Offers an account of the most dramatic and anxiety-ridden era in national socioeconomic history--not merely a recounting of the collapse of Wall Street's legendary firms, but a broad examination of the people and the forces who killed Wall Street.

Fun and games -- Power and perks -- Sex, drugs, and debt -- An education in risk -- Bigger is better -- Financial renaissance -- Paying the price -- One big happy family -- Opening the floodgates -- No more Mother Merrill -- The money machine -- Perverse incentives -- Top of the world -- Cash stops flowing -- No clue -- The dancing stops -- The end begins -- "There are rumoprs that you guys are in trouble" -- Free fall -- The rescue -- Bailout nation.