Confidence Men
Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President
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Narrated by:
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James Lurie
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By:
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Ron Suskind
About this listen
The hidden history of Wall Street and the White House comes down to a single, powerful, quintessentially American concept: confidence. Both centers of power, tapping brazen innovations over the past three decades, learned how to manufacture it.
Until August 2007, when that confidence finally began to crumble.
In this gripping and brilliantly reported book, Ron Suskind tells the story of what happened next, as Wall Street struggled to save itself while a man with little experience and soaring rhetoric emerged from obscurity to usher in "a new era of responsibility". It is a story that follows the journey of Barack Obama, who rose as the country fell, and offers the first full portrait of his tumultuous presidency.
Wall Street found that straying from long-standing principles of transparency, accountability, and fair dealing opened a path to stunning profits. Obama’s determination to reverse that trend was essential to his ascendance, especially when Wall Street collapsed during the fall of an election year and the two candidates could audition for the presidency by responding to a national crisis. But as he stood on the stage in Grant Park, a shudder went through Barack Obama. He would now have to command Washington, tame New York, and rescue the economy in the first real management job of his life.
The new president surrounded himself with a team of seasoned players - like Rahm Emanuel, Larry Summers, and Tim Geithner - who had served a different president in a different time. As the nation’s crises deepened, Obama’s deputies often ignored the president’s decisions - “to protect him from himself” - while they fought to seize control of a rudderless White House. Bitter disputes - between men and women, policy and politics - ruled the day. The result was an administration that found itself overtaken by events as, year to year, Obama struggled to grow into the world’s toughest job and, in desperation, take control of his own administration.
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Ron Suskind introduces readers to an ensemble cast, from the titans of high finance to a new generation of reformers, from petulant congressmen and acerbic lobbyists to a tight circle of White House advisers - and, ultimately, to the president himself, as you’ve never before seen him. Based on hundreds of interviews and filled with piercing insights and startling disclosures, Confidence Men brings into focus the collusion and conflict between the nation’s two capitals - New York and Washington, one of private gain, the other of public purpose - in defining confidence and, thereby, charting America’s future.
©2011 Ron Suskind (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishersListeners also enjoyed...
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An eye-opening account of how Congress today really works - and doesn’t - that follows the dramatic journey of the sweeping financial reform bill enacted in response to the Great Crash of 2008. The founding fathers expected Congress to be the most important branch of government and gave it the most power. When Congress is broken - as its justifiably dismal approval ratings suggest - so is our democracy.
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insightful, and eye opening.
- By A&K Schneider on 10-21-17
By: Robert G. Kaiser
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The Promise
- President Obama, Year One
- By: Jonathan Alter
- Narrated by: Jonathan Alter
- Length: 20 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Barack Obama’s inauguration as president on January 20, 2009, inspired the world. But the great promise of “Change We Can Believe In” was immediately tested by the threat of another Great Depression, a worsening war in Afghanistan, and an entrenched and deeply partisan system of business as usual in Washington. Despite all the coverage, the backstory of Obama’s historic first year in office has until now remained a mystery.
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Tiresome
- By Matthew on 05-21-10
By: Jonathan Alter
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The Great American Stick Up
- Greedy Bankers and the Politicians Who Love Them
- By: Robert Scheer
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Instead of going where other journalists have gone in search of this story - the board rooms and trading floors of the big Wall Street firms - Scheer goes back to Washington, D.C., a veritable crime scene, beginning in the 1980s, where the captains of the finance industry, their lobbyists and allies among leading politicians destroyed an American regulatory system that had been functioning effectively since the era of the New Deal.
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A great telling of an unfortunate part of history
- By Trace on 10-27-20
By: Robert Scheer
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The House of Dimon
- How JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon Rose to the Top of the Financial World
- By: Patricia Crisafulli
- Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Jamie Dimon is Wall Street's biggest player. Following the 11h-hour rescue of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan, his profile has reached stratospheric levels. And while the deals and decisions he's made have usually turned out to be the right ones, his journey to the top of the financial world has been anything but easy. Now, in The House of Dimon, business writer Patricia Crisafulli goes behind the scenes to recount the amazing events that have shaped Dimon's career.
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Intriguing
- By Jean on 08-28-16
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American Icon
- Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company
- By: Bryce G. Hoffman
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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At the end of 2008, Ford Motor Company was just months away from running out of cash. With the auto industry careening toward ruin, Congress offered all three Detroit automakers a bailout. General Motors and Chrysler grabbed the taxpayer lifeline, but Ford decided to save itself. Under the leadership of charismatic CEO Alan Mulally, Ford had already put together a bold plan to unify its divided global operations, transform its lackluster product lineup, and overcome a dysfunctional culture of infighting, backstabbing, and excuses.
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The best business book I ever read
- By Michael on 10-07-12
By: Bryce G. Hoffman
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The Lost Bank
- The Story of Washington Mutual - The Biggest Bank Failure in American History
- By: Kirsten Grind
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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During the most dizzying days of the financial crisis, Washington Mutual, a bank with hundreds of billions of dollars in its coffers, suffered a crippling bank run. The story of its final, brutal collapse in the autumn of 2008, and its controversial sale to JPMorgan Chase, is an astonishing account of how one bank lost itself to greed and mismanagement, and how the entire financial industry - and even the entire country - lost its way as well. Kirsten Grind’s The Lost Bank is a magisterial and gripping account of these events.
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Sad and Angry by Turn
- By Johnnie Walker on 07-24-12
By: Kirsten Grind
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After the Music Stopped
- The Financial Crisis, the Response, and the Work Ahead
- By: Alan S. Blinder
- Narrated by: Graham Vick
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Alan S. Blinder - esteemed Princeton professor, Wall Street Journal columnist, and former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board under Alan Greenspan - is one of our wisest and most clear-eyed economic thinkers. In After the Music Stopped, he delivers a masterful narrative of how the worst economic crisis in postwar American history happened, what the government did to fight it, and what we must do to recover from it.
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Irresponsible, corrupt, and confused book
- By Thomas on 12-22-14
By: Alan S. Blinder
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Dealing with China
- An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower
- By: Henry M. Paulson
- Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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When Hu Jintao, China's then vice president, came to visit the New York Stock Exchange and Ground Zero in 2002, he asked Hank Paulson to be his guide. It was a testament to the pivotal role that Goldman Sachs played in helping China experiment with private enterprise. In Dealing with China, the best-selling author of On the Brink draws on his unprecedented access to both the political and business leaders of modern China to answer several key questions.
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A Valuable Book on China
- By Michael Moore on 09-04-15
By: Henry M. Paulson
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The Price of Politics
- By: Bob Woodward
- Narrated by: Boyd Gaines
- Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Based on 18 months of reporting, Woodward's 17th book The Price of Politics is an intimate, documented examination of how President Obama and the highest profile Republican and Democratic leaders in the United States Congress attempted to restore the American economy and improve the federal government's fiscal condition over three and one half years. The Price of Politics addresses the key issue of the presidential and congressional campaigns: the condition of the American economy.
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Making the Sausage
- By Graham on 10-18-12
By: Bob Woodward
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Shaky Ground
- The Strange Saga of the US Mortgage Giants
- By: Bethany McLean
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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In 2008 the US Treasury put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a life-support state known as "conservatorship" to prevent their failure - and worldwide economic chaos. The two companies, which were always controversial, have become a battleground. Today, Fannie and Freddie are profitable again but still in conservatorship. Their profits are being redirected toward reducing the federal deficit, which leaves them with no buffer should they suffer losses again.
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Details on the Culture and History of the GSEs
- By Jose on 10-15-15
By: Bethany McLean
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Borrowed Time
- Two Centuries of Booms, Busts, and Bailouts at Citi
- By: James Freeman, Vern McKinley
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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To save the economy and keep Citi afloat in 2008, the government provided huge infusions of cash through multiple bailouts that frustrated and angered the American public. But, as Wall Street Journal writer James Freeman and financial expert Vern McKinley reveal, the 2008 crisis was just one of many disasters Citi has experienced since its founding more than 200 years ago. In Borrowed Time they reveal Citi’s disturbing history of instability and government support. It’s a story that neither Citi nor Washington wants told.
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Biased
- By CF on 08-09-19
By: James Freeman, and others
What listeners say about Confidence Men
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Laura
- 02-29-12
Fabulous book
This is the best book I have read on the subject of what went on behind the scenes during the first two years of Obama's presidency, what happened with healthcare, the economy and why his popularity flagged. The narration by James Lurie is just superb, I have listened to it four times and always hear something new. It is very informative and entertaining.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Salt Lake Joan
- 12-13-11
It's Tough Being President
This book gives plenty of insight into the Obama White House. I pray that he can develop the leadership wisdom to take better advantage of his advisors over the next two years.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Roger
- 05-07-12
Why we should hate Bankers, and Govement failed
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Inside story on how the Greedy Bankers took us down the road of a great depression. We also find out that neither Dem’s nor Repub's didn’t help. Makes you want to hold the financial leaders for Treason. Terrorist are a threat, but these guys can do a lot more damage.. and faster!
Who was your favorite character and why?
None...
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No--Got too mad
Any additional comments?
Great book! I learned I didn't want to know what I now know
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- Charles Cyr
- 06-21-12
Corruption and Greed
What made the experience of listening to Confidence Men the most enjoyable?
Very fascinating to have illuminated the intermingled workings of Washington and those greedy bastards on Wall Street. I thoroughly enjoyed this, even though it made my blood boil at times.It shows how Obama was subtly corralled by some in his cabinet, so they could save their banking friends from full blown popular disgrace....
Have you listened to any of James Lurie’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No. He did a fine job with this...
If you could give Confidence Men a new subtitle, what would it be?
I think "Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President" is very apropos.
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- Rancher
- 02-27-12
EXCEPTIONAL VIEWS INTO THE INSIDE
This is a no apologies approach to descriptions of how the administration dealt with the economy when it became clear it would dominate the first few years of the Obama presidency. Obama and his staff members are described, criticized, and praised. If you wonder why certain policy decisions went down the way they did, this will help you to understand.
Obama's economic IQ is low and he's a prideful person who would prefer not to show weakness...especially in front of his staff members. After all he is the President. Unfortunately, his staff didn't have the option of being able to defer the economic decision making until the POTUS had time to get up to speed. As Larry Summers put it to another senior staff member "you realize we're home alone here."
The economic team was poorly organized and suffered from personality conflicts. The roles were not well described, and that delayed policy decisions and made the whole process difficult. Obama sorely needed the skills and experience this team had to offer, but he lacked any real experience of how to lead and or manage these highly qualified specialists. Summers in particular seemed to cause the most friction. He was overbearing, unable to accept responsibility for error and seemed to project an aura of "too bright to fail." Basically, he didn't play well with others.
The banking negotiations were poorly handled. The government was long on leverage, and the bankers knew it. But the government surprised them by not asking for the obvious in return for the money. Same way with the Wall Street crowd. With all the complaining about compensation packages, you would think the Street would have to show some restraint. To the delight of the Street execs, the threat was leveled, but it was all for show. It just didn't have the teeth to stick.
Net net, the book describes how a team of very well intentioned, bright, hard working people try to solve very large, complex and important economic puzzles for the benefit of their country.
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- Kendra
- 01-02-12
An Interesting Read
Would you listen to Confidence Men again? Why?
This is a book well worth your time. You'll see just how connected at the hip our banks, government and Wall Street really are. Ron Suskind is a Democrat and he writes with his Democrat perspective, but he is for the most part even handed. I think he may be a little kinder, more forgiving and definitely more understanding of these people than I am, but he is fair.
He seems to conclude that the man who ran for president (Barack Obama) just has not delivered. Because he had higher expectations and hopes for Obama in the begining--and more than I ever had--he probably had trouble bringing this book to light.
So, while I don't agree with all of Mr. Suskind's beliefs and premises regarding the size and role of government and philosophy of economics, I appreciate how much he has put before the American people in a good read.
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- Mike
- 04-15-13
Obama is not Liberal enough...
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I'm glad I listened, because it helped me understand a point of view that I didn't understand before. I read this book because it was recommended to me by a professional college with a very dark view of our country's economic future. I didn't realize the level of liberal bias from the author's view point prior to listening to the book. I figured it out pretty quick when Elizabeth Warren (Miss min. Wage should be $24 per hour) was characterized by the author as one of the most brilliant people on the face of the planet. I have a healthy skepticism about books like this that are written as a fly on the wall perspective on some of the most powerful people in the world. If you would like to understand why the far-left has been dissatisfied with Obama's first term this book is for you.
If you’ve listened to books by Ron Suskind before, how does this one compare?
I have not, but I googled him halfway through listening and read some scathing opinions of the author that lead me to further distrust the validity of some of the quotes in the book. My problem with the author is he tries to give the impression that this is a hard hitting unbiased review of Obama's economic policy's but never really gets there. All the blame goes to Larry Somers and the harshest criticism of Obama is that he is too collegial and not Liberal enough.
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- Glenn
- 12-01-11
Have only listened to the first 15 minutes...
and I can't stand the narrator’s voice! It distracts from the story!! All I can think about is his low, scratchy delivery.
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- Lynn
- 05-16-12
Scary Book - Just When You Thought It Was Safe
Ron Suskind (A Hope in the Unseen, The Way of the World, The Price of Loyalty, The One Percent Doctrine) has produced a wonderful new book titled Confidence Men. Suskin in this book relates how the Obama White House dealt with the economic crisis that overshadowed the administration when coming to office. This is one page turner of a story. Suskind is fair to Bush and critical of Bush when it is appropriate. He is critical of Obama and fair to the President when that is the right thing to do. Most of all, I appreciate his sympathetic tone toward the President. The narrative is unsettling and disconcerting, but Obama comes across as a well meaning if someone inept leader. Wait! This book isn’t a bash job on Obama nor is it an apology for him. Suskind just reports what he found. Every tax payer would do well to read this volume to understand how the decision making process came down during that era. It is – well – scary. Based upon hundreds of hours of interviews with over 200 people, this book is well worth the reader’s time. Read it and make your own decision. The reading of James Lurie is very good.
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- Nina Donnard
- 12-22-11
This is the best book for the election time.
What made the experience of listening to Confidence Men the most enjoyable?
You learn a lot about American Economy and financial matters.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Barack Obama
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It is imposible to get this information at one sitting. It took me 2 weeks of intensive listenig. Run Suskind is an outstanding political writer. I learned a lot about economy and about the complexity of running this country. I lesten to most of Ron Suskind books ob Audible.com.
Any additional comments?
It was a long and extensive venture into politics and economy of our country
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1 person found this helpful