Street Freak: Money and Madness at Lehman Brothers

I disagree strongly with the other reviews of this book. I found it very difficult to read. There are tonnes of sentences which require an understanding of trader-lingo, and major sections do not make any sense if you don't have prior knowledge about derivatives trading. Furthermore, the references to Lehman Brothers made me buy the book in my seacrh for knowlege about the collapse of the bank in 2008. However, 2008 takes up only the last 40 pages of a 356 page book, which is mostly about drinking, gambling and obsessive trading.

This is an outstanding review of the life of a trader, written by one of Lehman's more high-profile trading figures. Jared was known at Lehman for his direct, insightful and most of all witty commentaries (in a world where traders can receive several thousand messages each day, his were literally the only ones I would ever search for to ensure I didn't miss them). Now he has transferred this same writing style to produce one of the best "financey" books I've ever read.He is brutally honest about his experiences, his moods, his behaviour, his pay, even his mental problems. You may find that you don't find him a sympathetic figure. You may be appalled by the world he lived in. But you should appreciate the way he opens up. And this is a genuine opportunity to see the financial markets from the inside, written by someone in the front lines who, crucially, can really write.Liar's poker is a quarter of a century old now. If you want to read something as good but more up-to-date, read this.

This is a good book written by a fundamentally insecure person, even if explained by the author ventually discovering that he is bi-polar. His observations on the predatory nature of the hedge funds is spot-on - it reminds me that when you trade with Goldman you always ask how they have screwed you. A good read by someone not an egomaniac - still I wonder how his wife put upwith him....

If you want to know what it's like to be a salesman at an investment bank, read Liar's Poker. If you prefer to read a trader's account, this book is better. Dillian is an excellent writer and he keeps the action going all the way through his rise, breakdown, and the fall of Lehman Brothers.As another reviewer said, he's brutally honest about the personalities you meet at investment banks and their clients, the compensation, and the highs and lows of trading. I traded bonds at about the same time as Dillian and can vouch that he's captured the experiences perfectly. As far as I know, nobody else has written a book about what it's like to trade against customers at an investment bank.Bloomberg rated it #1 General Business book in 2011, and there are over 50 positive reviews for it on Amazon US. Finally, it's a very, very funny book. Honestly - laugh out loud funny.

Whoever said Liar's Poker was funny, well, it no longer is once you've read Street Freak. This man can write! Expect laughter from the second page on; it doesn't stop. He does a good job explaining the jargons with analogies that are simple to understand. I've read this book twice in a week and I still can't get enough of it. Verdict? Buy it!