From the bestselling, prize-winning author of THE LAST TYCOONSand HOUSE OF CARDS, a revelatory history of Goldman Sachs, the mostdominant, feared, and controversial investment bank in theworld For much of its storied 142-year history, Goldman Sachs hasprojected an image of being better than its competitors--smarter,more collegial, more ethical, and far more profitable. Thefirm--buttressed by the most aggressive and sophisticated p.r.machine in the financial industry--often boasts of "The GoldmanWay," a business model predicated on hiring the most talentedpeople, indoctrinating them in a corporate culture where partnersstifle their egos for the greater good, and honoring the "14Principles," the first of which is "Our clients' interests alwayscome first." But there is another way of viewing Goldman--a secretivemoney-making machine that has straddled the line betweenconflict-of-interest and legitimate deal-making for decades; a firmthat has exerted undue influence over government since the ear
Widely acclaimed for its engaging style and provocativeperspective, this book has helped thousands transform their workinglives. Now the paperback edition features a comprehensive 30-pageresource guide that explains the basics of working for oneself.
'Truly eye-opening ...There is almost no situation thatHarford cannot dissect with his sharp economist's tools...economics has never been this cool' NEW STATESMAN If humans areso clever, why do we smoke and gamble, or take drugs, or fall inlove? Is this really rational behaviour? And how come your idiotboss is so overpaid? In fact, the behaviour of even the unlikeliestof individuals -- prostitutes, drug addicts, racists andrevolutionaries -- complies with economic logic, taking intoaccount future costs and benefits, even if we don't quite realiseit. We are rational beings after all.
