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

Really enjoyed!!

In summary, this book is enjoyable to read but IMO, questionable as to facts. Having read the extremely enjoyable Bringing Down the House, I felt I owed it to read this author's second on a subject of which I have interest, investment banking. This book tells a great story of a Princeton football player from a middle class background who plays in an All-Star game in Japan, meets his future employer there and decides to move back for the opportunity to learn investment banking and trading.This brings up the first problem I have with this book. Real names are not used but couldn't someone with an extra 30 minutes find an Ivy League football player who works in Japan and currently is working in the Bermudas? So many parts seemed to be made up. A fellow trader buys cheap foreclosed real estate and now the author is supposedly being run off the road as a warning by the Japanese mafia? Come on!But even with the Unbelievability Factor, this is an entertaining book. It also provides a glimpse into Japanese culture and their view of foreigners. There is significant mention of the thriving sex trade in Japan of which I was not familiar. But while it provides a backdrop, the author does not delve in the subject to sell the book.Do I believe this book is 95% factual? No. Was I completely entertained? Absolutely! So enjoy the story and believe what you will. Now, if you only read nonfiction, maybe this isn't the book for you.

Love, love, love Ben Mezirich. He is brilliant. Brings depth of understanding to anything he writes. Our book club read this book ( I did suggest it) and we have a few women whose husbands are actually financial traders. I have never understood derivatives. But his analogy of running from one McDonald to another with hamburger meat in your pocket is fantastic. You want to understand what those Wall Street guys do--- read this book.

Unlike a few of the reviews I read, I really liked this book. Perhaps the other reviewers are too close to the subject (or perhaps see themselves in the pages...hmm) or lack the ability to get engrossed in a book. This book is a fast read because it keeps you interested from beginning to end and it peaks your interest into learning more about the subject. I actually purchased this book as a present and the recipient thought it was a terrific book! That's what made me read it. And I have to say... he's not an easy guy to please... especially when it comes to literature. It's worth the time and the money.

Just finished this book and found it very entertaining. It is definitely not a book on how to trade. It is a very interesting story that I suspect is somewhat dramatized. Reads like a novel.I wouldn't worry about suspected minor innaccuracies. Maybe most people can't rent a car in Bermuda, but if you have $50 million I'll bet there is a way around it. As far as Ivy league schools not giving athletic scholarships that is not exactly true. It is a matter of semantics. Most people familiar with education in the Northeast understand that prep schools and Ivy league universities don't give "athletic" scholarships, but they do give "financial aid" that just happens to fall substantially upon good athletes even if their families are well off.

I didn't get this book to learn the details of stocks, hedge funds, or derivatives trading in Japan. I was looking to be entertained and the Audible version of this book, albeit abridged, really made this story come alive. I have far too many "books on tape" on my iPod and can safely say this is one of my all time faves. Perhaps it helps that I spent time in Japan (in the music industry) during this time period so I could easily follow the ins and outs of the plot but for those who have dissed the book, I can't imagine what they were looking for in this read. At the end of the day, a very entertaining listen which is why I am back to buy the unabridged version, in hard copy no less....

Ugly Americans represents itself as the true story of expatriate, ivy league, hedge-fund traders making their fortunes in the Hong Kong and Tokyo financial markets. Just don't hold your breath for anything revelatory. And don't expect much in the way of specifics about the Asian markets. Anyone with a GED will be able to follow what these college grads are doing. What you will get is a fast moving story with a lot of atmosphere for the sweaty underside of Asian culture.Simply said, don't fret too much about the supposed veracity of the story, but simply take Ugly Americans for what it is: Beach fare, a quick unchallenging 'read' with familiar fictional cliches. Our hero is an ambitious young innocent from humble origins in an alien world of corruption, money, sex, love, mystery, and violence. Will he arbitrage a cultural divide to escape with his love, money, and character intact?If there is a real problem in all this it is that the story is a decade too late. The financial markets and their Masters of the Universe have lost considerable luster in a post bubble era of deflated expectations, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and terrorist violence. But if you enjoyed Liar's Poker, Rogue Trader, Born to Steal, Boiler Room (movie), or possibly The Firm, you'll find this a harmless diversion.

I loved, loved, loved this book, to be more accurate. A great read . . . just what I've been looking for. An exciting, fast-paced book that you just can't put down. And it's non-fiction, my favorite! Amazing author!