William D. Cohan Livres

Interesting views and narrative on the BIG POWER of Money and who, how handles that

The dramatic rise and unimaginable fall of America's most iconic corporation is explored by New York Times bestselling author and financial journalist William D. Cohan. The General Electric Company epitomized American ingenuity and industrial power, having developed essential inventions like the lightbulb and jet engine. At its peak, GE was the world's most valuable and admired company, with a reputation for financial and leadership success. However, even during its zenith, cracks began to appear in its foundation. Cohan offers a masterful re-appraisal of GE, arguing that its incredible journey serves as a lens to understand American capitalism. He traces the company's history from its founding and innovations to its rapid growth through acquisitions, examining its management culture and pioneering doctrine of shareholder value. Cohan reveals that GE was not immune to the hubris and mistakes that have plagued many corporations. Through a rich narrative, he punctures the myth of GE, detailing how a once-great company ended up broken and in tatters, presenting a cautionary tale for the ages.

The bestselling author of the acclaimed House of Cards and The Last Tycoons turns his spotlight on to Goldman Sachs and the controversy behind its success. From the outside, Goldman Sachs is a perfect company. The Goldman PR machine loudly declares it to be smarter, more ethical, and more profitable than all of its competitors. Behind closed doors, however, the firm constantly straddles the line between conflict of interest and legitimate deal making, wields significant influence over all levels of government, and upholds a culture of power struggles and toxic paranoia. And its clever bet against the mortgage market in 2007—unknown to its clients—may have made the financial ruin of the Great Recession worse. Money and Power reveals the internal schemes that have guided the bank from its founding through its remarkable windfall during the 2008 financial crisis. Through extensive research and interviews with the inside players, including current CEO Lloyd Blankfein, William Cohan constructs a nuanced, timely portrait of Goldman Sachs, the company that was too big—and too ruthless—to fail.

'House of Cards' is a narrative about corporate greed on a truly epic scale. Cohan relates how the lack of foresight and regulation in an uncertain economy forced the government and Wall Street to take increasingly desperate and unprecedented measures to stop the carnage before the entire economy melted down.

Cohan explores the mysterious and secretive world of Lazard Freres & Co., one of the country's most storied investment firms, and presents a compelling portrait of Wall Street through the tumultuous history of this exalted and fascinating company.

If you like your smartphone or your widescreen TV, your car or your pension, then, whether you know it or not, you are a fan of Wall Street. William D. Cohan, bestselling author of House of Cards, has long been critical of the bad behaviour that plagued much of Wall Street in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, and, as an ex-banker, he is an expert on its inner workings as well. But in recent years he has become alarmed by the vitriol directed at the bankers, traders and executives who keep the wheels of our economy turning. Why Wall Street Matters is a timely and trenchant reminder of the dire consequences for us all if the essential role these institutions play in making our lives better is carelessly curtailed.