For the Love of Money

A Memoir

By: Sam Polk

Narrated by: Sam Polk

“Part coming-of-age story, part recovery memoir, and part exposé of a rotten, money-drenched Wall Street culture” (Salon), Sam Polk’s unflinching account chronicles his fight to overcome the ghosts of his past—and the radical new way he now defines success.

At just thirty years old, Sam Polk was a senior trader for one of the biggest hedge funds on Wall Street, on the verge of making it to the very top. When he was offered an annual bonus of $3.75 million, he grew angry because it was not enough. It was then he knew he had lost himself in his obsessive pursuit of money. And he had come to loathe the culture—the shallowness, the sexism, the crude machismo—and Wall Street’s use of wealth as the sole measure of a person’s worth. He decided to walk away from it all.

For Polk, becoming a Wall Street trader was the fulfillment of his dreams. But in reality it was just the culmination of a life of addictive and self-destructive behaviors, from overeating, to bulimia, to alcohol and drug abuse. His obsessive pursuit of money papered over years of insecurity and emotional abuse. Making money was just the latest attempt to fill the void left by his narcissistic and emotionally unavailable father.

“Vivid, picaresque...riveting” (NewYorker.com), For the Love of Money brings you into the rarefied world of Wall Street trading floors, capturing the modern frustrations of young graduates drawn to Wall Street. Polk’s “raw, honest and intimate take on one man’s journey in and out of the business…really gives readers something to think about” (CNBC.com). It is “compellingly written...unflinchingly honest...about the inner journey Polk undertakes to redefine success” (Forbes).

A look inside the dark side of Wall Street from an insider

Very Well written and read by the author and subject. What a journey he has had. I enjoyed the entire story and the numerous underlying messages and life lessons Sam builds on. The book had me reflecting on my own life and examining my past and future accomplishments. This kind of self reflection and association is a rare find in a book and that made it one of the best books I have read in some time. Two thumbs up Sam Polk. What's next?

Enjoyable

Not many teachable lessons to walk away with such as a how to, but an enjoyable and thoughtful story if you are chasing money for happiness.

Great story

one of the better stories that I've heard from someone who isn't a celebrity. For the love of money brings you into the world of wallstreet and what it takes to make it in that life. From his childhood troubles to his adulthood the stories were entertaining. If your looking for a story about how to overcome addiction and see how one person found his way to a more meaningful life then I highly recommend this book and maybe listening to it at 2x speed.

One of My Favorite Books Ever

I don't know what I expected to get out of this book.. but, holy cow! It was addicting! I finished it by the morning of my third day after starting it. Incredible. Addicting. Powerful.

God told me to get this book

man Sam Polk,
this is exactly the book I needed at this time and man it was powerful. it's helped me learn from His insight into life. iv had a couple friends die and come back one especially Steven lebouff and He is just like Sam but Sam is more like Me. I learned years of Experience thru this book about a troubled past, addiction family life relationships and superficiality plus the Love of Money and living a fantasy. I am pleased to have finished this book terrific Read.