Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite
More Money Than God by Sebastian Mallaby is a riveting look at the world of hedge funds, where bold bets, sharp intellects, and high stakes shape the financial landscape.
Mallaby traces the evolution of hedge funds from their scrappy beginnings in the 1960s to their central role in the 2008 financial crisis. Far from being reckless gamblers, the best hedge fund managers come across as renegade thinkers who rewrote the rules of modern finance. With rare insider access, Mallaby profiles legendary figures like George Soros, Julian Robertson, and Paul Tudor Jones, revealing what drove their biggest wins and their worst stumbles.
This isn’t just a parade of personalities. It’s a clear-eyed look at the philosophies, strategies, and risk appetites that separate hedge fund giants from the rest. Mallaby digs into how these funds operate, why they succeed or fail, and what their rise means for the future of the global economy.
Importantly, the book doesn’t ignore the controversy. Hedge funds are known for secrecy, volatility, and occasionally outsized influence. Mallaby doesn’t shy away from their flaws but offers a balanced, thoughtful view that goes beyond headlines.
Equal parts financial history, intellectual biography, and cautionary tale, More Money Than God reads like a thriller but delivers serious insight. Whether you’re a finance buff or just curious about the people behind the billion-dollar trades, this is a front-row seat to capitalism’s most elite and eccentric players.
Smart, detailed, and never dull, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how modern markets really work.