"Discussion Materials" by Bill Keenan - Anyone Read This?

Anyone here read this book by Bill Keenan?

Personally started this last week and am about halfway through. Pretty entertaining read, dude is a solid writer and the book is certainly a throwback to my banking days (for better or worse). Interesting to see some of the differences of working at a BB such as having to deal with credit committees vs. what you'd experience at an EB or MM where you're not doing anything off your own balance sheet, but so much of the day to day bullshit rings true. Also highlights the differences between a bank w/ a lot of outsourced resources at your disposal (e.g. graphics / research / presentation teams) vs. one where you have to do pretty much everything in house. Another thing it definitely brings to light is the disparity between what experienced analysts know vs. fresh post-MBA associates w/ no prior experience.

IMO this is a great read for anyone who isn't sure if banking is for them or not, or for anyone who thinks banking is all about "models and bottles" (hint: it isn't).

Also, book is authored by the same guy who wrote this email: https://dealbreaker.com/2018/02/investment-bankin…

 

how much did he pay you to make this post?

Hello Wall Street, It’s Yours Truly. If you don’t see it here, I didn’t say it. Former Buffalo Bills Tailback / 1973 NFL MVP / 1968 Heisman Trophy Winner / 5x All Pro
 

I'm 90% through the book right now. Well written, easy to read, and funny/entertaining throughout. Author skews towards the cynical side but not so much that it becomes too much of a downer to enjoy.

Really recommend it for people in finance, and especially recommend it for those pursuing an internship/FT spot. Very down-to-earth and it ought to encourage some people to be a little less hardo.

 

I picked it up for $10 on kindle because I read everything, it’s actually pretty solid. Like an updated monkey business. I will say though, if this is even remotely accurate, this day to day experience is so foreign to me coming from an EB (outsourcing a ton of the work, gigantic bloated decks cobbled together from zombie materials, having huge teams from sponsors / lev fin / coverage team all on the deal, etc)

Anyways, definitely going into my recommended list

 
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A few more books that are good reads: (I’m a sucker for business nonfiction narratives / memoirs)

Barbarians at the Gate The Outsiders Smartest Guys in the Room Black Edge Big Short Bad Blood Den of Thieves King of Capital All the Devils are Here The Everything Store Accidental Investment Banker Disney War When Genius Failed Billion Dollar Whale Zero to One The Most Important Thing Liars Poker Monkey Business What it Takes The Ride of a Lifetime Billion Dollar Molecule Shoe Dog Boys in the Boat (not business, but just a dope book)

Those are all narrative nonfiction style rather than “learning”

If you haven’t read it already, start with Monkey Business or Liars Poker. They are lighter fun reads

 
NuclearPenguins:
Anyone here read this book by Bill Keenan?

Personally started this last week and am about halfway through. Pretty entertaining read, dude is a solid writer and the book is certainly a throwback to my banking days (for better or worse). Interesting to see some of the differences of working at a BB such as having to deal with credit committees vs. what you'd experience at an EB or MM where you're not doing anything off your own balance sheet, but so much of the day to day bullshit rings true. Also highlights the differences between a bank w/ a lot of outsourced resources at your disposal (e.g. graphics / research / presentation teams) vs. one where you have to do pretty much everything in house. Another thing it definitely brings to light is the disparity between what experienced analysts know vs. fresh post-MBA associates w/ no prior experience.

IMO this is a great read for anyone who isn't sure if banking is for them or not, or for anyone who thinks banking is all about "models and bottles" (hint: it isn't).

Also, book is authored by the same guy who wrote this email: https://dealbreaker.com/2018/02/investment-banking-associate-leaving-de…

Good rec, just bought it. Not sure I'll ever have time to read it, but I'd like to one day.

 

This book slaps. Read it in two days and found myself laughing aloud often (note: may be skewed by lack of human interaction in quarantine, dark days indeed). Keenan's depiction of the day-to-day in banking is more detailed and IMO more accurate than that of Monkey Business, Liar's Poker, etc and therefore more relatable. He seems like a genuine dude so I wish him all the best in his post-banking ventures and hope he does one day smash that chick from Factset.

 

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