Ugly Americans
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ugly Americans documents the "Wild East" of the mid-1990s, where young, brilliant and hypercompetitive traders became "hedge fund cowboys", manipulating loopholes in an outdated and inefficient Asian financial system to rake in millions. Using a concept called arbitrage, they made their fortunes mainly on minute shifts in stocks being sold on the Nikkei, the Japanese stock market, collapsing banks and nearly bankrupting the Japanese economy in the process. Other schemes were also concocted, most of which were technically legal, though certainly unethical. This true story revolves around "John Malcolm", who, in exchange for anonymity, agreed to give Ben Mezrich all the access and information he needed to write this book. As a recent Princeton graduate in the mid-1990s, Malcolm accepted an undefined job offer from an American expatriate in Japan to work in the investments field. Though he had no prior experience, he facilitated 25 million dollars worth of trades on his first day on the job, and it just got more exciting from there. He soon joined a small group of expatriates, all in their 20s and mostly Ivy League graduates, who lived like rock stars, thriving on the stress and excitement of their jobs to create their own steroid versions of the American Dream half a world away.
Mezrich tells this riveting story well, incorporating elements of the culture into his narrative, including the infamous and pervasive Japanese "Water Trade", or sex business, romantic intrigue and even run-ins with the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. Though there is little real analysis of their financial dealings and how they ultimately changed the rules of finance in Asia, this entertaining page turner does offer a glimpse into a world little explored in print until now. --Shawn Carkonen, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"A high-octane passion play pitting a young man's ambition against his sense of humanity."--Oregonian
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This 'true' story fell down immediately for me when he describes the hedge fund trader based in Bermuda who has a ferrari.
Bermuda, an Island with a speed limit of 25mph, and restrictions on engine size as well as overall car size resulting in the fact there are no Ferraris in Bermuda.
Why make this up?
Bermuda, an Island with a speed limit of 25mph, and restrictions on engine size as well as overall car size resulting in the fact there are no Ferraris in Bermuda.
Why make this up?
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read most of the financial thrillers including Liars Poker, F.I.A.S.C.O, When Genuis Failed, and Rogue Trader i was captivated by this story, and read the whole thing non stop in about 5 hours!
Imaginatively written with technical terms clearly explained it is a must read for anyone interested in both finanical markets and individual traders state of mind and mentality. A textbook and thrilling novel mixed into one!
16 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The plot is distinctly thin, although nonetheless gripping. The trouble is, Mezrich just isn't a very good writer. He stretches out this book with the most cliched and redundant descriptive passages and the dialogue he includes is total cheese and I don't believe that the people he's describing really talk like that. If they do then they're really not worth glamourising. Also endless references to various characters Ivy League credentials wears thin quickly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Finance for teenagers
I loved his first book, Bringing down the house, when I read it. After having read Ugly Americans I am afraid to re-read that book because this plot is really terrible. Read more
Published 6 months ago by MB
Ugly Americans: Pretty good
I ordered this book having seen 21 the film. I was very impressed by the film and loved the idea of thrilling gambling intertwined in an unknown city. Read more
Published on 12 July 2009 by Mark Twain
If you liked the real-life Rogue Trader story, this'll interest you
Some have likened this book to Mezrich's two books about gambling in Vegas and you can see why, although stocks and shares traders are rarely brought to life in the same way as... Read more
Published on 28 May 2008 by Born Again Bookworm
A good read based on a real life derivatives gambler
Based in a world where people make vast fortunes from trading derivatives.
Generally a good read with a reasonable pace, it does however jump around a little which can... Read more
Generally a good read with a reasonable pace, it does however jump around a little which can... Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2008 by Mark T
Good Book, same story
Having read "Bringing Down the House" I was quite excited to read "Ugly Americans" and I was a bit disappointed mainly because it is pretty much the same format. Read more
Published on 31 May 2006 by Pito Perez
Great read!!!
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Stock Market boom of the 80's. Fans of Oliver Stones Wallstreet will love this book. Read more
Published on 5 May 2006 by D. Doyle
fast paced, fast money- you'll read this fast!
This book is addictive. You will not put this book down. I read it from 7pm to 4am in one sitting. Mezrich captures the world of asian finance and lets you smell the money in this... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2006
Superb
Simply superb book from a true master in the world of 'real life' thrillers! The pace is superb and the plot is absolutely unreal. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2004
Wall Street for 90's
Much of what I say about bringing down the house can also be attributed to Ben's other book Bringing Down the House. First of all, whats different. Read more
Published on 10 July 2004 by Mr. G. Carroll
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