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The Smartest Guys in the Room

The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron

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The Smartest Guys in the Room

By: Bethany McLean, Peter Elkind
Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

What went wrong with American business at the end of the 20th century?

Until the spring of 2001, Enron epitomised the triumph of the New Economy. Feared by rivals, worshipped by investors, Enron seemingly could do no wrong. Its profits rose every year; its stock price surged ever upward; its leaders were hailed as visionaries.

Then a young Fortune writer, Bethany McLean, wrote an article posing a simple question - how, exactly, does Enron make its money?

Within a year Enron was facing humiliation and bankruptcy, the largest in US history, which caused Americans to lose faith in a system that rewarded top insiders with millions of dollars, while small investors lost everything. It was revealed that Enron was a company whose business was an illusion, an illusion that Wall Street was willing to accept even though they knew what the real truth was. This book tells the extraordinary story of Enron's fall.

©2020 Bethany McLean, Peter Elkind (P)2020 Penguin Audio Business Wall Street Thought-Provoking

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A fantastic insight into the totally insane scandal from Enron. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it rips your face off. Amazing

Totally Insane

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To read how the 90s turned good honest men/women into greedy self absorbed money piranhas.

Well written, great narration & easy to follow. Found some of the explanations of particular trades & codes a little bit daunting as it’s an area not familiar with & more time in the actual employee who suffered- but in the whole recommended

Eye opening

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the classic story of the classic financial disaster. Enron had it all, and this is the definitive account, by the journalist who helped break the story.

one of the greats of the financial canon

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The examples in this book of corporate and personal greed are eye-watering. Even several years on it’s still hard to believe the various checks and balances all failed, thereby allowing rogue senior execs and their accountants to wreak havoc at the expense of everyone except themselves

Still hard to believe they got away with it

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This book is so well researched, written and narrated I didn't want it to end.

Incredible book

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Good generally but a huge amount of dry detail. Could have been even better if it had focused on the human story and the individual characters even more

Good but excessive detail

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What a brilliant listen! This story of the growth & decline of Enron is brilliantly written and describes in great detail how the financial markets in the 90’s were moved. I also took away how, in some people the desire to win & in others, to please & be accepted, can create a toxic environment when ethics & morals are ignored for personal gain.
The writers create a fantastic insight into the level of arrogance that appears to have perpetuated the motivation to win at any cost when left unchecked.

A fascinating insight into human behaviour

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It was excellent, but I could of done with a bit more focus of the various court cases .A pleasing narrative and very detailed.

Excellent Retelling Of A Sorry Tale

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This is well researched and presented, but it feels a little bit too long. A good insight into the whole Enron saga.

A bit long.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book - quite long at 20 hrs but very engrossing. Crazy some of the things these guys got up to but very interesting all the same! Well worth a look.

Great Listen!

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