Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle

This book is spot on about the life of a junior person at an Investment Bank. As they said, you can change the name on the door but the stories are the same. My wife read the book first and I basically laid out for her practically every topic they’d be touching on before she’d get to it.

For anyone considering investment banking as a career, you really must read this book to understand exactly what you are getting into. (The same is true for the spouse/prospective spouse of an associate.) Although, I should warn you that by reading this book before getting into the business, it’ll remove one of the main self-motivational tools that we all used to deal with it day in and day out, the “They really need me here because I’m essential to the organization!”

Both authors realized as many of us did that you aren’t. Once you have that epiphany, you either buy into the life 100% and drink the Kool-Aid or you say thanks for the training and experience and move on. (BTW, the authors lay out for you where the real power center of the bank is. Hint for those entering the business, learn a little something about the local sports teams in order to effectively BS with the copy room guys. You really, really want them to like you. Pay particular attention to that chapter and lose the “I’m an MBA from Wharton/Harvard/et al” attitude.)

Overall, a quick and interesting read and highly recommended for those who invest, are contemplating the business as a career, or those who’ve left and just want to laugh at the insanity.

Review by Ryan Alexander

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