1929

In a sentence or two, what is the main theme or plot?

Provides perspective on the months before the 1929 october 24th wall street crash and the years that followed. Describes how individuals close to the finance, politics and business world experienced the events.

Who are the main characters?

President Hoover. Charles Mitchell (Chairman and CEO of National City Company and Bank). JP Morgan. Senator Glass. Franklin Roosevelt. Winston Churchill. Andrew Mellon. Roger Babson.

What did you like most? Why?

Easy, flowing pacy book that followed a time chronology of the events leading to and beyond the crash. Provided broad context to the financial backdrop to the stock market crash.

What did you like least? Why?

At times hard to follow the gyrations in the market level. And would have been helpful to show at times index levels and time.

How would you describe the author's writing style?

Fluid. Engaging. Invites reader to consider the import of some of the decisions made by individuals at pivotal moments of the period.

Any passages or quotes that stood out?

Livermore: act on instinct; study human nature to understand markets; anticipate coming events; make one's mind up and then wait for the psychological moment; look for the curse of consensus and trade against it; have patience and wait; take small losses; Profits take care of themselves; do not trade every day. There are only a few times every year possibly four or five when you should allow yourself to make any commitment at all; cause and effect run from the economy to the stockmarket;

How did the book make you feel?

Better informed of the period that until reading had been colored by the suffering highlighted in Grapes of Wrath.

What do you think the author's purpose was?

To present a perspective from leading figures in business and politics of the period.

How does it compare to others in the same genre?

Have read few other works similar to this.

Themes or symbols?

Stock market investing is volatile. Money and politics are closely tied. Influential banks occupy a privileged access to political decisionmakers.

Did it challenge any preconceptions?

I was surprised at the speed of the recovery for financial institutions. Especially given the drawn out contraction in the real economy and impact on many people.

How satisfying was the ending?

The ending was effective in following what happened to the lives of influential people active during the period.

Any unanswered questions?

Would like to match up the gyrations described in the text with the stockmarket levels.

What will stay with you?

Significant influence of JP Morgan.

Who would you recommend it to?

Anyone interested in financial markets.

If you could ask the author one question?

Did you actually see the JP Morgan partnership agreement?

Related topics to explore?

Stock market indices and movements during the period, detailed analysis of JP Morgan's influence, economic recovery patterns following financial crises.

If adapted into a movie, who would you cast?

Not applicable or no preference.

Likelihood of rereading? Why?

Strong likelihood to reread to reacquaint oneself with the movements of various asset during the period.