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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
Ostensibly this book presents itself as Belfort's penance through brutal honesty, but the tone throughout is more delightful glee rather than shame or regret.
I am ashamed to admit that "men being idiots" books like this one are a guilty pleasure of mine. I love Tucker Max and enjoyed Scar Tissue. Belfort spends a lot of time explaining his financial achievements and how exactly he got into trouble with SEC. Skip those parts, they're boring compared to the rest of Belfort's eventual demise.
A good read for those interested in the partying lifestyle of rich stockbrokers... Read because of the movie, but hope that Scorsese's film surpasses this read.
medium-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
This is the messiest book full of terrible people and I kind of love that?
First of all, yes, I did see the movie first. It was brilliantly directed and Leonardo Dicaprio's capacity for physical comedy was sensational, but I walked away from the theater thinking that I had missed something, and that there had to be something more to this tale.
Now, after reading more than 500 pages of Belfort's autobiography, I can say with confidence that nope, there's nothing here.
Jordan Belfort is a world-class asshole who, even in the depths of his depravity, thinks far too highly of himself. He attempts to manipulate the story in his prologue, saying that the book is written in his voice at the time, implying that he knows his behavior isn't acceptable and that he's acknowledging that. But merely knowing that you're an entitled baby with no moral compass and burning sense of inadequacy does not excuse your behavior.
The other slice of the manipulation sandwich comes towards the book's conclusion, where he tries to play off his moral failings as the consequence of his addictions to booze, drugs and sex.
The drug addiction was a symptom, it was not the disease. This little bug-eyed, misogynist rat thought the world owed him something, so he screwed over hundreds, maybe thousands of people. That makes him an asshole, not an addict.
If you want to have a laugh at the depraved life of the rich and famous, watch the movie. But don't waste your time reading this 500-page stack of lies.
Now, after reading more than 500 pages of Belfort's autobiography, I can say with confidence that nope, there's nothing here.
Jordan Belfort is a world-class asshole who, even in the depths of his depravity, thinks far too highly of himself. He attempts to manipulate the story in his prologue, saying that the book is written in his voice at the time, implying that he knows his behavior isn't acceptable and that he's acknowledging that. But merely knowing that you're an entitled baby with no moral compass and burning sense of inadequacy does not excuse your behavior.
The other slice of the manipulation sandwich comes towards the book's conclusion, where he tries to play off his moral failings as the consequence of his addictions to booze, drugs and sex.
The drug addiction was a symptom, it was not the disease. This little bug-eyed, misogynist rat thought the world owed him something, so he screwed over hundreds, maybe thousands of people. That makes him an asshole, not an addict.
If you want to have a laugh at the depraved life of the rich and famous, watch the movie. But don't waste your time reading this 500-page stack of lies.
If this were a work of fiction, I would criticize the author for creating such an unrealistically over-the-top protagonist who is an unsympathetic, unrepentant, irredeemable scumbag. As it is, I’d have to say that, though the book had its moments, if I were asked to recommend an autobiography of a rich and famous addict, I’d be more likely to point someone toward [b:Life|9439303|Life|Keith Richards|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327960451l/9439303._SY75_.jpg|14323907] by Keith Richards, [b:Wishful Drinking|4961048|Wishful Drinking|Carrie Fisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347698159l/4961048._SY75_.jpg|5026857] by Carrie Fisher, or [b:Babylon Confidential: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Addiction|13586971|Babylon Confidential A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Addiction|Claudia Christian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1352204526l/13586971._SX50_.jpg|19174323] by Claudia Christian.
Really don't like the guy, and glad it was a library book so I didn't give him any money. That being said, it was an interesting read!