This was a book about how some very smart guys started off speculating, but ended up gambling and going under. I think it highlights how sometimes getting the best and brightest people in a room can backfire when their fame egos prevent investors from demanding the most basics of checks and balances. They were supposedly too big to fail, and we may have been better off if they had not been bailed out by the industry. History imitates. Good book overall. It seems almost a sequel to Liar's Poker. I would have rated it higher than 4 stars, but the end somewhat dragged on like long never-ending minutes being read from meetings that you knew would not matter in the end. I have to keep in mind that this is just one perspective of the events and I've not read other accounts, but based on this book, these guys were smart in the beginning, unfortunate when warning signs started appearing, then dumb to ignore them and double down over and over again.