Description
Book Synopsis''A highly enjoyable exercise in financial disaster tourism... politically incorrect, often very funny, and shot through with genuine insight'' Robert Harris, The Times
In this hilarious, fascinating, timely must-read, Michael Lewis reveals the true natures of the countries caught up in - and exacerbating - our boomerang economies, showing how the financial meltdown hit us all in the face. Right now, Europe is in serious financial chaos. In Greece, infrastructure costs mean it would be cheaper to transport all Greek rail passengers by taxi, and hairdressing is classified as arduous for tax avoidance purposes. In Iceland, Range Rovers frequently explode as owners collect the insurance to pay for them. Ireland saw the entire country put up for sale - to itself, while the Germans expected the whole world to behave like them. But the whole world didn''t.
''Chock-full of extraordinary characters, amusing anecdotes and shocking insights'' Observer
''A tour de force... All those questions you''ve half-asked yourself: nowhere else will you find them answered with such incisive wit or terrifying clarity'' Mail on Sunday
Trade ReviewFascinating ... the book could not be more timely ... a sharp-edged narrative that leaves readers with a visceral understanding of the fiscal recklessness that lies behind today's headlines -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *
Michael Lewis's bravura journey through Europe's economic underbelly brilliantly charts the consequences of a world plagued by debt ... highly enjoyable ... nicely politically incorrect, often very funny, and shot through with genuine insight -- Robert Harris * Sunday Times *
Brilliant ... he has a novelist's gift * Spectator, Books of the Year *
Lewis' investigation of bubbles across Europe is brilliantly, sadly hiliarious * GQ magazine *
Caustically funny ... urgent and chilling ... a thought-provoking read -- Ian Morris * Observer *
Lewis is the finest storyteller of our generation -- Malcolm Gladwell
He is so good everyone else may as well pack up * Evening Standard *
Michael Lewis meets some extraordinary characters in his excursion through the barely controlled madness that is modern finance ... lucid, entertaining -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *
He writes with the wit and observational eye of a travel writer -- Richard Fitzpatrick * Irish Examiner *
He writes quite brilliantly and understands the complex financial matters whereof he speaks. As polemical prose goes, it is hard to beat -- Howard Davies * Management Today *
