The Smartest Guys in the Room
The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $34.96
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Dennis Boutsikaris
-
Written by:
-
Bethany McLean
About this listen
The definitive volume on Enron's amazing rise and scandalous fall, from an award-winning team of Fortune investigative reporters.
©2003 Bethany McLean, Peter Elkind (P)2010 Penguin AudioYou may also enjoy...
-
Barbarians at the Gate
- The Fall of RJR Nabisco
- Written by: Bryan Burrough, John Helyar
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 22 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A number-one New York Times best seller and arguably the best business narrative ever written, Barbarians at the Gate is the classic account of the fall of RJR Nabisco. An enduring masterpiece of investigative journalism by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, it includes a new afterword by the authors that brings this remarkable story of greed and double-dealings up to date 20 years after the famed deal.
Written by: Bryan Burrough, and others
-
When Genius Failed
- The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management
- Written by: Roger Lowenstein
- Narrated by: Roger Lowenstein
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Roger Lowenstein, the bestselling author of Buffett, captures Long-Term's roller-coaster ride in gripping detail. Drawing on confidential internal memos and interviews with dozens of key players, Lowenstein crafts a story that reads like a first-rate thriller from beginning to end. He explains not just how the fund made and lost its money, but what it was about the personalities of Long-Term's partners, the arrogance of their mathematical certainties, and the late-nineties culture of Wall Street that made it all possible.
-
-
A bit too dry for my liking
- By Rupert on 2019-04-29
Written by: Roger Lowenstein
-
Bad Blood
- Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
- Written by: John Carreyrou
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the next Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup “unicorn” promised to revolutionize the medical industry with its breakthrough device, which performed the whole range of laboratory tests from a single drop of blood. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes’s worth at an estimated $4.5 billion.
-
-
exciting nonfic book
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-06-27
Written by: John Carreyrou
-
Den of Thieves
- Written by: James B. Stewart
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 19 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pulitzer Prize winner James B. Stewart shows for the first time how four of the biggest names on Wall Street - Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, Martin Siegel, and Dennis Levine - created the greatest insider-trading ring in financial history and almost walked away with billions - until a team of downtrodden detectives triumphed over some of America's most expensive lawyers to bring this powerful quartet to justice.
-
-
Incredible Narration
- By Nadège on 2019-02-08
Written by: James B. Stewart
-
Too Big to Fail
- The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves
- Written by: Andrew Ross Sorkin
- Narrated by: William Hughes
- Length: 21 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A real-life thriller about the most tumultuous period in America's financial history by an acclaimed New York Times reporter. Andrew Ross Sorkin delivers the first true, behind-the-scenes, moment-by-moment account of how the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression developed into a global tsunami.
-
-
- By R on 2018-12-15
Written by: Andrew Ross Sorkin
-
Liar's Poker
- Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street
- Written by: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1986, before Michael Lewis became the best-selling author of The Big Short, Moneyball, and Flash Boys, he landed a job at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street’s premier investment firms. During the next three years, Lewis rose from callow trainee to New York- and London-based bond salesman, raking in millions for the firm and cashing in on a modern-day gold rush. Liar’s Poker is the culmination of those heady, frenzied years - a behind-the-scenes look at a unique and turbulent time in American business.
-
-
Great Story
- By Geoff on 2024-08-11
Written by: Michael Lewis
-
Barbarians at the Gate
- The Fall of RJR Nabisco
- Written by: Bryan Burrough, John Helyar
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 22 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A number-one New York Times best seller and arguably the best business narrative ever written, Barbarians at the Gate is the classic account of the fall of RJR Nabisco. An enduring masterpiece of investigative journalism by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, it includes a new afterword by the authors that brings this remarkable story of greed and double-dealings up to date 20 years after the famed deal.
Written by: Bryan Burrough, and others
-
When Genius Failed
- The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management
- Written by: Roger Lowenstein
- Narrated by: Roger Lowenstein
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Roger Lowenstein, the bestselling author of Buffett, captures Long-Term's roller-coaster ride in gripping detail. Drawing on confidential internal memos and interviews with dozens of key players, Lowenstein crafts a story that reads like a first-rate thriller from beginning to end. He explains not just how the fund made and lost its money, but what it was about the personalities of Long-Term's partners, the arrogance of their mathematical certainties, and the late-nineties culture of Wall Street that made it all possible.
-
-
A bit too dry for my liking
- By Rupert on 2019-04-29
Written by: Roger Lowenstein
-
Bad Blood
- Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
- Written by: John Carreyrou
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the next Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup “unicorn” promised to revolutionize the medical industry with its breakthrough device, which performed the whole range of laboratory tests from a single drop of blood. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes’s worth at an estimated $4.5 billion.
-
-
exciting nonfic book
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-06-27
Written by: John Carreyrou
-
Den of Thieves
- Written by: James B. Stewart
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 19 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pulitzer Prize winner James B. Stewart shows for the first time how four of the biggest names on Wall Street - Michael Milken, Ivan Boesky, Martin Siegel, and Dennis Levine - created the greatest insider-trading ring in financial history and almost walked away with billions - until a team of downtrodden detectives triumphed over some of America's most expensive lawyers to bring this powerful quartet to justice.
-
-
Incredible Narration
- By Nadège on 2019-02-08
Written by: James B. Stewart
-
Too Big to Fail
- The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves
- Written by: Andrew Ross Sorkin
- Narrated by: William Hughes
- Length: 21 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A real-life thriller about the most tumultuous period in America's financial history by an acclaimed New York Times reporter. Andrew Ross Sorkin delivers the first true, behind-the-scenes, moment-by-moment account of how the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression developed into a global tsunami.
-
-
- By R on 2018-12-15
Written by: Andrew Ross Sorkin
-
Liar's Poker
- Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street
- Written by: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1986, before Michael Lewis became the best-selling author of The Big Short, Moneyball, and Flash Boys, he landed a job at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street’s premier investment firms. During the next three years, Lewis rose from callow trainee to New York- and London-based bond salesman, raking in millions for the firm and cashing in on a modern-day gold rush. Liar’s Poker is the culmination of those heady, frenzied years - a behind-the-scenes look at a unique and turbulent time in American business.
-
-
Great Story
- By Geoff on 2024-08-11
Written by: Michael Lewis
-
The Cult of We
- WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion
- Written by: Eliot Brown, Maureen Farrell
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
WeWork would be worth $10 trillion, more than any other company in the world. It wasn’t just an office space provider. It was a tech company - an AI startup, even. Its WeGrow schools and WeLive residences would revolutionize education and housing. One day, mused founder Adam Neumann, a Middle East peace accord would be signed in a WeWork. The company might help colonize Mars. And Neumann would become the world’s first trillionaire.
-
-
Way more interesting than I expected
- By Roberta W on 2024-09-21
Written by: Eliot Brown, and others
-
Billion Dollar Whale
- Written by: Bradley Hope, Tom Wright
- Narrated by: Will Collyer
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Now a number-one international best seller, Billion Dollar Whale is "an epic tale of white-collar crime on a global scale" (Publishers Weekly), revealing how a young social climber from Malaysia pulled off one of the biggest heists in history. In 2009, a chubby, mild-mannered graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business named Jho Low set in motion a fraud of unprecedented gall and magnitude—one that would come to symbolize the next great threat to the global financial system.
-
-
Fascinating story but can be boring and often extremely difficult to follow.
- By Tracy on 2018-11-06
Written by: Bradley Hope, and others
-
A Colossal Failure of Common Sense
- The Inside Story of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers
- Written by: Patrick Robinson, Lawrence G. McDonald
- Narrated by: Erik Davies
- Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the biggest questions of the financial crisis has not been answered until now: What happened at Lehman Brothers and why was it allowed to fail, with aftershocks that rocked the global economy? In this news-making, often astonishing book, a former Lehman Brothers Vice President gives us the straight answers - right from the belly of the beast. In A Colossal Failure of Common Sense, Larry McDonald, a Wall Street insider, reveals, the culture and unspoken rules of the game like no book has ever done.
Written by: Patrick Robinson, and others
-
The Wizard of Lies
- Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust
- Written by: Diana B. Henriques
- Narrated by: Pam Ward
- Length: 16 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who is Bernie Madoff, and how did he pull off the biggest Ponzi scheme in history? These questions have fascinated people ever since the news broke about the respected New York financier who swindled his friends, relatives, and other investors out of $65 billion. Many have speculated about what must have happened, but no reporter has been able to get the full story - until now. Diana B. Henriques of the New York Times has written the definitive book on the man and his scheme.
-
-
Taut and Well Written
- By Fatehia Saleh on 2023-01-26
Written by: Diana B. Henriques
-
All the Devils Are Here
- The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis
- Written by: Bethany McLean, Joe Nocera
- Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As soon as the financial crisis erupted, the finger-pointing began. Should the blame fall on Wall Street, Main Street, or Pennsylvania Avenue? On greedy traders, misguided regulators, sleazy subprime companies, cowardly legislators, or clueless home buyers? According to Bethany McLean and Joe Nocera, two of America's most acclaimed business journalists, the real answer is all of the above-and more. Many devils helped bring hell to the economy.
-
-
Ok
- By TemperPolk on 2021-02-13
Written by: Bethany McLean, and others
-
Going Infinite
- The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
- Written by: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Michael Lewis first met him, Sam Bankman-Fried was the world’s youngest billionaire and crypto’s Gatsby. CEOs, celebrities, and leaders of small countries all vied for his time and cash after he catapulted, practically overnight, onto the Forbes billionaire list. Who was this rumpled guy in cargo shorts and limp white socks, whose eyes twitched across Zoom meetings as he played video games on the side?
-
-
He loves SBF too much
- By Samuel Carvalho on 2023-10-07
Written by: Michael Lewis
-
The Fund
- Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend
- Written by: Rob Copeland
- Narrated by: Rob Copeland, Will Damron
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ray Dalio does not want you to listen to this audiobook. Late last year, when the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund on the planet, announced that he was stepping down from the company he started out of his apartment nearly 50 years ago, the news made headlines around the world. Dalio cultivated an aura of international admiration and fame thanks to his company’s eye-popping success, coupled with a mystique he encouraged with frequent media appearances, celebrity hobnobbing, and his bestselling book, Principles.
-
-
Searing
- By Mia Cara Cosco on 2024-10-21
Written by: Rob Copeland
-
Billion Dollar Loser
- The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork
- Written by: Reeves Wiedeman
- Narrated by: Will Collyer
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This inside story of WeWork and its CEO tells the remarkable saga of one of the most audacious, and improbable, rises and falls in American business history. Veteran journalist Reeves Weideman dives deep into WeWork and its CEO's astronomical rise, from the marijuana and tequila-filled board rooms to cult-like company summer camps and consciousness-raising with Anthony Kiedis. Billion Dollar Loser is a character-driven business narrative that captures, through the fascinating psyche of a billionaire founder and his wife and co-founder, the slippery state of global capitalism. \
-
-
Great listen
- By colin on 2023-06-05
Written by: Reeves Wiedeman
-
Black Edge
- Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street
- Written by: Sheelah Kolhatkar
- Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steven A. Cohen changed Wall Street. He and his fellow pioneers of the hedge fund industry didn’t lay railroads, build factories, or invent new technologies. Rather, they made their billions through financial speculation, by placing bets in the market that turned out to be right more often than not.
Written by: Sheelah Kolhatkar
-
Blood and Oil
- Mohammed bin Salman's Ruthless Quest for Global Power
- Written by: Bradley Hope, Justin Scheck
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From award-winning Wall Street Journal reporters comes a revelatory look at the inner workings of the world's most powerful royal family, and how the struggle for succession produced Saudi Arabia's charismatic but ruthless Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aka MBS.
-
-
That was good
- By Ihab on 2023-10-10
Written by: Bradley Hope, and others
-
The Buy Side
- A Wall Street Trader's Tale of Spectacular Excess
- Written by: Turney Duff
- Narrated by: Turney Duff
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A remarkable writing debut, filled with indelible moments, The Buy Side shows as no book ever has the rewards—and dizzying temptations—of making a living on the Street. Growing up in the 1980’s Turney Duff was your average kid from Kennebunk, Maine, eager to expand his horizons. After trying – and failing – to land a job as a journalist, he secured a trainee position at Morgan Stanley and got his first feel for the pecking order that exists in the trading pits.
-
-
Brilliant
- By matthew n**** on 2020-04-14
Written by: Turney Duff
-
When McKinsey Comes to Town
- The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm
- Written by: Walt Bogdanich, Michael Forsythe
- Narrated by: Ari Fliakos
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In When McKinsey Comes to Town, two prizewinning investigative journalists have written a portrait of the company sharply at odds with its public image. Bogdanich and Forsythe have penetrated the veil of secrecy surrounding McKinsey by conducting hundreds of interviews, obtaining tens of thousands of revelatory documents, and following rule #1 of investigative reporting: Follow the money. When McKinsey Comes to Town is a a devastating portrait of a firm whose work has often made the world more unequal, more corrupt, and more dangerous.
-
-
Compelling
- By Skigirl on 2023-07-25
Written by: Walt Bogdanich, and others
What the critics say
“The best book about the Enron debacle to date.” (BusinessWeek)
“The authors write with power and finesse. Their prose is effortless, like a sprinter floating down the track.” (USA Today)
“Well-reported and well-written.” (Warren Buffett)
What listeners say about The Smartest Guys in the Room
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2021-12-25
Great book with an amazing performance
This was a riveting story, though I sometimes got a bit lost in the intricacies of stock trading. If you’re familiar with Wall Street jargon, you’ll probably be fine. If you aren’t, like me, this still managed to be a fascinating listen, in large part because of the attention devoted to the characters involved. On top of that, the narration was absolutely incredible. Dennis Boutsikaris reads like he’s telling you the story directly while sitting on a sofa across from you. That, plus the writing, kept me invested through a very long and complicated story even when I didn’t understand every detail. Definitely recommend if you’re interested in corporate crime and epic tales of hubris.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christian
- 2024-08-18
Incredible Story
Very interesting, and well-read. Would recommend to anyone engaged with commodity markets. Long read, but well worth it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aiden
- 2021-05-02
Corporate Crime Gold
Wow, what an incredible story. While the audiobook runs long, it's a requirement to delve into the details and the nitty gritty thank make up the story. The author did an incredible job. Narration is excellent, easy to listen to and well punctuated.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- abelsavard
- 2021-05-14
Detailed Account
Smartest guys in the room details catalogue of failures, early warnings and the final descent of Enron. The book clearly and relatively simply dip its the interlocking features of Enron that allowed it to rise so high and fall so far. I greatly appreciated the somewhat clinical style avoiding the excuses and self
pity that some of the actors have shown
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J. Ohlhauser
- 2020-11-11
Thorough and well executed
I thought knew a bit about the Enron scandal, but this book revealed a deep saga I'm glad I took the time to explore. Not only what happened, but how and why. Understanding that requires a long story. If you are interested in corporate fraud, this is as good as it gets. If you aren't, I can see this being somewhat long and dry compared to something with more general appeal like Bad Blood.
Dennis Boutsikaris is as good a narrator as you'll find. Authors please use actors like him (or just use him!) and don't narrate your own books.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Momma bear
- 2022-07-19
Excellent!
The research is incredible.
The Speajer Dennis Boutkaris is perfect ( he did the audible for “ Sticky Fingers” which was also excellent). Not just a monotonous reading but perfect inflections of what’s being said.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sam
- 2019-10-07
exhaustive account of the Enron scandal
highly interesting, goes into good depth with regard to the shoddy accounting practices and the toxic corporate culture at Enron
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Uri
- 2024-03-04
Amazing narration of a long scandal story
A huge example of scandalous American business. One can find fraud in every business only you have to dig deep enough. CEOs learn how to lie and that's all they do.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!