When Fools Rush In

Truth indeed is stranger than fiction.

Finally, I finished reading the thick hardbound copy of Conspiracy of Fools by Kurt Eichenwald, a book which was lent to me by my boss nearly a year ago. While the books is based on facts as researched by the author for three years while covering the Enron scandal, it was written like a heart-stopping bestseller novel by Grisham. This intermarriage of artistic license (with respect to speculating how a character feels at a certain point) and factual research (as to what was on the records) is, I would say, a success because it was able to keep me interested in continuing to read the book despite its volume and having to grasp financial concepts which the author successfully conveyed to laymen like me. The author takes his readers to valleys and peaks, which is what entertaining fiction books are made of but at the same time, he ushers his readers into the grim and murky midst of greed in the corporate setting. I remember reading and agreeing with the book, "All I Needed To Know, I Learned in Kindergarten" and surely, this is one example where truth and lies are mangled to distort but nonetheless, kindergarten would quickly and easily spot beneath the mirage. It is just astounding how the main players in the Enron saga was able to delude themselves into thinking they can get away with their ploy. Much disconcerting is their belief that their scheme is financially justifiable. This modern day "Emperor's New Clothes" tale is an eye opener in the truest sense. It just goes to show that just like the Emperor, seeing life through green (bucks) colored glasses surely leads to blindness.