SKU: 64290858947

The Wisdom of Finance: Discovering Humanity in the World of Risk and Return

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The Wisdom of Finance: Discovering Humanity in the World of Risk and Return"Entertaining and informative. Desai takes us on a journey through the fundamentals of finance, from asset pricing to risk and risk management, via options, mergers, debt, and bankruptcy." John Lanchester, The New Yorker "A fascinating new perspective on modern finance," Oliver Hart, 2016 Nobel Laureate in Economics "Lucid, witty and delightfully erudite From the French revolution to film noir, from the history of probability to Jane Austen and The

"Entertaining and informative. Desai takes us on a journey through the fundamentals of finance, from asset pricing to risk and risk management, via options, mergers, debt, and bankruptcy."- John Lanchester, The New Yorker

"A fascinating new perspective on modern finance," --Oliver Hart, 2016 Nobel Laureate in Economics

"Lucid, witty and delightfully erudite...From the French revolution to film noir, from the history of probability to Jane Austen and The Simpsons, this is an astonishing intellectual feast." --Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan

Longlisted for 2017 Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year

A 2017 AMAZON PICK IN BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP

A WealthManagement.com BEST BUSINESS BOOK OF 2017

In 1688, essayist Josef de la Vega described finance as both "the fairest and most deceitful business . . . the noblest and the most infamous in the world, the finest and most vulgar on earth."

The characterization of finance as deceitful, infamous, and vulgar still rings true today - particularly in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. But, what happened to the fairest, noblest, and finest profession that de la Vega saw?

De la Vega hit on an essential truth that has been forgotten: finance can be just as principled, life-affirming, and worthy as it can be fraught with questionable practices. Today, finance is shrouded in mystery for outsiders, while many insiders are uneasy with the disrepute of their profession. How can finance become more accessible and also recover its nobility?

Harvard Business School professor Mihir Desai, in his "last lecture" to the graduating Harvard MBA class of 2015, took up the cause of restoring humanity to finance. With incisive wit and irony, his lecture drew upon a rich knowledge of literature, film, history, and philosophy to explain the inner workings of finance in a manner that has never been seen before.

This book captures Desai's lucid exploration of the ideas of finance as seen through the unusual prism of the humanities. Through this novel, creative approach, Desai shows that outsiders can access the underlying ideas easily and insiders can reacquaint themselves with the core humanity of their profession.

The mix of finance and the humanities creates unusual pairings: Jane Austen and Anthony Trollope are guides to risk management; Jeff Koons becomes an advocate of leverage; and Mel Brooks's The Producers teaches us about fiduciary responsibility. In Desai's vision, the principles of finance also provide answers to critical questions in our lives. Among many surprising parallels, bankruptcy teaches us how to react to failure, the lessons of mergers apply to marriages, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model demonstrates the true value of relationships.
THE WISDOM OF FINANCE is a wholly unique book, offering a refreshing new perspective on one of the world's most complex and misunderstood professions.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Published: 05/23/2017
ISBN: 9780544911130
Pages: 240
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.70w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 02/27/2017
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SKU: 64290858947

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Marvin Parsons Jr.
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toy to relieve stress in a dog.
Color: Orange
He actually cares FOR this toy. I think he thinks its alive. I put it in his Kong weeble wobble thing because that thing actually is indestructible, thinking he'd be able to play with it but not be able to tear it up and he started yelping like he was hurt. I do expect him at some point to tear this thing up if he gets bored with it. He's a shredder and the material looks shred-able. But right now he loves this thing. First toy he takes to bed with him. ;)
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Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2026
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jeff c
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
Keeps your dog busy
Color: Blue
Good toy to keep your dog busy. Make sure you check it periodically to ensure it stays together.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026
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Janice A
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
My puppy’s favorite
Color: Orange
Great quality and built to last. My dog really enjoys playing with it and stays entertained for quite a while. The material is strong yet safe, and the included drawstring bag is a convenient extra for easy storage. Is colorful and my become my puppy’s favorite.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 1
If you love your dog…don’t buy this.
Color: Orange
We have a nonaggressive English cocker. She opened the ball every time she played with it. And yes, we are closing it as hard as we can. I do not recommend this toy for any dog! This is a dangerous toy for a dog that is not supervised.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026
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john wenner
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 2
Fun but not for rough play.
Color: Orange
The ball contented our “golden” Jaxson for about 15 minutes. He then thought it was a regular ball and it’s just a little delicate for a big dog. I just wrote it off as a loss. Great idea but should be more durable.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2026

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