Metal Men: How Marc Rich Defrauded the Country, Evaded the Law, and Became the World's Most Sought-After Corporate Criminal (Paperback)

by A. Craig Copetas (Author) "CITY OF LONDON, core of the industrial trading world, had fallen prey to a damp North Sea winter..." (more)
Key Phrases: metal traders, oil traders, metal men, Philipp Brothers, Marc Rich, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Marc Rich is one of the most successful traders of metals and other minerals. He is also now living in Switzerland, wanted in the United States for tax evasion. While Copetas's book is ostensibly about Rich and his questionable dealings, it also gives a fairly interesting account of the metals trading industry itself: individualistic, barely regulated, tense, fast-paced, potentially lucrative, and often shady. The character and atmosphere of Phillip Brothers, the trading house where Rich got his start, and of Rich's own firm are nicely contrasted and delineated. Neither Rich nor the metal trading industry come off very well. For larger business collections. Stuart Gudowitz, George Washington Univ. Lib., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Reads like a mystery novel [and] provides a fascinating look behind the scenes of the commodities trading snake pit." -- -- USA Today

"The story itself is astonishing -- and appalling." -- -- John Train, Wall Street Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (October 8, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006097060X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060970604
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #156,856 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sounds somewhat biased, January 30, 2002

By	[e-mail] "bdellaq1" (greenlawn, ny United States) - See all my reviews

The book was absolutely intrigueing and compelling just to learn about the inside workings of the metals and oil business. Needless to say, I worked at this company for a short period of time... I did not see any of the implied pimping of secretaries or traders prostituting themselves for a deal. The author has gathered much information on the sequence of events, but found that he was presenting this story, not as a reporter, but a snotty bitter little man. Marc, did not have shifty eyes, and to say at 6ft, his presence was that of a tall and looming personality, makes me believe that this author is of short stature. There are many good and charitable things this man and his company have catered to, but not once did i see anything listed in this book. The people I worked for and with at this company, were a group of the nicest and most professional people I have worked for. I have since to find a company that performed in such a refined and distinguished manner. They werent the whores Copetas has implied them to be. My being a secretary there, I took quite offense to the pimping of the staff for info. This is business, but just someone working by a different set of rules. Broke some, now cant come to the country whose rules he broke. Unless, the Pardon sticks. And wouldnt that be something to really irk this author a little more than he already seems to be. His being a "journalist", I was surprised by his unprofessionalism in giving the facts. All the facts, and not his opinions.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One Quick Look Into The World Few Know About But The Brave!, January 30, 2001

By	Joseph J. Janos III (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is without a doubt one of the finest books I have read from start to finish. Although the author did work in the business for a time being to research his subject, the world is bigger than any one person. Yet, the author came closer and reported more than ever before.

It begins about the origins of metal trading and goes directly to writing about the people who learned it, changed it and became successful than any other's dreams in the persona of, Marc Rich And Pincus Green. It will explain how commodities works, trading in them is accomplished and the ability to go from Mail Rooms to Board Rooms because of hard work, smarts and guile to do it.

The book explains how oil was once controlled by the "Seven Sisters Oil Companies (Exxon, Mobil, BP, Shell, Gulf, Chevron and Texaco), who have since merged among themselves. Everything about the product from ground to shipping to refining to market was dominated by them until Marc Rich and Pinky Green. This is just a portion of what the book is about with facts too real for fiction. Mr. Rich and Green built over a 30 billion dollar business in over 125 countries and is the true multi-national that the world have come to know today.

What few will ever know is all of the quiet services performed by these men both in helping others, creating opportunity and in some cases keeping the world safe for democracy and national security. At the same time, powerful business men who once dominated this area do not take kindly to those who changed it to their benefit and others losses.

As you read the book it is so easy to condemn Marc Rich and Pinky Green yet you cannot help to admire how they felt that they and only they would control their destiny. It is far harder to praise them when much of their work, donations and efforts were kept silent out of need, respect and charity. In any event, this book will open the eyes to those who read it carefully. It could be made into a movie far better than "Barbarians At The Gates" ever was in reality. I highly recommend this book if you can get your hands on it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greed and revenge, June 16, 2004

By	Luc REYNAERT (Beernem, Belgium) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A. Craig Copetas' book gives us a rare insight in the well curtained offices of big metal traders. His story centres on Marc Rich and his companion Pincus Green, who left in disgust their employer Philipp Brothers, at that moment a unit of Engelhard MC, because of the 'meagre' bonuses they received at the end of the year. These bonuses were in fact only a fraction of the revenues the two traders generated for the company.
The new company they created attacked immediately and head-on the core businesses of their former employer.
Craig Copetas shows us how Marc Rich's commodity trading business was based on 'deep' contacts (Henry Kissinger), market cornering, tax evasion, and profiting most of all by circumventing a US oil embargo against Iran.
Attacked in court for unlawful trading and tax evasion Marc Rich's companies pleaded guilty to 38 counts to the tune of ninety million dollars, still a small portion of the amassed fortune. Fines of $50,000 a day were disbursed without the slightest difficulty.
When he was finally condemned, Marc Rich had already settled down in Zug (Switzerland) with a Spanish identity card.
He was ultimately pardoned (he risked a potential jail term of over three hundred years!) by President Bill Clinton (for generously supporting the Democratic Party?).
This book is a keen look behind the curtain of a highly speculative and risky business, where the best informed traders corner the least informed ones. Options should limit the risks.
For interested readers and traders alike.