The Derivatives Game

Nigel Foster is a pro at this – has been top of the Premier League in derivatives in the formative years – no investment management company was more influential than MAM in the eighties and nineties, or more powerful than Blackrock ever since – in both of which Nigel was Head of Derivatives. In The Derivatives Game he has made this important but difficult subject easy to understand, even if you aren’t at all mathematical. And he has managed to deliver his expertise through an exciting story of the booms and busts down the centuries, the scams and schemes of get-rich-quick operators and how they mainly went bust! Derivatives lay at the heart of all of these – from Tulipmania and the South Sea Bubble to the shenanigans of various operators in the last century – the Hunt Brothers trying to corner Silver, what lay behind the Crash of ’87, the scandals of Robert Maxwell, Enron – loads more – and the collapse of Lehman’s in 2008. It’s riveting stuff.I have been trying to compile a selection of books to teach my grandchildren about the perils and possibilities of the great worlds of finance - and speculation - that lie open to them. Nigel Foster’s The Derivatives Game has rocketed to the top of the list – I know his exciting tales of past swindles and manias will grab their interest. But his rigorous intellectual mastery of this seemingly difficult subject will also impress them and engage their interest – maybe even inspire them to consider a career in some part of the financial world. They too can become Warren Buffetts of the future.

I would strongly recommend this book to anybody interested in the evolution of derivatives over time, their economic benefits but also their devastating impact when being misused. The storyline takes the reader through a grand tour of the derivatives market, avoiding jargon and technical language often prevalent in other books covering the topic. The author's great and long-standing expertise in the subject shines through the pages, bringing welcome clarity to the debate about the social usefulness of these instruments. I enjoyed the book tremendously !

On time and as advertised

The Derivatives Game (Nigel Foster). Untold story of how derivatives have played a key role in enabling the development of trade and capital markets through history. A unique perspective of human endeavour, adventure and failure told through a series of short stories and vignettes that are accessible without needing technical knowledge of derivatives. Christmas sorted.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Derivatives-Game-Nigel-Foster/dp/1999988302/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527717503&sr=8-1&keywords=nigel+foster+the+derivatives+game

This is a very well written book. The subject is nicely explained and easy to understand, with a good mix of history and personal anecdotes to bring it alive.

Only a true expert can make such a complex subject so understandable and easy to read. A wonderful collection of short stories unearthing some fascinating additional insights to the major derivative "events" throughout history.Nige - congratulations on a great piece of work.

Brilliantly written - manages to be hugely entertaining whilst dealing with very complex subject matter.

This was without doubt one of, if not the most, entertaining and informative books I have ever read.The reader is walked through the evolution of derivatives all the way from their humble ancient beginnings to the modern day contracts that have influenced so much of today’s world – for better and worse.As the saying goes ‘Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it’ and as such, this book should be compulsory reading for all those who are working in, or considering working in, the financial marketplace. The book is written in such a way as to make it accessible to all, irrespective of their previous knowledge or experience on the subject, and does so in a way that is hugely enjoyable and rewarding.An absolute nugget of a book.