A Colossal Failure of Common Sense

While you pore over the dry analysis of the financial crisis of 2008 with a cup of strong coffee in hand--take a few hours to listen to this engaging account of the investment firm Lehman Brothers. According to Robinson and McDonald, while the "mortgage guys" on the fourth floor wrecked the world economy and the "chowder heads" on the 31st floor wrecked Lehman, the risk-and-debt experts on the third floor saw it all coming. Forgive the authors their often-overwrought language and absorb their sense of the moment with respect to an extraordinary line of work. Erik Davies's tough-guy baritone is suitable and easy to understand. He delivers the story's vivid images and characters with panache. F.C. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine