Title: Den of Thieves
Author: James B. Stewart
First published October 15, 1991
587 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780671792275 (ISBN10: 067179227X)
Rating: 4.14
Overview
Den of Thieves is a gripping account of the notorious insider-trading scandal that rocked Wall Street in the 1980s. Pulitzer Prize-winning author James B.
Stewart takes readers behind the scenes of the largest financial fraud in history, exposing the masterminds behind it all. The book reveals how Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, Martin Siegel, and Dennis Levine orchestrated a scheme to make billions through illegal trading practices.
Stewart provides an in-depth look at the investigation that ultimately brought these four men to justice, despite their wealth and connections. Drawing on grand jury transcripts, interviews, and actual trading records, Den of Thieves is a compelling narrative that sheds light on the darker side of human nature, big business, and crime.
About the Author
Meet James Stewart, a journalist who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He covers a wide range of topics, from malpractice to fraud and law, and has a reputation for digging deep to expose the truth.
Stewart’s impressive journalistic career includes winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for his reporting on the stock market crash and insider trading. He’s a highly educated individual, having graduated from both Harvard Law School and DePauw University.
He’s passionate about values and ethics in American business and politics, and often shares his insights through lectures.
Stewart is not only a journalist, but also a member of the New York bar and a professor at Columbia School of Journalism, where he holds the prestigious Bloomberg chair.
Editoral Review
Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart is a gripping non-fiction book that chronicles the rise and fall of some of Wall Street’s most notorious players in the 1980s.
Stewart, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, uses his investigative skills to unravel the complex web of insider trading, securities fraud, and other financial crimes that characterized the era.
The book is a prime example of narrative non-fiction, a genre that combines the factual accuracy of traditional non-fiction with the storytelling techniques of fiction. Stewart masterfully weaves together various threads of the story, including the biographical details of the key players, the intricacies of the financial schemes they concocted, and the legal battles that ensued.
At the heart of the book is the conflict between the federal government, represented by the ambitious prosecutor Robert Morgenthau, and the Wall Street insiders who believed they were above the law. The main characters in the drama include Ivan Boesky, a wealthy arbitrageur who became the poster child for insider trading, and Michael Milken, the junk bond king who revolutionized the way Wall Street financed corporate takeovers.
Stewart’s writing is clear and concise, avoiding the jargon and technical language that often make financial books hard to follow. He takes the reader into the world of high finance, explaining the complex financial instruments and strategies in a way that is both educational and entertaining.
One of the book’s strengths is its relevance to current events. The 1980s may seem like ancient history, but the issues and themes explored in Den of Thieves are still very much alive today.
The book sheds light on the dangers of unregulated financial markets, the corrupting influence of money and power, and the difficulty of bringing white-collar criminals to justice.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the abundance of detail and the numerous characters overwhelming, and the pacing can be slow at times.
Additionally, while Stewart does an excellent job of portraying the personalities and motivations of the key players, some readers may feel that the book lacks a broader perspective on the societal and cultural factors that contributed to the financial excesses of the 1980s.
Overall, Den of Thieves is an engaging and informative read that will appeal to anyone interested in the intersection of finance, law, and politics. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked greed and the importance of holding those in power accountable.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of Wall Street and the people who shaped it.
Rating: 4/5
