Engaging Story; Raises Highly Important Issues

Although often cited in the press as an “indictment” of Goldman Sachs, this book is not a mere diatribe against Goldman. It is just as much Greg Smith’s story of what he treasured about Goldman. He mentions many people he met at Goldman whom he greatly admired. He also notes with pride that Goldman was savvy enough to withstand the 2008 financial meltdown by being one of the few Wall Street firms with the good judgment to turn away from the alluring fool’s gold of subprime mortgage securities. He provides a very well written inside account of his 12-year career at Goldman, rising from intern through the ranks of the equities group as a well regarded trader and salesman.

What Greg Smith portrays is a firm that shifted priorities during his tenure from a place that went the extra mile for its clients (“advising my clients to do what I believe is right for them, even if it means less money for the firm,” as he put it in his NY Times op ed piece) to one that focused primarily on an employee’s “GC’s”—his or her “gross credits” based on net profits realized by the firm on its trades with those clients. The conflict of interest in such cases is obvious. He cites examples from his final year in the GS London office in which the focus on “profits” led certain Goldman employees to take advantage of their clients when it was clear the client had made a mistake or did not understand the essentials of a complex securities trade. To be fair, he cites only a few such examples and emphasizes in an “afterword” that no one should doubt there are thousands of honest and hard-working people who populate the Wall Street firms.

To some degree, what I believe Greg Smith experienced at Goldman reflected a trend we have seen over the past 20 years in other institutions once highly regarded for their professional standards but who have become much more “bottom line” oriented as they have adapted to more competitive business conditions and focused their resources on the most productive sectors of their business. Consider, as an extreme example, Arthur Andersen, once the gold standard of accounting firms, since disgraced in the Enron scandal. I personally witnessed this trend myself over 20-some years practicing in a so-called “Big Law” firm.

I think Greg Smith is absolutely right that for the sake of a professional firm’s culture, reputation and long-time survival, it has to get the balance between professional standards and business priorities right. In his opinion, GS had fallen below an acceptable professional standard by the time he left the firm. Others within Goldman will no doubt disagree with him in good faith. In any case, the book provides a couple of apt warnings. First, for those considering a career in a top Wall Street firm, be prepared for constant pressure to produce profits in a way that may run counter to the best interests of your clients, even if perfectly legal. You should decide whether you are up to handling that pressure and maintaining your personal ethical standards. Second, if you are doing business with Goldman Sachs (or any Wall Street firm), be sure you know well the person you are dealing with before you place your trust in him or her. You cannot simply assume they will be looking out for your best interests.

11 people found this helpful

Couldn't set aside

Would you consider the audio edition of Why I Left Goldman Sachs to be better than the print version?

Yes, because the author read it and his emotion came through.

What did you like best about this story?

The fascinating inside look at modern Wall Street.

What about Greg Smith’s performance did you like?

His steadiness.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His mixed emotions at leaving work he had loved. Also, his experience of 9/11.

Any additional comments?

I think Mr. Smith has achieved his purpose of exposing how greed has overtaken Wall Street traders. It will be interesting to see if there are meaningful management and regulatory changes as a result.

10 people found this helpful

Opportunistically Speaking

I'll start with I love an accent and had zero trouble listening to this book. I'm always happier when a writer can narrate their own book, because it brings authenticity. I also appreciate when a writer is in over their head and calls in a pro. Not the case, Greg Smith can read his own book.

I really enjoyed this book initially. South African boy does good, wins scholarship to Stanford, procures Wall Street Internship and amazing career ensues. Greg gave enough insight and definition to his (complicated) work, so a novice could follow along and not get bored or overwhelmed with jargon. I felt like I learned things and even found myself making the hand gestures to buy and sell, like I was standing on 'the floor' (people driving by just thought I was nuts).

My problem is Greg comes across as a lily-white, do-gooder surrounded by blood-sucking heathens. It just doesn't feel genuine when you elevate yourself at the expense of others. He was the only good guy in a sea of scum... right (said sarcastically). He writes openly about his peer's weaknesses, his superior's faults and personality quirks even about hanging out with strippers in a hot tub in Vegas with his GS bretheren (whatever happened to what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?). He burnt people to write this book all the while he is portraying himself as saint. He totally covered his own a## and made a premeditated exit from GS, while simultaneously ripping the rug out from the company that took VERY good care of him for 10 years. It feels kind of gross and disingenuous. I ended up not liking this guy.

Listen, I LOVE a juicy tell-all and I still respect people I've admired if I learned they've done something outside of my moral boundaries. I just think this guy saw an opportunity... that is it precisely... Greg Smith comes of as an opportunistic jerk and by the end of this book I stopped caring about what he had to say.

9 people found this helpful

An amazing story everyone should hear

Everyone should listen to this story to fully understand the impact bankers have on our society and our economy. They've done a fantastic job of making sure they hold all of the aces.

1 person found this helpful

Sort of irrelevant...

...and oddly tone-deaf, though with a little bit of useful inside info.

The Big Short does a much better job of matter-of-factly skewering GS, and we didn't have to hear about how much anybody's birthday dinner cost.

2 people found this helpful

Interesting insider view of the Vampire Squid (GS)

3.5 of 5 stars.

Greg Smith has written an honest insider view of Goldman Sachs covering his employment at the renowned investment bank which overlapped the financial crises of 2008. This timeframe is key as it gives the author a pre-crises and post-crises perspective where he tracks the cultural changes within the firm that led to his decision to leave.

On the downside, this book was a bit too autobiographical and self-indulgently long. While the writer had to be careful about names and specifics, there were enough details in his story to document GS’ shift from a culture of integrity (according to Smith at least) to a money-first, customer-adversarial environment.

The author does a good job narrating his material.

Great story

Very interesting and great story. I wish the author would have spent more time behind the scenes as he left Goldman. Also what he recommends for safe investments. I know that’s not what the book was about. Great story, we need more people like the author to stand up and do what they believe in. Thank you!

it's a insider view

buy it. you will read it to the end. information that you can only find because he had informed on his time as a insider trading banker. telling how it has developed into a money grab for the bank and how they no longer care about people businesses or countries. only there commissions matter

As a Wall Street insider this book isn’t bad

This book does a good job at explaining Wall Street investment and culture concepts. However the narrator’s voice and tone was so dry that it quickly became hard to pay attention to. I work at a Wall Street firm and listened to this audiobook while working from home, his story and career are impressive and accomplished. But the overall dryness of the plot was rather boring. I’d recommend the best seller “Buy-side” for a more action packed and entertaining plot. This book is more informative and self validating more than anything.

Good insights

It is always good to know things about the inner workings of successful establishments the likes of GS.