Book

Midas

📖 Overview

Midas follows investment banker Jeffrey Phillips as he rises through the ranks of Wall Street in the 1980s. His career trajectory leads him into a complex web of global finance, corporate espionage, and international power plays. The story spans multiple continents and financial centers, from New York to London to Hong Kong. At its core is a high-stakes scheme involving government officials, banking institutions, and shadowy figures operating in the margins of the financial world. The narrative explores themes of greed, power, and the true cost of ambition in the ruthless arena of international banking. Through Jeffrey's journey, the book examines how the pursuit of wealth can transform both individuals and institutions.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe this Wall Street thriller as fast-paced with compelling descriptions of 1980s New York financial culture. Many reviewers note it reads like a movie, with quick scenes and dramatic tension. Liked: - Technical accuracy in depicting trading and market dynamics - Character development of the protagonist's rise through investment banking - Period details capturing the excess of 1980s Manhattan Disliked: - Some found the ending rushed and unsatisfying - Multiple reviewers noted clichéd dialogue - Financial jargon can be dense for non-industry readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (82 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) "Offers an insider's view but relies too heavily on stereotypes of the era" - Goodreads reviewer "The trading scenes feel authentic but the character relationships fall flat" - Amazon review Note: Limited review data available as this is an older book with relatively few online ratings.

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🤔 Interesting facts

🌟 Peter Gethers was already an established publisher and editor before writing Midas, working with prominent authors at Random House and other major publishing houses. 🌟 The novel tackles themes of Wall Street greed during the 1980s, a period often referred to as the "Decade of Excess" when corporate raiders and leveraged buyouts dominated financial headlines. 🌟 The book's title references King Midas from Greek mythology, whose wish to turn everything he touched into gold ultimately became a curse - a parallel to the novel's exploration of wealth and consequences. 🌟 The story was published in 1989, just two years after the stock market crash of 1987, when public interest in Wall Street culture and financial thrillers was particularly high. 🌟 Author Peter Gethers later became known for his non-fiction cat trilogy, starting with "The Cat Who Went to Paris," showing his versatility across different genres.