Ugly Americans CD : The True Story of the Ivy League Cowboys Who Raided the Asian Markets for Millions
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Overview
Ben Mezrich, author of the New York Times bestseller Bringing Down the House, returns with an astonishing story of Ivy League hedge-fund cowboys, high stakes, and the Asian underworld.
Ugly Americans is the true story of John Malcolm, a hungry young Princeton grad who traveled halfway around the world in search of the American dream and ultimately pulled off a trade that could, quite simply, be described as the biggest deal in the history of the financial markets.
After receiving a mysterious phone call promising him a shot at great fortune in an exotic land, Malcolm packed up his few belongings and took the chance of a lifetime. Without speaking a word of Japanese, with barely a penny in his pocket, Malcolm was thrown into the bizarre, adrenaline-fueled life of an expat trader. Surrounded by characters ripped right out of a Hollywood thriller, he quickly learned how to survive in a cutthroat world -- at the feet of the biggest players the markets have ever known.
Malcolm was first an assistant trading huge positions for Nick Leeson, the twenty-six-year-old rogue trader who lost nearly two billion dollars and brought down Barings Bank -- the oldest in England. Then he was the right-hand man to an enigmatic and brilliant hedge-fund cowboy named Dean Carney, and grew into one of the biggest derivatives traders in all of Asia. Along the way, Malcolm fell in love with the daughter of a Yakuza gangster, built a vast fortune out of thin air, and came head-to-head with the violent Japanese mobsters who helped turn the Asian markets into the turbulent casino it is today.
Malcolm and his twentysomething, Ivy League–schooled colleagues, with their warped sense of morality and proportion, created their own economic theory: Arbitrage with a Battle Axe. They rode the crashing waves of the Asian markets during the mid- to late 1990s, culminating in a single deal the likes of which had never been seen before -- or since.
A real-life mixture of Liar's Poker and Wall Street, brimming with intense action, romance, underground sex, vivid locales, and exotic characters, Ugly Americans is the untold, true story that will rock the financial community and redefine an era.
Ugly Americans is the true story of John Malcolm, a hungry young Princeton grad who traveled halfway around the world in search of the American dream and ultimately pulled off a trade that could, quite simply, be described as the biggest deal in the history of the financial markets.
After receiving a mysterious phone call promising him a shot at great fortune in an exotic land, Malcolm packed up his few belongings and took the chance of a lifetime. Without speaking a word of Japanese, with barely a penny in his pocket, Malcolm was thrown into the bizarre, adrenaline-fueled life of an expat trader. Surrounded by characters ripped right out of a Hollywood thriller, he quickly learned how to survive in a cutthroat world -- at the feet of the biggest players the markets have ever known.
Malcolm was first an assistant trading huge positions for Nick Leeson, the twenty-six-year-old rogue trader who lost nearly two billion dollars and brought down Barings Bank -- the oldest in England. Then he was the right-hand man to an enigmatic and brilliant hedge-fund cowboy named Dean Carney, and grew into one of the biggest derivatives traders in all of Asia. Along the way, Malcolm fell in love with the daughter of a Yakuza gangster, built a vast fortune out of thin air, and came head-to-head with the violent Japanese mobsters who helped turn the Asian markets into the turbulent casino it is today.
Malcolm and his twentysomething, Ivy League–schooled colleagues, with their warped sense of morality and proportion, created their own economic theory: Arbitrage with a Battle Axe. They rode the crashing waves of the Asian markets during the mid- to late 1990s, culminating in a single deal the likes of which had never been seen before -- or since.
A real-life mixture of Liar's Poker and Wall Street, brimming with intense action, romance, underground sex, vivid locales, and exotic characters, Ugly Americans is the untold, true story that will rock the financial community and redefine an era.
Reviews (7)
Fast Moving
Written by Jim C on April 3rd, 2009
- Book Rating: 4/5
If you understand financial markets, this fast moving work is excellent. I think he captured the atmosphere of the times very well. Jim C
Well done
Written by Anonymous on May 23rd, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
Excellent book. I disagree with several of the reviews. First, the people this book is based on do tend to swear often. In order to be accurate you need to include the foul language. Second, the descriptions were fine. In fact, this is the exact sort of book I read (or listen too) when I want a quick/brief guilty pleasure. Far from an biography of Socrates... you can't actually believe it's over worded unless your normal reads are Dr. Seuss. Get this book and enjoy it.
Not as interesting as it sounds
Written by Bryson from Utah, UT on March 5th, 2008
- Book Rating: 1/5
While the premise of the story sounds intriguing, it failed to deliver on its promise. The overly descriptive narratives and the flashes forward and backward in time attempt to mask a thin plot. I only made it through the first couple of CD’s before I was deterred by the atrocious language. If you are at all offended by repeated use of the “F- bomb” avoid this book.
Big Deal
Written by Tom from Lafayette on August 22nd, 2007
- Book Rating: 4/5
A true story about a young man who was in the right place at the right time and had the "right stuff" to make a fortune in a high stakes business. Moves right along, and you don't have to understand high finance to enjoy it.
Ugly Americans
Written by Sally on April 10th, 2007
- Book Rating: 1/5
I may not be fair to the review of this book as I dislike overly descriptive books. This was a 5 CD book which could have been two or three at best. I found it very difficult to get through. If 7 cars were in front of the building, you have to listen to the make, model and color of all 7 cars before you got to the big yellow colored door with orange rust on the door handle. Good story ruined by to many adjectives....the narrator was good as well and got me to the 5th CD.
Must Read
Written by Anonymous on November 22nd, 2005
- Book Rating: 5/5
Excellent book. A must read for anyone interested in business or finance.
Ugly Americans
Written by Peter Andresen on March 7th, 2005
- Book Rating: 3/5
If this isn't fiction, it oughta be...this is a highly entertaining, novel-like depicition of high rolling in the seamy world of Asian finance. It was highly entertaining, but its use of pseudonyms left me wondering how much of it is real. Nevertheless, it's a gripping yarn. Not for kids in the car, though, since there is sex involved.