Boomerang - Michael Lewis

[alpha23]

Boomerang

This is mostly Michael Lewis' take on the events in Europe, but includes Iceland. It is a rehash of several of Lewis' published Vanity Fair articles. Having read widely on the Europe situation myself, and even having read a couple of the Vanity Fair articles previously, I still found this book hard to put down. Lewis has the knack for allowing his insight to guide the narrative to the place that is most revealing of the situation at hand. And it is fairly hilarious in spots despite the grim subject matter.

There is a chapter for each of Greece, Ireland and Germany. The author does well at getting at the pithy core of each country's woes / current situation and the crucial elements of the path that led them.

A quote that occurs to me (on the Greek citizenry): "It behaves as a collection of atomized particles, each of which has grown accustomed to pursuing its own interests at the expense of the common good".

[Myth465]

Boomerang

A quote that occurs to me (on the Greek citizenry): "It behaves as a collection of atomized particles, each of which has grown accustomed to pursuing its own interests at the expense of the common good".

Sounds like the US these days...

[zgrendi]

That comparison was made in the chapter on the California fiscal crisis.  An interesting, quick read. 

[netnet]

It was an interesting quick read. It was not particularly insightful and was inaccurate in places--understandable as he calls himself a financial disaster tourist.

[ubuy2wron]

Almost anything by Michael Lewis is worth reading. I am sure his grocery shopping lists are riveting and entertaining