Fooling Some of the People All of the Time: A Long Short Story - Hardcover

Einhorn, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470073942 ISBN 13: 9780470073940

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2008

Synopsis

A revealing look at Wall Street, the financial media, and financial regulators by David Einhorn, the President of Greenlight Capital Could 2008's credit crisis have been minimized or even avoided? In 2002, David Einhorn-one of the country's top investors-was asked at a charity investment conference to share his best investment advice. Short sell Allied Capital. At the time, Allied was a leader in the private financing industry. Einhorn claimed Allied was using questionable accounting practices to prop itself up. Sound familiar? At the time of the original version of Fooling Some of the People All of the Time: A Long Short Story the outcome of his advice was unknown. Now, the story is complete and we know Einhorn was right. In 2008, Einhorn advised the same conference to short sell Lehman Brothers. And had the market been more open to his warnings, yes, the market meltdown might have been avoided, or at least minimized.* Details the gripping battle between Allied Capital and Einhorn's Greenlight Capital* Illuminates how questionable company practices are maintained and, at times, even protected by Wall Street* Describes the failings of investment banks, analysts, journalists, and government regulators* Describes how many parts of the Allied Capital story were replayed in the debate over Lehman Brothers Fooling Some of the People All of the Time is an important call for effective government regulation, free speech, and fair play.

About this title

Review:

"Instead of stewing in private, Einhorn wrote a book "Fooling Some of the People All of the Time" about his six-year ordeal with Allied." (Daily Mail, September 18, 2008)

From the Back Cover:

"This book is a must-read for any investor who wants to know how far some companies will go in their quest to keep the real story from coming out."
--Herb Greenberg, Senior Columnist, MarketWatch.com

"In Fooling Some of the People All of the Time, David Einhorn, one of the great investors of all time tells one of the great investment tales of all time. This is a book in which you will learn about investing, short selling, and the politics of business. David is not only a great investor, but a wonderful storyteller. I recommend it wholeheartedly for your brain and your pocketbook."
--William A. Ackman, Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.

"In the world of finance, as in the worlds of politics or science, free speech and open debate are essential. Sadly, our current system is rigged against bearers of bad news, and short sellers are an oppressed minority. David Einhorn's amazing story of scam artists, corporate doubletalk, clueless regulators, and sleazy lawyers is a gripping narrative. A great read."
--Owen Lamont, Fellow, International Center for Finance, Yale School of Management

An unscrupulous company has cost the U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. As it has happened, our government regulators have been at best derelict and at worst complicit. The company is headquartered in the political power center of Washington, D.C., where it has established enormous influence that has protected it. It is a large customer of Wall Street, which predictably lends it strong support.

In Fooling Some of the People All of the Time, David Einhorn--founder of the successful hedge fund Greenlight Capital--takes you on a fascinating journey that begins with his discovery that Allied Capital's accounting appeared corrupt. This led to Einhorn describing his hedge fund's short position in the company at a charity speech (go to www.foolingsomepeople.com to watch), and what follows is a battle for the truth that continues to this very day. The story would make for a great forensic financial mystery novel--except it's all true.

If you think we're past the days of corporate corruption and financial fraud, think again. Fooling Some of the People All of the Time details the harsh reality of how the current environment on Wall Street not only allows for such behavior, but how it protects the companies that participate in such activities and attacks those who attempt to uncover them. This is a story about investing, business ethics, and how our government should--but often doesn't--protect investors and taxpayers.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0470073942
• ISBN 13: 9780470073940
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 400