In 'Fiasco,' Frank Partnoy unveils the chaotic world of financial markets, where seemingly sound decisions can lead to catastrophic failures. He provides a gripping narrative of the 2008 financial crisis, dissecting the miscalculations and greed that fueled it. Through engaging anecdotes and sharp insights, Partnoy challenges readers to rethink risk and the nature of financial systems. This exploration serves as both a cautionary tale and a deep dive into the mechanisms that govern our economy. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about finance and the true cost of ambition.
By Frank Partnoy
Published: 1999
"In the chaos of financial markets, where certainty is an illusion and calculated risks can lead to disaster, the true battle lies not in numbers but in understanding the unpredictable nature of human greed and ambition."
FIASCO is the shocking story of one man's education in the jungles of Wall Street. As a young derivatives salesman at Morgan Stanley, Frank Partnoy learned to buy and sell billions of dollars worth of securities that were so complex many traders themselves didn't understand them. In his behind-the-scenes look at the trading floor and the offices of one of the world's top investment firms, Partnoy recounts the macho attitudes and fiercely competitive ploys of his office mates. And he takes us to the annual drunken skeet-shooting competition, FIASCO, where he and his colleagues sharpen the killer instincts they are encouraged to use against their competitiors, their clients, and each other. FIASCO is the first book to take on the derivatves trading industry, the most highly charged and risky sector of the stock market. More importantly, it is a blistering indictment of the largely unregulated market in derivatives and serves as a warning to unwary investors about real fiascos, which have cost billions of dollars.
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“In the chaos of financial markets, where certainty is an illusion and calculated risks can lead to disaster, the true battle lies not in numbers but in understanding the unpredictable nature of human greed and ambition.”
Fiasco
By Frank Partnoy
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Frank Partnoy is a respected author and legal scholar known for his insightful explorations of finance, law, and behavioral economics. His notable works include 'Fools Rush In: Investors Learn to Live with Volatility' and 'Wait: The Useful Art of Procrastination,' where he blends engaging storytelling with rigorous research. Partnoy's writing style is characterized by its accessibility and wit, making complex topics understandable to a broad audience. He is a professor at the University of San Diego School of Law and frequently writes on the intersections of finance and human behavior.
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