Unabridged Audiobook
This narrative of an epic business battle is particularly strong on presenting how events looked from multiple contenders’ perspectives. The authors were granted interviews, often extensive, with all the major players and many of the lesser lights. The title made me think that the book would take sides. It doesn’t. The book respects the complexities of the narrative without lapsing into choosing heroes and villains. The complexities present one problem with an audiobook. There are so many different people involved that, except for a few of the most important, it can be hard to keep them straight. Wait, that guy who was just mentioned again, I think he’s a lawyer? But for which firm, and which client? If I’d been reading a paper or Kindle book, I would have made a written list of the dramatis personae as I went along. If you listen while doing the dishes or driving, that isn’t practical. The authors wrote for The Wall Street Journal. They follow the common journalistic practice of “Get the name of the dog right” – that is, include details that make the story more vivid even if those details are irrelevant. What happened at a particular meeting is important. That it was held in a conference room that had a ficus tree is not. In fact, at one point the authors follow the practice literally, by expounding on the selection of a name for one executive’s dog. By contrast, they skimp on explaining some of the technical details. They’re probably used to writing for people who already have a basic grasp of the different types of financial instruments that come into play, and what each type of firm does. Even if you don’t have that background, though, the basic story comes through well.
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