Why I Left Goldman Sachs: A Wall Street Story

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

The fascinating inside look at modern Wall Street.

His steadiness.

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

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.

I enjoyed this book and it held my interest throughout. It's a real inside look at finance. I agree with Greg. Whatever happened to corporate responsibility? It seems like Goldman Sachs thinks it doesn't apply to them. This book tells an interesting story from college through vice presidency for Greg! Nice work.

I am a financial crisis junkie and have listened to most of Audible's offerings on the topic. Simply put - those who do not know history are destined to relive it. Matters of finance are so complex that it is difficult for most to grasp what happened. For that reason, it still goes on. We cannot stop what we do not understand.

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.

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.

Definitely would reread some parts of the book. Especially the details explaining derivatives/SWOPS and how GS was involved in 2007-2008 Financial Fall.

Lords of Finance-Great book on the 4 major world powers in the early 1900's on they dealt with Gold Standard.

Explanation of GS involvement with the whole 2007-2008 Financial Fall

This was just one man's experience and the reader risks confirmation bias, but it was a compelling story and well-told. For an interesting look into one man's journey through his career at Goldman, this book is a great choice.

Helpful if you want to get some insight into how Golman Sachs works internally. To get the other side read (unfortuneately no audio available) "Culture of Success" (although its a bit dated)

I like books read by the author and this one in particular, his South African accent is a big plus.

The honesty expressed about what really happens at GS and how the culture changed as the economy got worse was brutally clear.

When he sat down at his desk to collect his things and leave. It must have been a powerful moment for him and yet he never seemed to waiver in his conviction.

As the narrator he was able to use voice inflection and his personal tone to bring the story to life. I have known several South Africans but his accent on some words was really funny.

As a former management intern I appreciated the struggle to get a full-time position and also the cutthroat behavior of many Ivy League candidates.

It should be mandatory reading for CEOs and interns alike of those who wish to maintain a culture that is somewhat "old fashioned" in the way that it treats its customers. Here I mean "old fashioned" in a positive context. One where the client is not ever a muppet, lol!

This book was an eye opener for me. Greg weaves a fun interesting life story in the world of finance. Never dull, with several colorful characters along for the ride.