‘In Chaos Kings, the indefatigable Scott Patterson has done it again: delivered a riveting account of Wall Street mavericks whose unconventional understanding of risk has netted them a fortune and us a fascinating account of how they did it. The unlikely partnership between Mark Spitznagel and Nassim Taleb has made them rich, saved their clients from financial calamity, and, under Patterson’s deft pen, produced an epic page turner.’
William D. Cohan, New York Times bestselling author of Power Failure, Money and Power, and House of Cards
‘Scott Patterson’s Chaos Kings is an extraordinary exploration of cutting-edge efforts to understand the manifold and interconnected risks slamming civilisation at an alarming rate. It’s a critical read for anyone with an interest in what’s coming next and how to prepare for it, financially and otherwise. Scott has an uncanny knack for diving into the fascinating convergence of technology and investing, so I’m always excited to see what he’s discovering.’
Bradley Hope, New York Times bestselling co-author of Billion Dollar Whale and co-founder of Project Brazen
‘Fast paced like a thriller but, also, thought-provoking in its willingness to show us the range of possible catastrophes, Chaos Kings tracks the adventures of contrarian investors who, rather than hide from chaos and confusion, seek it out. Their reward in many cases: a fortune. This book teems with great stories as well as market insights that you won’t get from conventional investors.’
Aaron Brown, former Chief Risk Manager at AQR Capital Management, and author of The Poker Face of Wall Street and Red-Blooded Risk
‘Financial markets covet stability; they don't like surprises. In our new age of crisis, Scott Patterson convincingly recounts how a unique type of trader has learned to embrace the disruptions and make a lot of money doing so. Combining risk theory, finance, and portraits of some of the most interesting billionaires of doom, Patterson takes us on a disturbing tour of what could come tumbling down. But he also provides a detailed road map showing average citizens how to steer past catastrophe. You’ll be left wondering whether these Chaos Kings are brilliant, opportunistic, visionary, or even loathsome. In Patterson’s lively account, you’ll definitely find them fascinating.’
Juliette Kayyem, former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and author of The Devil Never Sleeps: learning to live in an age of disasters
‘The world is an increasingly unstable place, threatening to go off the rails at any time. This chaos is devastating to many, but a boon to a few who are cashing in on it. Read this engaging book to learn about who they are and how they do it.’
Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics and author of Financial Shock and Paying the Price
‘We live in a world of pandemics, climate change, war, and unstable institutions. Scott Patterson’s fascinating Chaos Kings is a provocative look at those placing big bets who believe they have tamed the financial risk whipped up by these unruly beasts. It holds perceptive insights for anyone who lives — or invests — in our modern uncertain world.’
Russell Gold, author of Superpower and The Boom
‘A richly reported work that features a fascinating ensemble of quirky characters. Important reading for anyone interested in risk-taking now — and in the future.’
Anita Raghavan, author of The Billionaire’s Apprentice
‘A captivating, important, and unsettling book. Chaos Kings takes a timely look at how to survive and prosper in an increasingly uncertain and unstable world of global warming, pandemics, and geopolitical danger.’
William Green, author of Richer, Wiser, Happier: how the world’s greatest investors win in markets and life
‘Rock-star status is reserved for a clique who have made storm-chasing in stocks and bonds into something between an art and a science, and an extraordinarily lucrative one at that. They are the subject of Chaos Kings, a new book by Scott Patterson, who casts an engaging and accessible light on what makes these oddball savants tick, and how they make fortunes from disaster … Chaos Kings avoids making readers feel like they’re out of their depth … The power of the competing egos at play and the urgency of their message on everything from pandemics to the climate to the health of your lifesavings carry the tale.’
Katie Martin, Financial Times
‘Wall Street Journal stalwart Patterson continues his explorations of high finance with a clutch of contrarian risk takers … Deft, accessible analysis and guidance. Complex economic and scientific theories lucidly rendered.’
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
‘Wall Street Journal reporter Patterson (Dark Pools) delivers an illuminating investigation into those who profit from anticipating crises … [T]he author has a knack for translating complicated financial manoeuvres into easily comprehensible terms … Detailed yet accessible, this will appeal to fans of Michael Lewis’s The Big Short.’
Publishers Weekly
‘Chaos Kings will provide the reader with plenty of food for thought — along with some sleepless nights.’
Matthew Partridge, Money Week
‘The book highlights those who have made money while the world falls apart. But not just any money — this book talks about making billions while there is metaphorical, or literal blood on the streets … It’s fascinating, a little sickening, and one heck of a yarn of a book. It is well worth the read and the learning that will come from it … Patterson’s book is one of the best financial stories around. Highly recommended.’
Chris Reed, NZ Booklovers
Praise for Dark Pools:
‘Richly reported … an invaluable piece of timely journalism that should be read by regulators and anyone with a cent in the stock market … You will never look at the opening bell in the same way.’
Financial Times
Praise for Dark Pools:
’Remarkable … even long-time participants in electronic markets will learn a lot from this book.’
Forbes
Praise for The Quants:
‘Fascinating and deeply disturbing … Patterson gives faces and personalities to the quants, making their saga accessible and intriguing … [he’s] onto a big story that begs follow-up.’
New York Times
Praise for The Quants:
‘Scott Patterson has the ability to see things you and I don't notice. In The Quants he does an admirable job of debunking the myths of black box traders and provides a very entertaining narrative in the process.’
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, New York Times bestselling author of Fooled by Randomness and The Black Swan
