From Wall Street to Main Street, John Brooks, longtime contributor to the New Yo
rker, brings to life in vivid fashion twelve classic and timeless tales of corpo
rate and financial life in America. What do the $350 million Ford Motor Company
disaster known as the Edsel, the fast and incredible rise of Xerox, and the unbe
lievable scandals at General Electric and Texas Gulf Sulphur have in common? Eac
h is an example of how an iconic company was defined by a particular moment of f
ame or notoriety; these notable and fascinating accounts are as relevant today t
o understanding the intricacies of corporate life as they were when the events h
appened. Stories about Wall Street are infused with drama and adventure and reve
al the machinations and volatile nature of the world of finance. John Brooks's i
nsightful reportage is so full of personality and critical detail that whether h
e is looking at the astounding market crash of 1962, the collapse of a well-know
n brokerage firm, or the bold attempt by American bankers to save the British po
und, one gets the sense that history repeats itself. Five additional stories on
equally fascinating subjects round out this wonderful collection that will both
entertain and inform readers ... Business Adventures is truly financial journali
sm at its liveliest and best.
