What Goes Up - Softcover

Fifty years ago, Wall Street was not what it is today. It was a hodge-podge of companies-hundreds of them-operating in an environment where high-tech meant an electric typewriter and the Wasps and Jews never mixed. Today, Wall Street is controlled by a few massive firms and, it often seems, few ethical constraints. The tale of Wall Street's rise and transformation is one of the most exciting and important of our time. But amazingly, never before have the players who saw everything-large and small, from tycoons in limousines to the barber in the basement of the stock exchange-directly told their stories. Here, at long last, are the Masters of the Universe and the con men; the backroom geniuses and the power-tie billionaires-all in first person, uncensored, brash, bold, and often not so fond of one another. The result is the most vibrant business history published in years, perfect for anyone who wishes they had been a fly on the boardroom wall.

Eric J. Weiner is a columnist and former Wall Street reporter for Dow Jones Newswires. His stories have appeared in countless publications, from The Wall Street Journal to The Village Voice. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, Paige.