Book Review: The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine (2010) by Michael Lewis.

Describing one of his subjects--a gentleman who foretold the credit-default swap debacle--author Michael Lewis wrote, in The Big Short, that he was one who spoke in terms of stories instead of numbers.

This description could have just as easily be ascribed to the book itself. While the book chronicles the financial world's most ignominious fall since perhaps the Great Depression, it doesn't depend on hoary financial analysis. Instead, Lewis deftly tells the story through the people that positioned themselves to profit from the insanity of certain exotic lending practices. In so doing, Lewis provides perhaps the most lucid explanation for the catastrophe to date.

As a gifted writer and storyteller, Lewis tackles just about any subject with aplomb. He is well-known for his recent The Blind Side (covering football) and Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (covering baseball) as well as his early work about Wall Street, Liar's Poker.

Observe a master at the top of his craft. Do yourself a favor and read this one.