James J. Cramer, co-founder of TheStreet.com takes listeners on a no-holds-barred tour of Wall street revealing how the game is played, who br...
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Mar 04, 2008
Valerie
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Archived at http://web.archive.org/web/2002101306032...
Confessions of A Street Addict by James J. Cramer
Okay, first thing you need to know: "Confessions of A Street Addict" is not some world-weary tale of heroin abuse, which the title and the author's hardboiled cover photo might make you assume. (Okay, maybe that was just me.) The "Street" referred to is Wall Street, and the experiences James Cramer relates here describe his time in the trenches.
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Confessions of A Street Addict by James J. Cramer
Okay, first thing you need to know: "Confessions of A Street Addict" is not some world-weary tale of heroin abuse, which the title and the author's hardboiled cover photo might make you assume. (Okay, maybe that was just me.) The "Street" referred to is Wall Street, and the experiences James Cramer relates here describe his time in the trenches.
More...
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Aug 27, 2011
Eric
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I have a little bit invested in the stock market (no Warren Buffett, I, though, sadly), which I’m trying to build into a retirement fund, since I had to wipe mine out with my prolonged unemployment (of course, assuming I make it to retirement, which is itself a dicey proposition). Given this, I try to watch at least the first segment of Cramer’s “Mad Money” show on CNBC to try to get his take on what happened on the market that day. I do this because, for the most part, he uses language that I
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Feb 02, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
Not a bad book. Interesting, and taught me a decent amount about trading (after numerous wikipedia visits). At times slow, others exciting. I can't help but think that this book exists as almost entirely as a "my side of the story" kind of book, not necessary to be entertaining but in order to get his recollection of events on paper as a means to counter public perception or biased stories from contemporaries. I am not going to choose a side and say that he is right or wrong, lying
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Aug 31, 2007
Adam
rated it:
Basically the memoirs of Jim Cramer -- that annoying stock market guru on Mad Money. Cramer is a former editor of the Harvard Crimson, and even did a few years as a newspaper reporter and writer for American Lawyer. So he's not a bad writer.
Cramer tells the story of his life as a hedge fund manager and founder of the Street.com, which went public during the height of the dot com bubble. It's an entertaining read with a plot that reminds me of a sports book, only instead of trying to More...
Cramer tells the story of his life as a hedge fund manager and founder of the Street.com, which went public during the height of the dot com bubble. It's an entertaining read with a plot that reminds me of a sports book, only instead of trying to More...
Aug 30, 2010
Robert
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Before the Mad Money craze, this autobiography takes you from his struggling days as a journalist for newspapers on the west coast to his days at Goldman to his hugely successful (mostly because of his wife) management of his hedge fund and ends at his retirement from that fund. For one of the most notable personalities in personal finance of recent years, it was hard to believe in his words, "It is better to be lucky than good." Reads exactly like his personality would tell it to yo
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Feb 13, 2009
Stephanie
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I always poke fun at Ryan for reading "boring business books", but this one does NOT fit that mold. This is more of a biography of Jim Cramer's life as a hedge fund manager. He currently has a show called mad money where he talks about stocks. He's hilarious - totally insane - but really interesting. He has a journalism background and loves to write, which is probably why I could hardly stand to put this book down. It's still not a "light read" for non-business people, but I
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Dec 07, 2011
Bear-it
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This was an enjoyable and informative read. I appreciate how transparent he was with his own faults and manic behaviors. It was also a fun way to learn about wall street behavior from the "inside". Very insightful. Above all, I found his own behavior interesting to follow. To quote from the book, he gave "workaholic" a bad name.
Aug 03, 2011
I grudgingly read this book at my husband's urging. This was a fascinating read into Wall Street. Jim Cramer definitely meets the definition of the word "interesting." I used to refer to him as "Annoying Guy" but his style grew on me because his knowledge is so broad and easy for everyone to appreciate and employ.
Aug 03, 2011
I grudgingly read this book at my husband's urging. This was a fascinating read into Wall Street. Jim Cramer definitely meets the definition of the word "interesting." I used to refer to him as "Annoying Guy" but his style grew on me because his knowledge is so broad and easy for everyone to appreciate and employ.
Sep 09, 2008
Ellen
rated it:
Fascinating on many different levels! First, if you're at all interested in learning more about Wall Street, this is a great way to get an accurate, behind-the-scenes look at exactly what goes on at a hedge fund and on Wall Street. Much more educational than any "Investing For Dummies" book you'll ever read because you can see how situations play out in a real life setting.
Secondly, Jim Cramer is a brilliant man who has led an extremely successful and fascinating life. More...
Secondly, Jim Cramer is a brilliant man who has led an extremely successful and fascinating life. More...
Dec 26, 2008
Some insight to a hedge fund manager and someone who loves to talk about stocks, but is restricted due to SEC regulations.
Jan 24, 2009
Theo
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This is just a well written book. You do not have to like the market to enjoy this book.
Jan 05, 2010
Sean
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Goddamit Cramer you obnoxious bastard this book is actually pretty good...
Mar 18, 2008
Robloves17
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Though I havent read a ton in the field as of yet, this is definitely the best book by a long shot in terms of really giving a feel for how Wall Street REALLY operates. This is the pre MadMoney Cramer; removed is his new Kind-and-Gentle Chivalry thing (which is genuine I believe) and what is left is the Trader in the Trenches, and a damn good one at that. He's obviously a very intelligent and creative individual and here's his expose of some of real goings-on (some of it not so pretty) at the
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Jan 05, 2009
Kysweenz
rated it:
Cramer, a guy I enjoy his entertaining style, but you can see what a maniac he once was- and how a lot of these guys can lose there minds.
It is an inspirational story how he went from sleeping in his car to becoming one of the biggest guys on Wall Street. His knowledge of so many companies is incredible, and is in fact how he got a job, as he knew hundreds of stocks, their prices within a dollar and what his outlook was going forward.
Good read if you have an interest in More...
It is an inspirational story how he went from sleeping in his car to becoming one of the biggest guys on Wall Street. His knowledge of so many companies is incredible, and is in fact how he got a job, as he knew hundreds of stocks, their prices within a dollar and what his outlook was going forward.
Good read if you have an interest in More...
Jun 29, 2010
Michele
rated it:
Like an adrenaline rush packed into a book. I imagine Cramer writes like he speaks, so don't expect flowing prose. Scary and fascinating on a lot of different levels. Some of the financial talk was hard for me to follow but that didn't make it any less interesting. It will make you wonder how you, as an individual investor, could possibly ever pick anything that could even remotely be considered a safe bet, with all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that go on in the world of the Street.
Oct 13, 2008
Clara
rated it:
As I'm reading this book, I notice the number of dips that Cramer faced throughout his career. His wife represents his intuition, which he hardly ever recognizes before it's too late. Intuition is an interesting theme here.
Two things I am learning from Cramer: the insanity of motivation and the value of taking risks. If a man with a temper like Cramer's can manage to get through many things, then that holds a lot of value for someone like me who tends to hold back!
Two things I am learning from Cramer: the insanity of motivation and the value of taking risks. If a man with a temper like Cramer's can manage to get through many things, then that holds a lot of value for someone like me who tends to hold back!
Apr 13, 2009
Marylou
rated it:
Jim Cramer is not the jester he appears to be on TV, he knows his stocks, he just has some quirks like we all do?
Oct 28, 2007
Eric
rated it:
Interesting story of Jim Cramer's rise to fame from beat journalist in LA to the head of a major U.S. Hedge Fund. A good read alone for those interested in starting technology or internet businesses. The 100 pages detailing the creation and eventual public offering of "thestreet.com" outshines the rest of Cramer's story through shear drama. It is an excellent profile of the wild west internet days of the late 90's.
Jan 25, 2008
Mike
rated it:
What a jerk but what an investor! Not afraid to bare his soul. One of the best business book ever. Now he helps little guys like me understand what is going on in the financial world. This is a fantastic read if you don't mind an incredible ego trip. Hey he's made the FU $$, and now he's trying to pass on the knowledge. Most guys on Wall Street couldn't care less about us out in flyover country but not Jim
Feb 21, 2008
David
rated it:
This is a great book. I enjoyed it immensely, because of the dot.com stories and the hedge fund stories.
I particularly enjoyed the part where the CEO of thestreet.com was on TV. He was showing the host of the show and the viewers at home how easy the website is to use.
When the CEO went to login, he forgot his own password, and locked himself out of the website. ON TV! ON LIVE TV!
I particularly enjoyed the part where the CEO of thestreet.com was on TV. He was showing the host of the show and the viewers at home how easy the website is to use.
When the CEO went to login, he forgot his own password, and locked himself out of the website. ON TV! ON LIVE TV!
Jan 23, 2008
Brandon
rated it:
I must say that the book was one of the few I have read frmo cover to cover without putting it down--once. Cramer has a very interesting writing style that keeps my attention and desire to keep reading. It details his life from college to present and how he wound up being the investment guru that he is today. There is some investment advice, however the book is more of a biography of--a Street Addict.
Sep 28, 2010
Jill
rated it:
Great book! Cramer recommended it a couple of weeks ago if you wanted to understand more about how hedge funds work. For all his success and knowledge of the markets Jim Cramer was not afraid to let his true, insecure and at times paranoid self come through in this book. Worth reading if you're trying to figure out how the world economy got so screwed up and what we're headed towards.
Nov 19, 2008
Michael
rated it:
Finally, I learned how hedge funds operate. But I was disappointed by how much of the book deals with the web site. Overall, readable.
