Books on history of M&A and Restructuring

• Big Deal - Bruce Wasserstein - bit of a high level overview from early 1800s through 1999 with great interjections when BW talks about his perspectives and the strategies used when he worked on some of the deals. Funny parts where he lauds Skilling and Enron and MCI/Worldco because ook was written in 1990s.

  • Bloodsport : When Ruthless Dealmakers, Shrewd Ideologues, and Brawling Lawyers Toppled the Corporate Establishment by Robert Teitelman - this is, literally, the history of M&A. From its roots as an uncouth (Jewish) area of the law to the dominant force it is today shepherded by Marty Lipton and Joe Flom. Also touches on the influence of Wasserstein (and the birth of the SRP/Poison Pill) and the advent of the raiders with the help of Drexel/Milken. Much more of a legal perspective but law is what M&A was built around. It will help you understand decisions like Unocal and Revlon in more detail.

• Accidental Investment Banker - Jonathan Knee - more of a first person perspective through 1980s, 90s and 00s. Knee joined MS as an Associate/VP, stayed through the DW merger then jumped to GS before leaving to be an early MD at Evercore.

There are quite a few like that focus on a specific time frame like Milken's building of Junk Bond market or the advent of the GFC.