Zero Coupon

This is a fun book. Even if you don't have an interest in the markets, you can still really enjoy it. Erdman does a great job of explaining the sometimes complicated market elements. And for those with a market bent, the concepts the author interweaves are intriguing and thought-provoking.

After reading Den of Thieves this books brings us over from reality to fiction by way of the Grisham / Clancy type drama and action of high finance and intrigue. Beginning where Den of Thieves leaves off (in the real world) this takes us on a fast passed romp through start-up, cutting deals, leveraging coin, and turning up the heat to create a trading operation in the woods north of San Francisco.The Willy Saxton character is perfect and handles the presure well. This of course is not great literature, but it sure is a fast and great read. Books like this are like "Text Movies". They grab and entertain you. If you like high finance, drama, and intrigue then this is it!

A masterfully written book. Even though I read the book almost 4 years ago, I still believe it's the best I have ever read. Mr. Erdman crafts a wonderful story about the world of high-finance. He writes about an area of life that few understand and makes it easy to comprehend. The characters are solidly depicted and the hero is even more realistic due to his flawed and checkered past. The flaws in the hero just make him more believable and his goal in the story just reinforces human nature that "even though you're down, you pick yourself up and start over"; (by any means necessary) just makes Willie Saxon's character that much more exciting and real. One can almost imagine being in the character's place. Some may even wish to be where Willie Saxon was. Paul Erdman's characters are always strong willed and powerful. Mr. Erdman's portrayal of a riches-to-rags-to-riches character makes the story that much better. A great plot. A must read. For me, it's a must read "again".

Something Paul Erdman does that many of his comtemporaries neglect to do is he gives his characters personality and life. The dialogue has some spark.Besides good characters, Erdman is good with the technical details of finance. You get to dabble with offshore corporation, shell companies, underwriting and the like. It does not read like a textbook. It reads more like what you can imagine Micheal Milken doing in a meeting with his minions as he's setting up something - lots of charisma, some financial details, but not so much details that it would put us laypeople to sleep.His other books are like this, too. Except for the Swiss Account (which reads like a history book) and The Panic of 89 (which reads like a Tom Clancy thriller).

Paul Erdman is the Tom Clancy of high finance. In his excellent way of building the plot he teaches you how financial markets work and the different tools available in today's financial markets. You can either read the boring non-fiction books about those subjects or this exciting page-turner. A must read to anyone who likes suspense and the world of high finance.