Knee • 2006

Inside the decade investment banks abandoned client loyalty for fast deals and met the dot-com bust.

3.58

849

🏦 Investment Banking 🗽 Wall Street History 🕶️ Insider Memoir 🤝 Deal Making ⚠️ Conflicts Of Interest

The Accidental Investment Banker Summary

The Accidental Investment Banker 89%

Inside the decade investment banks abandoned client loyalty for fast deals and met the dot-com bust.

by Jonathan A. Knee 2006

3.58

849 ratings

🏦 Investment Banking 🗽 Wall Street History 🕶️ Insider Memoir 🤝 Deal Making ⚠️ Conflicts Of Interest

Confessions of a Wall Street Analyst

by Daniel Reingold • 2006

His rival was the king of telecom analysts. WorldCom was his kingdom. Then the fraud unraveled.

3.88

1k+

🏢 Wall Street Insiders ⚖️ Conflicts Of Interest 🔍 Insider Information 📡 Tech Bubbles 🕵️ Corporate Fraud

Confessions of a Wall Street Analyst Summary

Confessions of a Wall Street Analyst 89%

His rival was the king of telecom analysts. WorldCom was his kingdom. Then the fraud unraveled.

by Daniel Reingold 2006

3.88

1k+ ratings

🏢 Wall Street Insiders ⚖️ Conflicts Of Interest 🔍 Insider Information 📡 Tech Bubbles 🕵️ Corporate Fraud

The Digital Banking Revolution

by Luigi Wewege • 2017

FinTech is unbundling banking, service by service. The playbook for fighting back.

3.86

🏦 Digital Banking 💻 Financial Technology ⚡ Industry Disruption 🏛️ Banking Disruption 📱 Digital Payments

The Digital Banking Revolution 89%

FinTech is unbundling banking, service by service. The playbook for fighting back.

by Luigi Wewege 2017

3.86

21 ratings

🏦 Digital Banking 💻 Financial Technology ⚡ Industry Disruption 🏛️ Banking Disruption 📱 Digital Payments

Lying for Money

by Dan Davies • 2018

Fraud is the price of trust: a predictable equilibrium with its own rules, not a system glitch.

3.99

1k+

🕵️ White Collar Crime 🤝 Systems Of Trust 🪤 Perverse Incentives 📉 Regulatory Failure 🏢 Toxic Organizations

Lying for Money 89%

Fraud is the price of trust: a predictable equilibrium with its own rules, not a system glitch.

by Dan Davies 2018

3.99

1k+ ratings

🕵️ White Collar Crime 🤝 Systems Of Trust 🪤 Perverse Incentives 📉 Regulatory Failure 🏢 Toxic Organizations

The Sellout

by Charles Gasparino • 2009

Two outsiders invented a bond that made Wall Street billions, then destroyed the entire system.

3.92

302

🧨 Financial Crises 🗽 Wall Street History 🏠 Mortgage Bonds ⚙️ Financial Engineering 📈 Leverage

The Sellout 89%

Two outsiders invented a bond that made Wall Street billions, then destroyed the entire system.

by Charles Gasparino 2009

3.92

302 ratings

🧨 Financial Crises 🗽 Wall Street History 🏠 Mortgage Bonds ⚙️ Financial Engineering 📈 Leverage

Kleptopia

by Tom Burgis • 2020

Soviet collapse privatized a theft machine stretching from Kazakh mines to the White House.

3.80

4k+

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 🏝️ Offshore Finance 🪆 Post-Soviet Oligarchs 💎 Resource Curse 🎭 Disinformation

Kleptopia 89%

Soviet collapse privatized a theft machine stretching from Kazakh mines to the White House.

by Tom Burgis 2020

3.80

4k+ ratings

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 🏝️ Offshore Finance 🪆 Post-Soviet Oligarchs 💎 Resource Curse 🎭 Disinformation

Confidence Game

by Christine S. Richard • 2010

Bill Ackman bet the biggest bond insurer was a fraud. The market laughed; then the system collapsed.

4.14

927

🐻 Short Selling 🏚️ 2008 Financial Crisis 🦈 Activist Investors 🕵️ Corporate Fraud 🏛️ Regulatory Capture

Confidence Game 89%

Bill Ackman bet the biggest bond insurer was a fraud. The market laughed; then the system collapsed.

by Christine S. Richard 2010

4.14

927 ratings

🐻 Short Selling 🏚️ 2008 Financial Crisis 🦈 Activist Investors 🕵️ Corporate Fraud 🏛️ Regulatory Capture

Flash Boys

by Michael Lewis • 2014

Wall Street's speed advantage rigs the market. A team of outsiders built a fair exchange.

4.14

91k+

📡 High-Frequency Trading 🏦 Wall Street Exposé 💻 Electronic Markets 🎭 Market Manipulation ⚖️ Financial Regulation

Flash Boys 89%

Wall Street's speed advantage rigs the market. A team of outsiders built a fair exchange.

by Michael Lewis 2014

4.14

91k+ ratings

📡 High-Frequency Trading 🏦 Wall Street Exposé 💻 Electronic Markets 🎭 Market Manipulation ⚖️ Financial Regulation

The Key Man

by Simon Clark • 2021

Davos loved him. Bill Gates trusted him. He promised profit from poverty, then stole a billion.

4.18

3k+

🏢 Private Equity 🌍 Emerging Markets 💸 Financial Fraud 🌱 Impact Investing 🤝 Elite Networks

The Key Man 89%

Davos loved him. Bill Gates trusted him. He promised profit from poverty, then stole a billion.

by Simon Clark 2021

4.18

3k+ ratings

🏢 Private Equity 🌍 Emerging Markets 💸 Financial Fraud 🌱 Impact Investing 🤝 Elite Networks

Central Banking 101

by Joseph J. Wang • 2021

Your bank deposits aren't stored cash. A former Fed trader explains the hidden machinery of money.

4.39

1k+

🏦 Central Banking 💵 Money And Banking 🏚️ Shadow Banking 💲 Dollar Hegemony 📉 Financial Crises

Central Banking 101 89%

Your bank deposits aren't stored cash. A former Fed trader explains the hidden machinery of money.

by Joseph J. Wang 2021

4.39

1k+ ratings

🏦 Central Banking 💵 Money And Banking 🏚️ Shadow Banking 💲 Dollar Hegemony 📉 Financial Crises

The Creature from Jekyll Island

by G. Edward Griffin • 1994

A private cartel creates every dollar as debt, then destroys 90 percent of its value.

4.29

7k+

🏦 Central Banking 📜 Monetary History 🏛️ Austrian Economics 🥇 Gold Standard 🔍 Hidden History

The Creature from Jekyll Island 89%

A private cartel creates every dollar as debt, then destroys 90 percent of its value.

by G. Edward Griffin 1994

4.29

7k+ ratings

🏦 Central Banking 📜 Monetary History 🏛️ Austrian Economics 🥇 Gold Standard 🔍 Hidden History

Perfectly Legal

by David Cay Johnston • 2003

America's tax code was quietly rebuilt so the middle class subsidizes billionaires. The paper trail.

4.12

796

🏛️ Political Economy 🔎 Investigative Journalism 💰 Wealth Inequality 🏢 Corporate Malfeasance 🕳️ Tax Loopholes

Perfectly Legal 89%

America's tax code was quietly rebuilt so the middle class subsidizes billionaires. The paper trail.

by David Cay Johnston 2003

4.12

796 ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🔎 Investigative Journalism 💰 Wealth Inequality 🏢 Corporate Malfeasance 🕳️ Tax Loopholes

Easy Money

by Vivek Kaul • 2015

A Ponzi scheme built on bad loans and fake ratings: how the 2008 crash really happened.

4.40

107

📉 Financial Crises 🏚️ Subprime Mortgage Crisis 🔗 Systemic Risk 🎲 Moral Hazard ⚖️ Financial Regulation

Easy Money 89%

A Ponzi scheme built on bad loans and fake ratings: how the 2008 crash really happened.

by Vivek Kaul 2015

4.40

107 ratings

📉 Financial Crises 🏚️ Subprime Mortgage Crisis 🔗 Systemic Risk 🎲 Moral Hazard ⚖️ Financial Regulation

The House of Morgan

by Ron Chernow • 1990

Before the Federal Reserve, a single private bank rescued Wall Street and answered to no one.

3.96

13k+

🏛️ Banking History 👑 Financial Dynasties 📈 Wall Street History 🎩 Gilded Age ⚖️ Financial Regulation

The House of Morgan 89%

Before the Federal Reserve, a single private bank rescued Wall Street and answered to no one.

by Ron Chernow 1990

3.96

13k+ ratings

🏛️ Banking History 👑 Financial Dynasties 📈 Wall Street History 🎩 Gilded Age ⚖️ Financial Regulation

Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis?

by Steve Keen • 2017

When private debt passes 150% of GDP, a crisis is coming. Most economists won't see it.

4.22

281

💥 Financial Crises 💳 Private Debt 🏦 Endogenous Money 📈 Post-Keynesian Economics 🏠 Household Debt

Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis? Summary

Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis? 89%

When private debt passes 150% of GDP, a crisis is coming. Most economists won't see it.

by Steve Keen 2017

4.22

281 ratings

💥 Financial Crises 💳 Private Debt 🏦 Endogenous Money 📈 Post-Keynesian Economics 🏠 Household Debt

Bank 3.0

by Brett King • 2012

Customers check phones twice daily and branches twice yearly. Banks are built for the opposite.

3.63

384

🏦 Retail Banking 💻 Digital Transformation 📱 Fintech ⚡ Digital Disruption 😊 Customer Experience

Bank 3.0 89%

Customers check phones twice daily and branches twice yearly. Banks are built for the opposite.

by Brett King 2012

3.63

384 ratings

🏦 Retail Banking 💻 Digital Transformation 📱 Fintech ⚡ Digital Disruption 😊 Customer Experience

Bad Company

by Megan Greenwell • 2025

Private equity buys hospitals, newspapers, and homes with debt that falls on everyone except them.

4.03

5k+

🏢 Private Equity 📉 Economic Inequality ⚖️ Corporate Accountability 🔍 Investigative Journalism 🏛️ Regulatory Capture

Bad Company 89%

Private equity buys hospitals, newspapers, and homes with debt that falls on everyone except them.

by Megan Greenwell 2025

4.03

5k+ ratings

🏢 Private Equity 📉 Economic Inequality ⚖️ Corporate Accountability 🔍 Investigative Journalism 🏛️ Regulatory Capture

God's Bankers

by Gerald Posner • 2015

For two millennia, money has shaped the Vatican more than any prayer.

3.97

2k+

🏛️ Papal History ⚖️ Church And State 💰 Financial Scandals 🏦 Banking History 🔍 Investigative Journalism

God's Bankers 89%

For two millennia, money has shaped the Vatican more than any prayer.

by Gerald Posner 2015

3.97

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Papal History ⚖️ Church And State 💰 Financial Scandals 🏦 Banking History 🔍 Investigative Journalism

Cloudmoney

by Brett Scott • 2022

Cash blocks total surveillance of your spending. Banks and tech firms are dismantling it together.

3.66

480

💳 Digital Payments 🏦 Cashless Society 👁️ Financial Surveillance 🏢 Corporate Power 💻 Tech Criticism

Cloudmoney 89%

Cash blocks total surveillance of your spending. Banks and tech firms are dismantling it together.

by Brett Scott 2022

3.66

480 ratings

💳 Digital Payments 🏦 Cashless Society 👁️ Financial Surveillance 🏢 Corporate Power 💻 Tech Criticism

The Big Short

by Michael Lewis • 2010

Wall Street bet housing never falls. A few misfits read the fine print and won billions.

4.30

172k+

🏦 Financial Crises 🏠 Housing Bubble 💰 Wall Street 📰 Narrative Journalism 📉 Short Selling

The Big Short 89%

Wall Street bet housing never falls. A few misfits read the fine print and won billions.

by Michael Lewis 2010

4.30

172k+ ratings

🏦 Financial Crises 🏠 Housing Bubble 💰 Wall Street 📰 Narrative Journalism 📉 Short Selling

What Happened to Goldman Sachs

by Steven G. Mandis • 2013

Goldman's handshake culture eroded when it went public, scaled, and let legalism replace ethics.

3.60

208

🏦 Wall Street 📈 Investment Banking 🏢 Corporate Culture ⚖️ Business Ethics 🔬 Organizational Sociology

What Happened to Goldman Sachs 89%

Goldman's handshake culture eroded when it went public, scaled, and let legalism replace ethics.

by Steven G. Mandis 2013

3.60

208 ratings

🏦 Wall Street 📈 Investment Banking 🏢 Corporate Culture ⚖️ Business Ethics 🔬 Organizational Sociology

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M

🕵️ Banking Exposé