Boomerang was written by Michael Lewis, an American author and financial journalist. The original full title of the book was Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World, and it was written in 2011.
What is Boomerang about?
Boomerang is a non-fiction book which examines the effects of the global financial crisis of 2008 on several countries, including Iceland, Greece, and Ireland. Michael Lewis travelled to these countries and interviewed bankers, politicians, and other key players to get a clear insight into the causes and longer-term repercussions of the crisis.
The book argues that the crisis was caused by a combination of factors, including poor regulation, excessive risk-taking by financial institutions and individuals who worked for them, and the ultimate failure of governments to adequately address the problem.
What is Michael Lewis' background?
Born in New Orleans on 15 October 1960, Michael Lewis went to Princeton University to study art history, and later gained a Master’s at the London School of Economics (LSE). From there he moved to the investment bank Salomon Brothers, where is worked as a bond salesman. It is here that he gained first-hand knowledge of the financial industry, the subject of some of ,his most famous books.
After leaving Salomon Brothers, Michael Lewis became a successful writer, receiving the National Book Award, amongst others. He has also worked as a financial journalist, receiving the Gerald Loeb Award for Business Journalism, and has taught financial journalism classes at the University of California, Berkeley.
What did critics say about Boomerang?
Boomerang was a commercial and critical success, and it was generally praised for its engaging storytelling and insightful analysis of the global financial system.
The New York Times review described the book as ‘entertaining and informative’ and praised Lewis for his ability to ‘translate complex financial concepts into layman's terms, while The Wall Street Journal called the book ‘a splendid and terrifying read’, adding that Michael Lewis ‘has a gift for explaining how finance has seeped into every corner of modern life’.
Has Boomerang been turned into a film or screenplay?
Boomerang has not yet been turned into a film or a screenplay. However, Michael Lewis's other books, including Moneyball and ,The Big Short, have been adapted into successful films.
Has Michael Lewis written other books about trading?
Michael Lewis’ others books about trading include ,Flash Boys, The Big Short and ,Liar's Poker. The Big Short was made into a ,2015 film of the same name, directed by Adam McKay, with a star-studded line-up including Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.
Michael Lewis is also famous for his books about politics (The Fifth Risk and Losers), Silicon Valley (The New New Thing), baseball (Moneyball and Coach) and American football (The Blind Side).
His latest book, The Premonition, was published in 2021. In it he explores the US’ early response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
