Now that you don’t have to commute during the shelter-in-place, you can use some of that freed up time to do a little reading. Here are a few books about investment scams that are both entertaining and educational.
Wolf Books
The Wolf of Wall Street
by Jordan Belfort
This is the autobiographical story about the guy who made hundreds of millions of dollars by pumping and dumping low priced and penny stocks. The book is filled with sex and drugs and every other kind of decadence. A Martin Scorsese movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio was made from this story. Be forewarned: the chapter that took place in the hospital gave me nightmares for a couple weeks.
Catching the Wolf of Wall Street: More Incredible True Stories of Fortunes, Schemes, Parties, and Prison
by Jordan Belfort
This is the followup to the previous book. What happens when Belfort is arrested, how a case was built against him, and what happens after prison.
Madoff Books
No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller
by Harry Markopolos
A New York Times bestseller about how Markopolos uncovered Madoff’s scam.
The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust
by Diana B. Henriques
All about how Madoff pulled off the biggest Ponzi scheme in history. Over 130 five star ratings on Amazon.
The End of Normal: A Wife’s Anguish, A Widow’s New Life
by Stephanie Madoff Mack
An inside look at the Madoff family written by the widow of Mark Madoff and the daughter-in-law of Bernard Madoff.Over 200 five star ratings.
Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff
by Andrew Kirtzman
An in-depth look at Madoff and his victims.
Theranos Books
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
by John Carreyrou
Named one of the best books of the year by NPR, The New York Times Book Review, Time, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. An in-depth look at Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes. Over 2,600 five star ratings.
Billion Dollar Facade: The Rise And Fall Of Theranos And Elizabeth Holmes
by Phil C. Senior
Short 140 page summary of the Theranos scam.
Books about Scams
Scam Me If You Can: Simple Strategies to Outsmart Today’s Rip-off Artists
by Frank W. Abagnale
Abagnale was the guy who wrote the book on scamming, Catch Me If You Can, which was made into a major motion picture.
How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud
by Ken Fisher
How investment fraudsters operate and how to avoid them. Written my billionaire money manager and former long time Forbes columnist Ken Fisher.
Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World
by Tom Wright & Bradley Hope
Named a Best Book of 2018 by the Financial Times and Fortune, it is about the man who swindles $5 billion with the help of Goldman Sachs.
Happy reading!
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