Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis Summary
Overview of Liar's Poker
Dive into the explosive memoir that Wall Street intended as a cautionary tale but became a career roadmap instead. "Liar's Poker" exposes 1980s financial madness through Lewis's insider account - so influential it's assigned as required reading for Wall Street interns today.
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Key takeaways
When a Million-Dollar Bet Defined Wall Street's Soul
John Gutfreund, the self-proclaimed "King of Wall Street," strolled across the trading floor of Salomon Brothers with a challenge that would define an era. "One hand, one million dollars, no tears," he said to John Meriwether, the firm's most legendary bond trader. He wanted to play Liar's Poker-a bluffing game involving dollar bill serial numbers-for stakes that would make most people's eyes water. This wasn't just a game. It was a power play between titans, a test of dominance in a world where testosterone and risk-taking mattered more than spreadsheets or strategy. Meriwether, brilliant as always, saw the trap immediately. Lose and he's out a million. Win and he's humiliated his boss. His response? "No, John, if we're going to play for those kinds of numbers, I'd rather play for real money. Ten million dollars. No tears." Gutfreund smiled his forced smile and declined. This moment in 1986 perfectly captured Salomon's culture-a place where the line between gambling and investing had blurred beyond recognition, where becoming a "Big Swinging Dick" was the ultimate goal, and where making obscene amounts of money was the only measure of worth.
An Art History Major Crashes the Party
Boot Camp for Bond Traders
The Mailroom Genius Who Invented Modern Finance
From Geek to Big Swinging Dick
The Junk Bond King and the Fall of an Empire
What Money Can't Buy
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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