1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation (Unabridged)
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4.3 • 179 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
“It is one of the best narrative histories I’ve read.”
—The Wall Street Journal
Named a Most Anticipated Book by New York Times Books Review, TIME, Washington Post, Associated Press, Town & Country, New York Post, and more
From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, “the definitive history of the 2008 banking crisis,” (The Atlantic) comes a riveting narrative of the most infamous stock market crash in history—one with ripple effects that still shape our society today.
In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. But behind the flashing ticker tapes and panicked traders, another drama unfolded—one of visionaries and fraudsters, titans and dreamers, euphoria and ruin.
With unparalleled access to historical records and newly uncovered documents, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Ross Sorkin takes readers inside the chaos of the crash, behind the scenes of a raging battle between Wall Street and Washington and the larger-than-life characters whose ambition and naivete in an endless boom led to disaster. The dizzying highs and brutal lows of this era eerily mirror today’s world—where markets soar, political tensions mount, and the fight over financial influence plays out once again.
This is not just a story about money. 1929 is a tale of power, psychology, and the seductive illusion that this time is different. It’s about disregarded alarm bells, financiers who fell from grace, and skeptics who saw the crash coming—only to be dismissed until it was too late.
Hailed as a landmark book, Too Big to Fail reimagined how financial crises are told. Now, with 1929, Sorkin delivers an immersive, electrifying account of the most pivotal market collapse of all time—with lessons that remain as urgent as ever. More than just a history, 1929 is a crucial blueprint for understanding the cycles of speculation, the forces that drive financial upheaval, and the warning signs we ignore at our peril.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
With his lens pulled wide, financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin explores the causes and effects of one of the worst financial crises in U.S. history, the stock market crash of 1929. Wading through voluminous records, including minutes from New York’s Federal Reserve meetings, he colors in a multilevel picture of the period before and after Wall Street cratered. Stock speculation—a frenzy that ensnared the superrich and folks looking for easy money alike—garners particularly glaring attention. Using a narrative form, Sorkin lets the captains of industry and politicians play out their roles in captivating fashion, and many (like the rich pressing their luck with increasing impudence) only look worse with the perspective of time. A host of CNBC’s Squawk Box, Sorkin has a polished voice that’s assured and engaging as the story unfolds in all its dire, riveting glory. The cautionary tale of 1929 remains unnervingly relevant to subsequent generations.
Customer Reviews
Excellent.
Just excellent.
Very well done
This book does a great job of narrating the 1929 crash as well as the events that led up to it and the fallout afterwards.
Whenever I read history, I’m reminded that most of our problems and debates are enduring and never resolved. Here, in this book, there are many examples.
Should the government intervene when there’s a downturn or should the economy heal itself? If there are mechanisms that bail out losers or protect against loss, what about moral hazard?
The same themes from 2008 were right there in 1929.
It makes me wonder if humans will ever improve or just keep repeating themselves.
A bit skewed
The author hardly gives the inside story. More an endless biography or the worst actors of the era.