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42 pages 1 hour read

Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014

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Book Brief

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Michael Lewis

Flash Boys

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Wall Street • 2010s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Flash Boys by Michael Lewis examines Wall Street’s profit-maximizing behavior, focusing on investor Brad Katsuyama’s efforts to create the Investor’s Exchange (IEX) to counteract High-Frequency Trading (HFT), a practice that gives traders using fast supercomputers an unfair advantage. The book highlights systemic corruption and explores the culture of the stock market and the pursuit of a meaningful life.

Informative

Suspenseful

Challenging

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.3

103,717 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Michael Lewis's Flash Boys has garnered both praise and criticism. Reviewers commend its accessible narrative and in-depth examination of high-frequency trading's impact on financial markets. However, some critics argue that Lewis oversimplifies complex issues and presents a one-sided view. Overall, the book is a gripping read that sheds light on a significant but opaque aspect of Wall Street.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Flash Boys?

Readers who enjoy uncovering the intricacies of high finance and Wall Street will appreciate Flash Boys by Michael Lewis. Fans of books like The Big Short by Michael Lewis and Liar's Poker also by Lewis, or those intrigued by the narratives in Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin, will find this book compelling and insightful.

4.3

103,717 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Michael Lewis

An author known for his engaging nonfiction works on financial markets and other subjects, who recounts the complexities of finance and character-driven narratives, often focusing on figures like Brad Katsuyama.

A Canadian executive and CEO of Investors’ Exchange (IEX), who challenges high-frequency trading practices through his innovative development of THOR and the creation of IEX.

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Wall Street • 2010s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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