From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, "the definitive history of the 2008 banking crisis," (The Atlantic) comes a riveting narrative of the most infamous stock market crash in history—one with ripple effects that still shape our society today.
In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. But behind the flashing ticker tapes and panicked traders, another drama unfolded—one of visionaries and fraudsters, titans and dreamers, euphoria and ruin. With unparalleled access to historical records and newly uncovered documents, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Ross Sorkin takes readers inside the chaos of the crash, behind the scenes of a raging battle between Wall Street and Washington and the larger-than-life characters whose ambition and naïveté in an endless boom led to disaster. The dizzying highs and brutal lows of this era eerily mirror today's world—where markets soar, political tensions mount, and the fight over financial influence plays out once again.
This is not just a story about money. 1929 is a tale of power, psychology, and the seductive illusion that this time is different. It's about disregarded alarm bells, financiers who fell from grace, and skeptics who saw the crash coming—only to be dismissed until it was too late.
New York Stock ExchangeNew York Stock ExchangeNew York Stock ExchangeNational City Bank Building
Five more places open once you start reading.
New York Stock Exchange
The White House
23 Wall Street
National City Bank Building
Sing Sing Prison
Mood
The look and feel of the story
Six more photos open once you start reading.
Listen while reading
Ambient sounds to accompany your journey.
About the author
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Andrew Ross Sorkin is an award-winning journalist for The New York Times, where he founded and edits the DealBook column, and a co-anchor of CNBC's Squawk Box. He is the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail and co-creator of the Showtime series Billions. In 1929, he turns his reporting to the Wall Street crash of 1929, tracing the decisions and personalities that turned a market panic into a nation-shattering catastrophe.