1929 - Andrew Ross Sorkin

1929

By Andrew Ross Sorkin

  • Release Date: 2025-10-14
  • Genre: Economics
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 903 Ratings
$15.99 On itunes Buy on Amazon

Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“It is one of the best narrative histories I’ve read.”
—The Wall Street Journal

A New York Times Notable Book of 2025 • One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2025 • Named a BEST BOOK OF 2025 by The Washington Post, TIME, The Economist, Air Mail, Bloomberg, Fast Company, Katie Couric Media, and History

From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, “the definitive history of the 2008 banking crisis,” (The Atlantic) comes a riveting narrative of the most infamous stock market crash in history—one with ripple effects that still shape our society today.

In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. But behind the flashing ticker tapes and panicked traders, another drama unfolded—one of visionaries and fraudsters, titans and dreamers, euphoria and ruin.

With unparalleled access to historical records and newly uncovered documents, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Ross Sorkin takes readers inside the chaos of the crash, behind the scenes of a raging battle between Wall Street and Washington and the larger-than-life characters whose ambition and naïveté in an endless boom led to disaster. The dizzying highs and brutal lows of this era eerily mirror today’s world—where markets soar, political tensions mount, and the fight over financial influence plays out once again.

This is not just a story about money. 1929 is a tale of power, psychology, and the seductive illusion that this time is different. It’s about disregarded alarm bells, financiers who fell from grace, and skeptics who saw the crash coming—only to be dismissed until it was too late.

Hailed as a landmark book, Too Big to Fail reimagined how financial crises are told. Now, with 1929, Sorkin delivers an immersive, electrifying account of the most pivotal market collapse of all time—with lessons that remain as urgent as ever. More than just a history, 1929 is a crucial blueprint for understanding the cycles of speculation, the forces that drive financial upheaval, and the warning signs we ignore at our peril.

Reviews

  • 1929- A must read

    4
    By 1876Rich
    This book is a detailed account of the events leading up to the crash of 1929, the crash itself and its aftermath. The detail is spellbinding, down to individual meetings, conversations and phone calls. Most importantly, it paints a fascinating tapestry of human nature by analyzing the actions and the motivations of the principal actors. If you’ve ever been addicted to binge-watching television, think twice before picking up this book- you will not be able to put it down. PS- I’ve never reviewed anything before. If I get this posted despite everything Apple is putting me through, it will be a miracle.

  • you Cant Miss This

    5
    By kittymeowhh
    Dont trust the other comments! This book is simply fantastic! Its well written, and allows you to immerse yourself in the world of 1929!

  • A great perspective of the era

    5
    By ajfrazer
    The author goes into great detail about the life and times of this enthralling, yet dangerously turbulent era. He gives you insights from all sides of the political spectrum of the time, and I gained a great deal of insight on just how different and interesting things were back then.

  • 1929

    5
    By Dpduffy1
    Great historical account of one of the most devastating financial disasters of all time.

  • unexpectedly a page turner!

    1
    By JFP 2
    The cast of characters were so well integrated into the story and so well developed that I felt as though I were there living the story as it was unfolding. I had trouble putting it down . what a way to experience the history and sensations of the people in that time in America. Like other great writers the book brings you back to that time. Bravo

  • Well Done

    5
    By Peter P II
    A wonderful walk up to and through the 2029 stock market crash - and repercussions with all the surrounding human behavior - good, bad and ugly.

  • An entertaining read, but conclusions fall flat

    3
    By DDubs06880
    A thorough walk through the era that paints a vivid picture of the time with well researched, detailed portraits of previously unknown yet key players in the financial world. Yet in the end the individual portraits alone fail to convincingly tie loose ends together in a way that convincingly argues what triggered the Great Depression. A decent read but nowhere near the importance of Too Big to Fail.

  • Important read, not as gripping as Too Big

    4
    By Jb253577
    This is probably unfair bc I worked for a major financial institution during the 2008 financial crisis (that was featured in the book) and it felt more like reliving an exhilarating time, but I do not find this read as much of a page turner. Still, incredibly informative and entertaining. There were aspects that felt like they were thrown in to spice it up (Churchill, for example). Still, very well written and had me questioning my investment strategy the whole time. This one reads more like a history book than a tabloid (no offense meant in either case) but still impressive. Can only imagine the extensive research. Well done.

  • Enjoyable Read

    4
    By mjmbook
    Finished this tome in 2.5 days. Page turner. Feels particularly relevant at this time and in this market. Feels more like a story on human nature, conflicts of interest and how pursuit of wealth shapes people’s beliefs and actions.

  • History Lesson

    5
    By M Gavin 01
    Outstanding review of the lead up, and aftermath of the Crash. Interesting, engaging, and well paced. Ironically, the author closes the book by pointing out how quickly we forget. Now if we could just show a little humility…

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