The Devil's Casino: Friendship, Betrayal and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman Brothers Paperback – 28 June 2010

Excellent read. Gives a gist of the history of Lehman Brothers the firm and its demise into bankruptcy. The book is a must read

It was more a story of individuals and in that process didn't explain the crisis in simple words as expected for a beginner

Dieser Bericht ist wirklich unfassbar, das sind Verhältnisse, so etwas geht in Deutschland gar nicht. Das ist wie aus einer anderen Welt und darum sehr interessant. Das ist eine Studie über die rücksichtslose Selbstsucht des menschlichen Charakters und den Preis, der dafür zu bezahlen ist.. Erhellend, erschütternd, einfach irre. Es geht um Dimensionen von Reichtum, die in Deutschland unvorstellbar sind und obendrein wird geprotzt, was das Zeug hält. Neues Geld, das anderen fehlt. Die Ehrlosigkeit der Banken und der Menschen dahinter, die trotz all Ihres Reichtums ein so unfassbar armes Leben leben. Das ist wirklich total abgefahren. Die Ehefrauen mussten ständig mit von der Partie sein, ein Privatleben gab es nicht, Freundschaften werden ausschliesslich aus Kalkül begonnen und beendet und selbst die erfolgreichstem Intriganten wundern sich noch, am Ende ganz allein da zu stehen. Wie schrecklich einsam. Ich würde verrückt werden, nicht um alles Geld der Welt ! Und ich glaube, das ist ein generelles Problem dieser Nation. Einsam zu sein, unter so vielen Menschen, weil Konsum alles ist und teilen und Mitgefühl nicht auf dem Programm steht. Nur die Harten komm' in' Garten, schrecklich und beim Lesen musste ich an "Die Firma" mit Tom Cruise denken, Lehman hätte echt die Steilvorlage zum Film sein können !

This was one of the most interesting books I have read recently. While it is understandable that some former insiders would dispute the authors account, the book seems to have been well researched, without bias and uncovered the flaws at Lehman Bros. It chronicles the company from its modern inception until its collapse in 2008.Ms. Ward has many good things to say about the company and its people. A real band of close knit warriors in the beginning. Over time, personal wealth and greed began to break down Lehman's unique fabric. In the end they were probably no more "guilty" of greed management than many other financial institutions - they were just the one's who got caught.Anyone who still has any faith or trust in financial institutions (I cannot imagine there is anyone left) needs to read this book. The Devil's Casino: Friendship, Betrayal, and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman BrothersThe Devil's Casino: Friendship, Betrayal, and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman Brothers

Highly readable and engrossing account of the inside strife that brought Lehman Brothers down. The author is a superb reporter of the story, including enough detail to understand events and the story but without ever dragging. A riveting account starting with the story of four friends who car-shared to work at Lehman brothers and going on to describe both the characters who played a part in the story of the bank (some good guys, some baddies), but progressing to describe the huge risks and mistakes made. A salutary story of our credit strapped times. Five stars all the way for this book.

Fascinating. Well worth a read - enjoy all the jaw-dropping revelations.

I have nothing to do with the bankster gangsters of Wall Street; but always am curious to see how these monsters think and operate. This book provided a wonderful, and well-documented glimpse into their gluttony and malfeasance. The author, Ms. Ward, does NOT have any sort of axe to grind about these animals; instead, she writes in a very objective and well-resourced manner. I appreciate that. I encourage Ms. Ward to write further books on all these Wall Street animals....it's wonderfully eye-opening.I'll have nothing to do in my personal life with these bankster gangsters. My solution to them? As we say down here in Texas, when it comes to the Wall Street bankster gangsters:Let's Get A Rope,And Find The Nearest Tree.A well-researched and well-written book. Everyone should read a copy!