"Conspiracy of Fools" by Kurt Eichenwald

[Richardo]

About the rise and (especially) fall of Enron.

Just got it last night and I'm only up to page 30 out of 680, but so far, so good. It reads like fiction, but you know it isn't. This guy was keeping a weather eye on Enron all the way from New York (Times) while our own media watchdog lapdog (Houston Chronicle) was involved in non-stop, unconditional cheerleading for these crooks.

I did not read his book on Con-Agra price-fixing, but he does have a way of making the arcane understandable (and for Enron this will be critical).

I'll keep you posted while I read it - hopefully within two weeks or so.

[stray cat]

1. It looks good - I'm planning to get it this week.

[AP]

2. This American Life (radio show) did a program on his book, The Informant,

and it was amazing.

You can listen to it here: http://207.70.82.73/pages/descriptions/00/168.html

[Richardo]

3. I'm about half way through

we're up to sElection 2000.

Fascinating - and what a bunch of losers. :eyes:

[Richardo]

4. Well I finished it last Friday and it remained great. My staff rec reads:

"Clearly explains the complex frauds of Enron but reads like a crime thriller. Highly recommended."

The 'Fools' of the title:

Ken Lay comes off looking like an ineffectual rubber stamp for Skilling and Fastow. His elementary error in stock pricing queered the Dynegy merger/bailout.

Jeff Skilling comes off as an arrogant know-it-all with bipolar disorder, alternately raging and weeping like a little girl.

Andy Fastow is an unprincipled thief who lied to and cheated everyone for his own gain, said to be about $60 million. Ten years in prison is nowhere near long enough for this asshole.

This is an excellent book. Has anyone read 'The Smartest Guys in the Room'? I want to read that one next.

[crispini]

5. Ooo. I need to nominate this for next month.

His other book about the pricefixing scandal read like a novel. Brilliant stuff.

[Richardo]

6. I was about to nominate...thanx crispini.

:D:thumbsup:

[Richardo]

8. Er, would that be the June book? Or the May?

:dunce:

[crispini]

10. The poll is for May, the nominations are for June.

I got confused there too. :)

[CrispyQ]

7. I love your avatar!!!

Thanks for the report. That's quite a task making Enron understandable!

[Richardo]

9. Thanks!