The Myth of the Rational Market: A History of Risk, Reward, and Delusion on Wall Street by Justin Fox

The financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent Great Recession demolished many cherished beliefs and most significantly, the theory that financial markets always get things right. Justin Fox's The Myth of the Rational Market explains where that idea came from, and where it went wrong. As much an intellectual whodunit as a cultural history of the perils and possibilities of risk, it also brings to life the people and ideas that forged modern finance and investing from the formative days of Wall Street through the Great Depression and into the financial calamities of today. It's a tale featuring professors who made and lost fortunes, battled fiercely over ideas, beat the house at blackjack, wrote bestselling books, and played major roles on the world stage. It's also a story of free-market capitalism's war with itself.

Steve will be moderating this month. Hope you can join us for some thoughtful discussion.

Upcoming books are: February is book selection month. Please bring one book to recommend.
March: What's the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank (Ed)