A Century’s Warning to Wall Street

1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History takes readers inside the tension and chaos of the financial collapse that ended the Roaring Twenties.

With his trademark mix of meticulous reporting and cinematic storytelling, Andrew Ross Sorkin reconstructs the feverish buildup to the crash and the fallout that redefined global finance. He captures the ambition, arrogance, and desperation of the bankers and investors who believed prosperity had no ceiling; until the market proved otherwise.

Sorkin turns economic history into narrative drama, illustrating how speculation and confidence can morph into panic and ruin. It’s less a distant historical study than a mirror reflecting how easily modern markets still flirt with the same dangerous psychology.

History’s Most Expensive Lesson

Critics have lauded 1929 for its accessible yet deeply researched portrayal of a complex era. Reviewers praise Sorkin’s ability to transform balance sheets and trading floors into human stories of ambition and collapse, while drawing sharp parallels to the crises of today. The book has been recognized for reviving public interest in financial history and for making macroeconomics both readable and urgent.

While some call it dense in scope, most agree it succeeds in making the 1929 crash feel immediate and instructive. Sorkin’s work reinforces his standing as one of the few writers who can bridge journalism, storytelling, and economic insight; turning the lessons of history into warnings that still matter.