Ugly Americans: The True Story of the Ivy League Cowboys Who Raided the Asian Markets for Millions

ok

It was an ok read. The characters were sleazy and unrelatable, the dialogue was a dry and boring and the crimes were immoral yet lackluster. If you enjoy reading books about the victory of greed over reason and heart, this is your go to book.

Sean_Cast

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Fun, but not Ben Mezrich's best

I was a fan of Ben Mezrich's Bringing Down the House and Busting Vegas, so naturally I picked this up when I saw it on the shelf. I haven't read anything of his in a few years, but I believe I was a fan not only of his writing, but also of his stories. I enjoy non-fiction, so when a story is true, or at least mostly true, and makes a good novel, I'm generally a happy reader.

Ugly Americans is just that: an entertaining story based on true events. Perhaps it lacked depth, but I believe I was entertained, or at least drawn in, enough to finish the book, and I'm not the type that has to finish something just because I started. Hell, I'll take my losses and move on.

I'm debating whether to select "Yes, I would" recommend, or "No, I would not." I'm going to leave on "Yes," but there's better out there. Try his books about the MIT team taking Vegas. Maybe they don't pertain to your life, but they're good, fun books.

Thomasc

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Intresting book and an easy read!

Intresting book and an easy read!

The story is amped up in the previews, its not quite that exciting.

I found it a easy read, I recommend it to any one looking for a finance based book and want to be entertained.

Skyler418

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the ugly americans was ugly and poorly explained the story

i am almost done with this book, just a few more pages. but i was very disappointed with it. the book doesn't really tell the meat of the story. if it was about the cheating, the inside information, that might be more interesting. instead, it seems to be about the personal life of an assistant without really touching on the conflicts in his life. yeah, the conflicts are described but you don't see the changes or ironies or even what sets the conflicts in place.

i thought it was a complete waste of time to read. the only reason i'm going to finish the book is because i almost always finish books.

i'm tired of it already.

Shamlet76

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A Good Read but no educational value

As usual, Ben wrote a great story about a person extraordinary adventure like the Rigged, This book is full of greed like the Tokyo undeground bar.. It is a good read but no educational value in it.

Bryanthlaw

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Wow

This book tells a great story about the power of greed in the financial markets and how people can grab the bull by the horns for massive profits. The Asian market where ripe for the picking and this man feasted. A good read.

Tommy_Kurtz

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Very political.

Ugly Americans is a story of extremes, charged with wealth, nerve, excess, and glamor. It struck me as a real-life mixture of Liar's Poker and Wall Street, brimming with intense action, romance, underground sex!!! (WHOOP WHOOP) , and exotic characters, Ugly Americans is the untold true story that rocked the financial community. And I love that they ripped the shit out of the Asians. WOW!

Mikeyjt

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A Story, Based on Another Story, by an Author Who Isn't

Short read, waste of a Saturday basically...Back cover says "Hedge-find cowboys...living life on the adrenaline-,sex-, and drug-fueled edge...trading information in the back rooms of high-class brothels and VIP night clubs..."

Well...Had to read the whole book to find out there wasn't much adrenaline, no sex, and NO drugs either. He has a couple drinks once, goes to a couple strip clubs (giving only details of the venue), and ends up with an Asian girlfriend. At the end, the author states the guy wants to be completely anonymous as it is 'based' on a true story. So pretty damn loosely if you ask me. He must have changed the details of every aspect 2 or 3 times over... More of a tale than a story for sure. Says he ends up in Bermuda, and he meets the guy there in a rental car. Well, I live in Bermuda, and there sure aren't any rental cars, and never have been here so it just goes to show this is more of a dream than a documentation.

Furthermore, the author gets bored with this tale about half way through and really half-asses it. He gives life-charging story/short story type deal and you don't get any emotion or detail out of this guy. When trying to come up with a catalyst for the ending...wow...sucks. This is written by an author who just doesn't cut it. High-school quality of day-wasting length if you ask me. I'm rarely a complainer of literature, but this really didn't do it for me. I normally stick to educational reads (no-fun reading) so I expected a bit of both from this, but got neither education or entertainment value. Read the Wolf of Wall Street for the drugs sex and adrenaline - that is a fun story of a REAL person which is reasonably written, very interesting and even more entertaining. I'll review it next!



Oh, and just realized there are 3 lonely stars on the back...I think 3 at best. POORLY WRITTEN!

Milesc

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NO SURPRISE for ASIAN rike me..

yeah i know it'd beinteresting for most of you guys..

different world ..japan...wow...yeah...

nothignspecial for me..

it could be real but very unrealistic.

As a Asian who have learned and studied about Japan for more than 10 yrs,

it is not a surprising story and not quite new.

howvever, i should say the book is very entertaining and well written.

Fun to read but anything to learn?

Maisonc

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Highly Recommended. Great book.

I listened to the audiobook version and I loved it. I want Malcolm's job sitting at a computer all day trading Nikkei futures and raking in cash. Taught me some valuable lessons about companies getting added to indexes, the rules of Carney and getting out while you're ahead.

Mike_ESO

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