Rigged

The story follows David Russo, a Harvard Business School graduate who lands on Wall Street during the dot-com crash and finds his way to the New York Mercantile Exchange. His background and sharp instincts help him navigate the intense trading floor culture of the world's largest energy market. At NYMEX, Russo rises through the ranks to become Head of Strategy during a critical period of modernization. His involvement in transforming the traditional open-outcry system into electronic trading puts him at the center of a major shift in global markets. The narrative tracks Russo's journey from New York to Dubai, where he works to establish a new mercantile exchange in partnership with NYMEX and the Dubai government. His efforts coincide with significant geopolitical changes and evolving dynamics in international oil trading. This true story, with minimal dramatic embellishment, captures a pivotal moment in financial history when traditional trading methods gave way to technological innovation, and Western markets began to shift toward the Middle East.

Readers found this book a fast-paced, engaging look at Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX, though many noted it feels rushed and incomplete due to its quick publication after the collapse. Liked: - Clear explanation of complex crypto concepts - Entertaining narrative style - Behind-the-scenes details of SBF's rise - Fast-moving pace Disliked: - Limited coverage of FTX's actual collapse - Too sympathetic to SBF - Many events still unfolding during writing - Lacks depth in financial analysis - Repetitive descriptions "Reads like a movie script but misses crucial details" - Goodreads reviewer "Should have waited another year to include the full story" - Amazon reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (900+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 3.9/5 (100+ ratings) Several readers compared it unfavorably to Michael Lewis's "Going Infinite," noting Mezrich's book lacks the same level of access and insight.

Flash Crash by Liam Vaughan The true story of a trader who manipulated global financial markets from his bedroom in London shows the vulnerability of modern trading systems.

The Ugly Game by Heidi Blake, Jonathan Calvert An investigation into FIFA's corrupt dealings reveals how money, power, and backroom deals shaped the world's most popular sport.

Black Edge by Sheelah Kolhatkar A detailed account of the largest insider trading investigation in history exposes the world of hedge funds and financial crime.

The Spider Network by David Enrich The breakdown of how traders manipulated the LIBOR rate demonstrates the interconnected nature of global financial fraud.

American Kingpin by Nick Bilton The rise and fall of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht illustrates how technology enables new forms of crime in the digital age.

🔸 Ben Mezrich's book "Bringing Down the House" inspired the hit movie "21," starring Kevin Spacey, demonstrating his knack for turning complex financial stories into compelling narratives. 🔸 The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) trading floor, featured prominently in the book, closed in 2016 after 144 years of open-outcry trading, marking the end of an era. 🔸 The Dubai Mercantile Exchange, launched in 2007, was a groundbreaking venture as the first energy futures exchange in the Middle East, bridging Asian and Western markets. 🔸 The protagonist's journey reflects a broader trend: between 2000-2010, electronic trading grew from handling 15% to over 85% of all energy futures transactions. 🔸 The book's events unfold during a period when crude oil prices experienced unprecedented volatility, rising from around $20 per barrel in 2002 to nearly $150 by 2008.