Customer Reviews

Wall Street: A History: From Its Beginnings to the Fall of Enron

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This comprehensive book provides a wealth of detail about the origins and history of the financial institutions, private and public, that underpin Wall Street and the economy of the United States - and therefore, to an extent, much of the rest of the world. Author Charles R. Geisst presents a detailed discussion of the contest between the forces of libertarianism and regulation. Detail is both the strength and the weakness of this book. Often, the author has trouble organizing it all, and the book would have benefited from a stricter editor to help distill the "story" in this history. Despite such problems, however, the factual basis is rich and intriguing. We believe that readers interested in U.S. financial history, especially those in the investment and financial services industries, will want to read this book.

Mark Twain said that history doesnt repeat itself but it does rhyme. Read this book and learn about the past market panics and irrational exuberances. The early history is kind of dry but things get pretty interesting once you break into the 20th century. What stands out although it is not surprising is how the public makes the same mistakes over and over again. I guess one can only describe it as the extraordinary delusion of crowds.

The book provides some insight into forgotten economic events, but I'll bet the author didn't believe Lehman would fail, nor the "panic" that since has transpired in America.