Zeroes is All Pluses

There is a new book out called, The Zeroes: My Misadventures in the Decade Wall Street Went Insane  by Randall Lane.

I haven't seen any reviews of the book and it is, as I write, only ranked 4,176  at Amazon. That's really too bad. This book deserves to be a Top Ten book.

In the book, Lane recounts his adventures and misadventures on Wall Street. His tale is not a view from the high echelon of Wall Street movers and shakers, nor is it the tale of a government insider. The view is middle level financier/businessman  attempting to build a magazine publishing company, with a flagship magazine called, Trader Monthly.

Participating from this view, he is able to see how traders think, how venture capitalists operate and the problems that occur when dealing with clients/partners/characters like former baseball great Lenny Dykstra or the artist Peter Maxx.

There were a lot more people on Wall Street that lived the first decade of the 21st century the way Lane did, then the way the elite did. Time after time, he left money on the table or structured deals in ways that didn't result in his fully protecting himself.

That said, Lane is a great storyteller and meticulous observer. Anyone entering the world of finance, becoming a trader, dealing with venture capitalists, other investors or clients will find this book extremely valuable. When reading the book, the question should be asked, in chapter after chapter, How would I have done things differently?

If you are starting out a career in finance or in business where you may need investment partners or venture capitalists, pick up this book, understand the mistakes Lane made and don't make them yourself.