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Streetwise: Getting to and Through Goldman Sachs
The New York Times
bestseller
From the long-tenured head of Goldman Sachs, an institution legendary for its culture of success, comes a candid memoir of global leadership in an age of extreme turbulence.
"Funny, mainly blunt, unexpectedly vulnerable and rarely apologetic.” —Bloomberg
“No one has gotten inside the secret walls of Goldman Sachs and told the story of everything about it, warts and all. Now the man who ran it tells all—and it’s incredible.” —Jim Cramer
When Lloyd Blankfein was attacked as a Wall Street fat cat, he had to smile, thinking of his precarious childhood in the notorious public housing projects of East New York, Brooklyn, and attending a high school so chaotic he didn’t feel safe leaving class to go to the bathroom in his time there. Harvard University was a total moonshot, and his outsider status never wore off, there or at Harvard Law. When he struck people as street-y, it wasn’t Wall Street they were thinking of. But if the chip never quite left Blankfein's shoulder, neither did a wry, resilient spirit and a lucid, democratic intelligence that saw through airs and found talent and ideas in unlikely places.
Streetwise is a delightfully honest, sharp and often very funny reckoning with the author’s education—in finance, human nature, and the workings of the world. It abounds with lessons about leading teams of brilliant, aggressive, competitive people and harmonizing them around shared goals; changing when times are hard and when they’re good; managing risk; and knowing a crisis is at hand before it swamps you so you can guide your team to the further shore. Blankfein is famed for his calm hand on Goldman Sachs’s tiller during the global financial crisis, and that story is told in full here, among many other decisive episodes.
Suffusing Streetwise is the author’s deep and abiding respect for the partnership culture of Goldman Sachs. We follow the never-ending work to protect and preserve that culture through all sorts of tumult—the challenge behind every other challenge. He is open about when he and the firm got it wrong, which was often enough, but the creative, risk-taking spirit was never snuffed—even as the fail-safes put in place to protect the firm and its clients held when they were needed the most. A powerful blueprint for the wise stewardship of a cause that is larger than yourself, Streetwise will inspire and inform readers throughout the global business community and beyond.
From the long-tenured head of Goldman Sachs, an institution legendary for its culture of success, comes a candid memoir of global leadership in an age of extreme turbulence.
"Funny, mainly blunt, unexpectedly vulnerable and rarely apologetic.” —Bloomberg
“No one has gotten inside the secret walls of Goldman Sachs and told the story of everything about it, warts and all. Now the man who ran it tells all—and it’s incredible.” —Jim Cramer
When Lloyd Blankfein was attacked as a Wall Street fat cat, he had to smile, thinking of his precarious childhood in the notorious public housing projects of East New York, Brooklyn, and attending a high school so chaotic he didn’t feel safe leaving class to go to the bathroom in his time there. Harvard University was a total moonshot, and his outsider status never wore off, there or at Harvard Law. When he struck people as street-y, it wasn’t Wall Street they were thinking of. But if the chip never quite left Blankfein's shoulder, neither did a wry, resilient spirit and a lucid, democratic intelligence that saw through airs and found talent and ideas in unlikely places.
Streetwise is a delightfully honest, sharp and often very funny reckoning with the author’s education—in finance, human nature, and the workings of the world. It abounds with lessons about leading teams of brilliant, aggressive, competitive people and harmonizing them around shared goals; changing when times are hard and when they’re good; managing risk; and knowing a crisis is at hand before it swamps you so you can guide your team to the further shore. Blankfein is famed for his calm hand on Goldman Sachs’s tiller during the global financial crisis, and that story is told in full here, among many other decisive episodes.
Suffusing Streetwise is the author’s deep and abiding respect for the partnership culture of Goldman Sachs. We follow the never-ending work to protect and preserve that culture through all sorts of tumult—the challenge behind every other challenge. He is open about when he and the firm got it wrong, which was often enough, but the creative, risk-taking spirit was never snuffed—even as the fail-safes put in place to protect the firm and its clients held when they were needed the most. A powerful blueprint for the wise stewardship of a cause that is larger than yourself, Streetwise will inspire and inform readers throughout the global business community and beyond.
400 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 31, 2026
There's a genre of Wall Street memoir that goes: humble beginnings, hard work, genius trade, corner office, lessons learned. Blankfein's book mostly follows that arc but what saves it is that he's a genuinely good writer with enough self-awareness to puncture his own mythology before you get the chance to.
The early chapters are the best. Growing up in the Linden Houses projects in East New York, father at the post office, constant low-grade tension at home about money and space and whose turn it is in the bathroom. It reads more like a working-class New York coming-of-age story than a finance book. The Harvard section is where it gets really interesting though. He arrives completely lost, surrounded by kids who already know the codes, which clubs, how to dress, what the Lampoon even is. A classmate later tells him he seemed like the person least likely to succeed in their year. Most people in his position would have buried that detail. He kept it in.
The psychological texture is unusually honest. The bit about spending half his time wanting to give his kids everything and the other half resenting them for having it, that's a specific working-class guilt loop that doesn't go away with wealth and he knows it. The shame about Brooklyn when Harvard friends visited, the cockroach exterminator storefront, his father's powder-blue polyester leisure suit. He doesn't dress any of it up as character-building. He just admits he was mortified. That's what separates this from the average Goldman book.
The J. Aron section is where it earns its finance credentials. Blankfein joined what was essentially a commodity trading house Goldman had acquired and didn't quite know what to do with. The gold trades, the culture, the way risk appetite got normalized there before it was normalized at Goldman proper. If you've read about 2008 and wondered where Goldman's comfort with aggressive positioning actually came from, a lot of it traces back to that shop.
The later chapters covering his CEO tenure are solid but less compelling. Crisis navigation, regulatory battles, congressional testimony. You've read versions of this before. The book is most alive when he's young and uncertain.
One of the more honest memoirs to come out of that world. Not because Blankfein confesses sins but because he actually remembers what it felt like to not belong and doesn't pretend he was never embarrassed by where he came from. For anyone who's read the quant and banking canon this fills a real gap. Less about the institution, more about the human operating system underneath it.
Read it if you liked Liar's Poker but want something less cynical. Or if class and ambition interest you more than the trades themselves.
The early chapters are the best. Growing up in the Linden Houses projects in East New York, father at the post office, constant low-grade tension at home about money and space and whose turn it is in the bathroom. It reads more like a working-class New York coming-of-age story than a finance book. The Harvard section is where it gets really interesting though. He arrives completely lost, surrounded by kids who already know the codes, which clubs, how to dress, what the Lampoon even is. A classmate later tells him he seemed like the person least likely to succeed in their year. Most people in his position would have buried that detail. He kept it in.
The psychological texture is unusually honest. The bit about spending half his time wanting to give his kids everything and the other half resenting them for having it, that's a specific working-class guilt loop that doesn't go away with wealth and he knows it. The shame about Brooklyn when Harvard friends visited, the cockroach exterminator storefront, his father's powder-blue polyester leisure suit. He doesn't dress any of it up as character-building. He just admits he was mortified. That's what separates this from the average Goldman book.
The J. Aron section is where it earns its finance credentials. Blankfein joined what was essentially a commodity trading house Goldman had acquired and didn't quite know what to do with. The gold trades, the culture, the way risk appetite got normalized there before it was normalized at Goldman proper. If you've read about 2008 and wondered where Goldman's comfort with aggressive positioning actually came from, a lot of it traces back to that shop.
The later chapters covering his CEO tenure are solid but less compelling. Crisis navigation, regulatory battles, congressional testimony. You've read versions of this before. The book is most alive when he's young and uncertain.
One of the more honest memoirs to come out of that world. Not because Blankfein confesses sins but because he actually remembers what it felt like to not belong and doesn't pretend he was never embarrassed by where he came from. For anyone who's read the quant and banking canon this fills a real gap. Less about the institution, more about the human operating system underneath it.
Read it if you liked Liar's Poker but want something less cynical. Or if class and ambition interest you more than the trades themselves.
June 8, 2026
Ilgamečio Goldman Sachs CEO biografija: kaip į pensiją išėjusio žmogaus tokia ilga ir gana pozityvi, labiau tokie asmeniniai memuarai. Norėjosi gal daugiau aštrumo ar pamokų, bet visuomoje įdomu.
June 3, 2026
A very enjoyable and entertaining read leveraging Blankfein's extremely unique vantage point from which to assess changes in the financial ecosystem over decades. This book provided a great avenue to learn more about finance broadly as well as Goldman as a firm, both topics about which I am always keen to improve my knowledge. I was also deeply impressed by the trajectory of Blankfein's career with the book providing useful commentary on an extremely impressive rise. The anecdotes about getting robbed in his neighbourhood, trouble fitting in at Harvard and imposter syndrome while rising throughout the Goldman organization made the struggle much more palpable and the heights reached more impressive. There were a number of stops along the way that I also was not aware of and would not have guessed, including the amount of time Blankfein spent practicing law and the fact that he started in finance on the trading side of the business. The writing style also flowed well, similar to spoken English and made it easy to read for hours even when discussing relatively mundane topics such as the leverage ratios of different investment organizations. This was a book that I wish was longer, to further delve into the details of some of the different phases in Blankfein's life. The lessons on leadership and building an organization that strives for excellence even as it grows were also quite interesting. The importance of risk management is also something that I think a lot about and the lawyer-trader background for Blankfein makes this framework and his application of it make a lot more sense.
At times I found the discussion of the global financial crisis to be quite defensive, without full engagement with the potential problems within Goldman. However, the emotion described also helped to convey the toll that the criticism, (which, if not completely undeserved, was almost certainly overblown), took on Blankfein. I was also judging Blankfein very hard for checking his phone during the movies. The chapter on the other crises was very interesting, and really highlighted the potential stress of the role and constant potential demands on your time.
Overall, important lessons to reflect on as I continue to build my own career packaged in a way that I was often eager to read more of and which allowed me to better understand a person and firm that I have a lot of respect for.
At times I found the discussion of the global financial crisis to be quite defensive, without full engagement with the potential problems within Goldman. However, the emotion described also helped to convey the toll that the criticism, (which, if not completely undeserved, was almost certainly overblown), took on Blankfein. I was also judging Blankfein very hard for checking his phone during the movies. The chapter on the other crises was very interesting, and really highlighted the potential stress of the role and constant potential demands on your time.
Overall, important lessons to reflect on as I continue to build my own career packaged in a way that I was often eager to read more of and which allowed me to better understand a person and firm that I have a lot of respect for.
March 28, 2026
Fantastic business book and autobiography. Of course, I am a bit biased having worked as a salestrader myself for about 9 years (not at Goldman) from 2011-2019.
It's a biography where you feel like you are hearing an actual voice. So many biographies of late feel almost like they're written by the same person (and, they probably are). But this biography had such a unique voice that I felt like I understood Blankfein's personality.
He is very funny. There were times where I was laughing out loud while reading this. He has mastered the art of self-deprecation, as he straightforwardly discusses in the book, noting this was something he worked on as he rose through management. Maybe it's because I spent all my 20s on the trading floor, but his voice felt very familiar to me. It was fun for me to remember some of the events he talked about and where I was at the time (for a few years, I worked at a bank across the street from Goldman, so I remember walking to work past the Occupy Wall Streeters and Rolling Stone's infamous "vampire squid" article).
Of course, I don't agree with him on a number of things. Like how he clearly thinks investment bankers deserve the money they make or how he thinks boycotts lead to madness (in a capitalist society/in a totally dysfunctional political system as we're in now, I'd argue that the consumer actually should be voting with their wallets). And I found the Goldman Sachs worship to be a bit over-the-top (but hey, maybe it's because I never made it past a first round interview with them). But I thought he really put his thoughts out there in this book in a way you don't often see - calling out John Mack for infamously throwing Zoe Cruz under the bus, sh*tting on Dick Fuld for not taking the Lehman deal, and not shying away from the internal Goldman turmoil.
I particularly enjoyed reading about him taking Goldman though the 2008 financial crisis. What a unique vantage he must have had as one of the few banks that came out stronger than before. He has a ton of management lessons in here, too, a really great read for anyone who manages people.
It's a biography where you feel like you are hearing an actual voice. So many biographies of late feel almost like they're written by the same person (and, they probably are). But this biography had such a unique voice that I felt like I understood Blankfein's personality.
He is very funny. There were times where I was laughing out loud while reading this. He has mastered the art of self-deprecation, as he straightforwardly discusses in the book, noting this was something he worked on as he rose through management. Maybe it's because I spent all my 20s on the trading floor, but his voice felt very familiar to me. It was fun for me to remember some of the events he talked about and where I was at the time (for a few years, I worked at a bank across the street from Goldman, so I remember walking to work past the Occupy Wall Streeters and Rolling Stone's infamous "vampire squid" article).
Of course, I don't agree with him on a number of things. Like how he clearly thinks investment bankers deserve the money they make or how he thinks boycotts lead to madness (in a capitalist society/in a totally dysfunctional political system as we're in now, I'd argue that the consumer actually should be voting with their wallets). And I found the Goldman Sachs worship to be a bit over-the-top (but hey, maybe it's because I never made it past a first round interview with them). But I thought he really put his thoughts out there in this book in a way you don't often see - calling out John Mack for infamously throwing Zoe Cruz under the bus, sh*tting on Dick Fuld for not taking the Lehman deal, and not shying away from the internal Goldman turmoil.
I particularly enjoyed reading about him taking Goldman though the 2008 financial crisis. What a unique vantage he must have had as one of the few banks that came out stronger than before. He has a ton of management lessons in here, too, a really great read for anyone who manages people.
May 17, 2026
The beginning was great. The first few chapters about his childhood felt very personal. From college onward, I lost that personal feeling a bit. Would’ve loved to see some more insights into his personal life outside of his career and, idk, vulnerability maybe? Just felt like it was missing something.
As far as the trading chapters, I can see how that would’ve been interesting for actual traders reading the book, but the author did a poor job making the topics and hundreds of finance terms understandable for readers without a finance background. This is really a shame because I think this is the part I would’ve liked the most, and actually the reason I picked up this book.
That said, I loved the insights on the financial crisis. Incredibly interesting to read about what happened “in the room” during that crisis period.
I also loved the writer’s humor, but I didn’t pick up on his subtle sarcasm until later in the book so I feel like I might have missed some of it lol.
Weet niet waarom ik dit eigenlijk in het Engels heb geschreven. Doei.
As far as the trading chapters, I can see how that would’ve been interesting for actual traders reading the book, but the author did a poor job making the topics and hundreds of finance terms understandable for readers without a finance background. This is really a shame because I think this is the part I would’ve liked the most, and actually the reason I picked up this book.
That said, I loved the insights on the financial crisis. Incredibly interesting to read about what happened “in the room” during that crisis period.
I also loved the writer’s humor, but I didn’t pick up on his subtle sarcasm until later in the book so I feel like I might have missed some of it lol.
Weet niet waarom ik dit eigenlijk in het Engels heb geschreven. Doei.
March 28, 2026
A fascinating, if not longwinded account, of Blankfein’s premiership at Goldman (and his career before that point). I thought the section on the 2008 crash was particularly insightful. I did find it awkward that after such a long and successful career, Blenkfein did what so many of the super rich did and chose to sit around and challenge others on twitter. Although apparently a short lived endeavour, it’s oddly the point I felt least able to relate to him in the entire book.
April 6, 2026
no one needs another half ghost written management book - he was a major participant in world events, write more about that !!
May 1, 2026
In the wake of losing my brother, I’ve hardly been able to listen to music. Then I came across Lloyd’s audiobook, which I had intended to read anyway, available on Spotify. I’m a sucker for an autobiography narrated by the author. There’s something so much more honest about it. It really feels like old school storytelling. But the writing needs to be authentic, or the opposite is true. This book was the former.
My childhood took place during and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. I once recalled to Kathryn that I specifically remember the anti-bank sentiment drilled into me in high school by faculty. I, too, assumed Goldman Sachs was evil at age 15, for reasons I didn’t understand whatsoever. Then in college, I didn’t understand why my sentiments were what they were in high school. Now I understand both.
Lloyd does an incredible job helping us understand the mindset, impulses, and overarching sentiments of himself and his peers at the various stages of his life. He paints his childhood as a poor Jewish kid from East Brooklyn in vivid detail. An upbringing like this for the CEO of Goldman is hard to believe, until you read it. He’s shrewd, clever, and smart. He landed at Goldman through the backdoor, with a role at J. Aron, a commodities firm they acquired. He was surrounded by other aggressive, sharp, and scrappy traders, and thrived. The culture he describes then is so clearly still alive today, and it’s apparent when you interface with folks at GS. I now have a better understanding of where it came from. It’s a partnership culture, and it’s distinctly different from the other major banks. The traders at Goldman and those at JPM are two completely different personalities.
As it relates to the financial crisis, you almost forget how long it took to play out in totality. Lloyd walks you through the entire process. You watch as Goldman goes from one of several, to one of few. You see all of the little decisions that went into each phase of the survival effort, and how others weren’t so wise or fortunate. And then you see how on the other side, in the aftermath — Goldman, seemingly untouched in the eyes of the public — became the poster child for a backlash of blame, criticism, and distrust. One thing he mentions that particularly resonates looking back on my own perception growing up, was that because GS didn’t have a retail arm, the average American had almost no interaction or relationship with the bank, therefore most people had almost no idea what Goldman Sachs actually did, or who they were. And the government handed them billions of taxpayer dollars? I can only imagine how difficult it was to defend himself and the firm in the years to come. He talks about this part extensively. The public perception of banking was permanently changed and it’s still a topic of conversation I have with clients today.
Even as a man of JPMorgan, I can recognize that banking absolutely needs guys like Lloyd. Smart and talented, charismatic and quick-witted, and a bit ruthless. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for him, and really enjoyed the book. I admire his commitment to being a family man, and found him to be very genuine. I was truly disappointed to reach the end of the book.
Thanks, Lloyd, for a great read, during a very challenging time.
My childhood took place during and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. I once recalled to Kathryn that I specifically remember the anti-bank sentiment drilled into me in high school by faculty. I, too, assumed Goldman Sachs was evil at age 15, for reasons I didn’t understand whatsoever. Then in college, I didn’t understand why my sentiments were what they were in high school. Now I understand both.
Lloyd does an incredible job helping us understand the mindset, impulses, and overarching sentiments of himself and his peers at the various stages of his life. He paints his childhood as a poor Jewish kid from East Brooklyn in vivid detail. An upbringing like this for the CEO of Goldman is hard to believe, until you read it. He’s shrewd, clever, and smart. He landed at Goldman through the backdoor, with a role at J. Aron, a commodities firm they acquired. He was surrounded by other aggressive, sharp, and scrappy traders, and thrived. The culture he describes then is so clearly still alive today, and it’s apparent when you interface with folks at GS. I now have a better understanding of where it came from. It’s a partnership culture, and it’s distinctly different from the other major banks. The traders at Goldman and those at JPM are two completely different personalities.
As it relates to the financial crisis, you almost forget how long it took to play out in totality. Lloyd walks you through the entire process. You watch as Goldman goes from one of several, to one of few. You see all of the little decisions that went into each phase of the survival effort, and how others weren’t so wise or fortunate. And then you see how on the other side, in the aftermath — Goldman, seemingly untouched in the eyes of the public — became the poster child for a backlash of blame, criticism, and distrust. One thing he mentions that particularly resonates looking back on my own perception growing up, was that because GS didn’t have a retail arm, the average American had almost no interaction or relationship with the bank, therefore most people had almost no idea what Goldman Sachs actually did, or who they were. And the government handed them billions of taxpayer dollars? I can only imagine how difficult it was to defend himself and the firm in the years to come. He talks about this part extensively. The public perception of banking was permanently changed and it’s still a topic of conversation I have with clients today.
Even as a man of JPMorgan, I can recognize that banking absolutely needs guys like Lloyd. Smart and talented, charismatic and quick-witted, and a bit ruthless. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for him, and really enjoyed the book. I admire his commitment to being a family man, and found him to be very genuine. I was truly disappointed to reach the end of the book.
Thanks, Lloyd, for a great read, during a very challenging time.
May 11, 2026
For some strange reason, I’m almost embarrassed to admit it it, but I really enjoyed this book! Maybe it’s not such a strange reason, as it is so much more socially acceptable to say mean things about GS and Blankfein. Blankfein did a great job of describing this himself in a chapter on the click-bait approach the media took with any potential link to Goldman (e.g. Rajat Gupta, CEO of McKinsey, but always described as GS board member).
This book reads like you are listening to Lloyd talking, which makes for an easy and amusing read. It also really humanizes a man who became one of the most recognized figures from the GFC and an easy target for many people’s anger at the time. It was fascinating to read about the normal things he was doing during the most stressful weeks of 2008, namely swimming and repeating calming mantras to himself. And of his self talk when making enormously consequential decisions during that time (if not him, who?). And of course reading about his humble upbringing in the projects of Brooklyn. He is so genuinely self deprecating that I was left wondering if he was just naturally gifted, for example in school, or did he gloss over the part about putting in an insane amount of hours that culminated in him attending Harvard and climbing to the top of GS.
Beyond the man, there are many valuable insights on management: ask your subordinates how they would improve things, and then tell them to do that; act like you have the authority to do things until that becomes the case; your subordinates are not looking for a friend, they are looking for a leader. And of course, the inside look at the politics inside Goldman, from IPO to partner cross-ruffing to succession planning, is fascinating in its own right.
I will caveat this review by saying that I have always been a fan, so might be biased! If anyone knows how I can get a signed copy, give me a shout!!!
This book reads like you are listening to Lloyd talking, which makes for an easy and amusing read. It also really humanizes a man who became one of the most recognized figures from the GFC and an easy target for many people’s anger at the time. It was fascinating to read about the normal things he was doing during the most stressful weeks of 2008, namely swimming and repeating calming mantras to himself. And of his self talk when making enormously consequential decisions during that time (if not him, who?). And of course reading about his humble upbringing in the projects of Brooklyn. He is so genuinely self deprecating that I was left wondering if he was just naturally gifted, for example in school, or did he gloss over the part about putting in an insane amount of hours that culminated in him attending Harvard and climbing to the top of GS.
Beyond the man, there are many valuable insights on management: ask your subordinates how they would improve things, and then tell them to do that; act like you have the authority to do things until that becomes the case; your subordinates are not looking for a friend, they are looking for a leader. And of course, the inside look at the politics inside Goldman, from IPO to partner cross-ruffing to succession planning, is fascinating in its own right.
I will caveat this review by saying that I have always been a fan, so might be biased! If anyone knows how I can get a signed copy, give me a shout!!!
April 7, 2026
I enjoyed this more than expected: The world of former-CEO-biographies can feel like an attempt to re-write legacy. Lloyd's version is a healthy mix of personal reflection, Goldman's inter-workings and successes, and illuminating re-tellings of the '08 GFC events and decisions. His career coincided with some of the more interesting financial evolutions of the last 50 years, and seeing it from his perch was worth the read.
"I don't care what I think is going to happen. We're in risk management mode, which is what means I only want to know what could possibly, even with a low probability, happen and what are we doing to protect ourselves against that tail risk."
"If at the end they write an obituary about you, make sure that no more than three paragraphs are about Goldman Sachs."
"I don't care what I think is going to happen. We're in risk management mode, which is what means I only want to know what could possibly, even with a low probability, happen and what are we doing to protect ourselves against that tail risk."
"If at the end they write an obituary about you, make sure that no more than three paragraphs are about Goldman Sachs."
June 5, 2026
Lloyd Blankfein is an American billionaire best known as the former CEO and chairman of American investment bank Goldman Sachs from 2006-2018, including the years of the Great Recession. Blankfein's extensive memoir Streetwise reflects on his unlikely path from humble roots in the Bronx to Harvard for both undergrad and law school to the head job at Goldman Sachs. The book overall reads as quite braggadocious and self-celebratory, though that's to be expected with the terrain.
My statistics:
Book 82 for 2026
Book 2388 cumulatively
My statistics:
Book 82 for 2026
Book 2388 cumulatively
May 20, 2026
3.5 *
First half is better.
He didn't explain properly how he managed to get to GS CEO position, considering he came through the back door (J Aron). It sounded more like he was at the right place at the right time. While this is mostly true in life, it is not a satisfying answer for listeners who endures 13 hours of his story, 70% of which is known to everyone.
I am convinced that a combination of biography and autobiography is needed to understand the full story of a person.
First half is better.
He didn't explain properly how he managed to get to GS CEO position, considering he came through the back door (J Aron). It sounded more like he was at the right place at the right time. While this is mostly true in life, it is not a satisfying answer for listeners who endures 13 hours of his story, 70% of which is known to everyone.
I am convinced that a combination of biography and autobiography is needed to understand the full story of a person.
May 27, 2026
Great book. Very entertaining memoir from a guy who seems unique. Growing up quite disadvantaged it’s interesting to hear about his journey.
May 1, 2026
4.5 stars, I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected.
May 27, 2026
Some books are meant more for audiobook and this is one of them with Lloyd narrating. He is hilarious, honest, and his voice / narration really shone through. Like other readers, I agree the earlier chapters were better. Some of the more finance-y currency and derivative chapters got a bit too technical and hard to follow but I really loved the back half of the book too. I would listen to this again if I had the time!
June 6, 2026
There's a lot to dislike in this book if you do a careful read.
but on a very basic and superficial level you could go from a three to a six out of ten
I'd get the book overall, but I'm severely disappointed with it
The eccentric quirks multi-millionaires have with Blankfein and Paulson are most definately eccentric, like Paulson having $480 million in compensation from Goldman Sachs
Exhibit A
The legend about former Goldman Sachs CEO and Treasury Secretary Henry "Hank" Paulson is that he once tried to buy a single pair of socks for $10, but his wife Wendy intervened, telling him to return them so he could buy a more economical 3-pack for the same amount.
So some assistant to Paulson gave them the socks, and then they got to return them and buy something else, when you consider the amount of time wasted, and someone getting paid a lot more per hour to do 'bizarro-world requests'. If the socks were uncomfortable, fine.
But it shows priorities and quirks in people, which make you question, their other views and preferences at times.
////
Here's an odd one
What was it like to work for and with Hank Paulson at Goldman Sachs - Quore
Pedro: I asked this exact question a few years ago from an ex-partner at GS. This was little after the financial crisis, we were no longer at GS and just killing some time having dinner at JFK before a flight. I made a comment about Hank's press conferences during the financial crisis, his intensity, piercing eyes and how sorry I would feel for anyone that had the misfortune to get on his bad side. Then, I asked how it was like to report to Hank Paulson. I got the following little story as a reply from my friend.
Pedro: Everyone flew into NY for a partnership meeting which also included new members of the partnership pool. New members are usually very happy because they just became part of one of the most exclusive "clubs" in Wall St and that has a dramatic effect on compensation. However, one new European partner was not happy to learn that members of the partnership pool were entitled to different percentages of the profits. That makes sense because both the Head of European IBD and Head of UK IBD can both be members of the pool, but clearly the regional head has more responsibility and consequently makes more money. However, the new partner was outraged. At one point during the meeting Paulson opens the floor for suggestions on the future of GS and the new partner couldn't contain himself. He goes on saying that the split should be equal since they are all part of the pool, that was not fair and he suggested this should be given consideration to be modified.
Pedro: Paulson calmly listens to this guys plea for equality and when the junior partner is done Paulson says: "In my job I often have to decide on matters that are not easy and sometimes require days to evaluate what is the correct course of action. This is not one of them. Any other suggestions?"
////
[sounds like Performance, long-term bonds, and loyalty is all that matters]
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What is Lloyd Blankfein like in person? - Quore
I worked as a software engineer at GS for several years and once went to an event where Lloyd was present. I was invited because I had previously worked in the industry for which the event was held, an industry that was uncommon for a GS employee. There were only 3-4 people from Goldman there, so naturally we all talked. It was exciting anticipating the event because I knew I'd have a high likelihood of hanging out with Lloyd, something that rarely happens for technical employees lower than Managing Director at Goldman.
At the actual event, as anticipated he and I started talking. He was very amiable until we got to the inevitable "which group are you in?" question. As soon as he heard I was a software engineer he lost interest and moved on. Granted, he had to do his rounds with other people at the event, so it could have simply been that he was stretched for time, but the segue wasn't a natural conversation end. Not directly rude, but very abrupt and dismissively just kind of walked away - like he had no use for me. Take that for whatever it's worth.
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First the Good
Lloyd Blankfein is scary smart about people, markets, and life generally. His 10,000 Small Businesses idea proved to be a huge winner, and I personally witnessed the time and effort he devoted to its success. During the 2008–2009 financial crisis, Lloyd acted decisively, and he tells the story of what happened with unique insights.
Warren Buffett
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Now the Bad
Kirkus Review
Blankfein’s memoir focuses on his 36 years at Goldman Sachs, the powerful financial services firm he headed until his 2018 retirement. The early pages are lively, but as he climbs the corporate ladder, cant creeps in.
Raised in Brooklyn public housing, the self-described “urban hick” clipped coupons and marveled at the gizmos at the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens. As a teenage Yankee Stadium vendor, he lugged trays of hot dogs to the upper deck. These winning anecdotes are followed by interesting stories from his days as a young lawyer working for 1970s music industry clients.
Blankfein’s chapters on Goldman concern subjects like innovations in foreign exchange markets, the pros and cons of being a publicly traded company, and complaints about “excessive” financial regulations. This material is guardedly informative but often dry.
One section covers “the formation of a committee on strategy, a subcommittee of the operating committee.”
His account of Goldman’s actions during the 2008 financial crisis will surely rankle some readers.
The firm, he writes, survived because of its robust “culture around risk control,” and it took a $10 billion loan under the federal government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program because Washington insisted: “Goldman didn’t need or want the capital.”
It was during this period that the company paid controversial bonuses to some staffers, a move he defends as “practical.”
Blankfein uses lazy stereotypes when describing his critics in the Occupy movement and euphemisms when discussing Goldman’s annual firings, terming them “an exercise of moving the bottom 5 percent of performers out.”
After a promising start, C-suite jargon emerges as one of this book’s major features.
This account of a working-class kid’s rise to the top of American banking has some heart—and plenty of corporate jargon.
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[yeah]
[cant - insincere hypocritical talk, as well as well as using the distinct vocabulary of a certain group, often to exclude outsiders, as well as repeating the trite, or insincere use of pious words]
[the Clockwork Orange lexicon of investment bankers, and their preachy side - maybe]
[I could always use Astrology and say, he's a September 20th person, like Sophia Loren, so he's a proactive doer, who values efficiency above all else. And he's practical and highly organized, as one of the better decanates of Virgos]
[This Virgo birthdate is known for perfectionism, sharp communication, and a strong balance between practical reality and inner intuition]
[Highly observant, detail-oriented, and excellent at bringing order to chaos]
[Prefers taking the most practical route to achieve your goals]
[deeply disciplined and reliable]
[A rather critical nature, where you are too harsh on others, as well as yourself]
[Values financial stability, and their profession is a total lifelong pursuit]
[friends and family to high standards, fiercely loyal to your inner circle]
[will go to any degree possible to insure the harmonious running of the projects in which they are involved]
[when things go wrong, September 20 people have great faith in their capacity to repair or heal]
[They must be careful not to go off the deep end and come to believe their powers are greater than they actually are, which can have dangerous consequences not only for themselves but for those close to them.]
[September 20 people usually display sound judgment but must also avoid being over confident or blind concerning their ability to recognize the truth of any given situation. The crucial point is whether they are capable of acknowledging that they have made mistakes, and having done so correcting their methods and points of view. Those September 20 people who can learn from their errors (often big ones) and begin anew will grown enormously in stature. Those who can't are destined to encounter repeated difficulties, most of their own making - unaware, but as convinced as ever about the soundness of their judgment. One day even they will have to admit that they have been living a false existence, an illusion.]
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The Wild Amazone
Too much minutia3
4/10
The rags to riches story is typically a fun read, but I do not have the patience for the business minutiae.
This book is also a great example of how smart business people get super rich through fancy Wall Street manuevers that produce little for society.
Fred
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I felt there was too much kibbutzing and not enough details to make it a go
PAH
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Did Not Finish
April 25, 2026The book started out well with Blankfein recounting his youth and early career. But once he joined Goldman Sachs I lost interest as it got heavily into finance. But that's not a flaw. The man made his name in the finance industry and most readers of a book such as this are looking for just that. Unfortunately, while its an important field, finance just bores me to tears so I abandoned. Consequently, no rating.
March 13, 2026
first off, i despise wall street, like every ordinary fellow out there. the necessary evil of modern finance is not without its gems however, people being the most important asset. that said, the quality of modern bulge bracket investment bankers has been steadily declining like everything else covered by thick layer of entropy. this book stands out, reads less like a pompous memoir and more like an earnest collection of vignettes from a life. my reasons for reading and reviewing being personal, i could care less about new york and the people that run it. rating favorably because well, is perhaps my first and last banker biography. not saying the man is cream of the crop, but perhaps, given the times and the situations he steered through, the last of the greats.
April 21, 2026
The title is basically a promise the book doesn’t keep. Blankfein’s Bronx-to-Harvard origin story is well told, but the moment he actually gets to Goldman — the part where an outsider somehow claws to the top of one of the most insular partnership tracks on Wall Street — the details elude him. Every setback / overlook gets absorbed gracefully, no calculated moves are ever made, things just work out by themselves later. He presents himself as a passenger in his own career. Maybe that’s how he genuinely remembers it. Doesn’t make it believable. Great read about finance though! Learnt a lot.
March 29, 2026
I worked in finance in my former life, and definitely knew of the author. The beginning of the book is very interesting since I didn’t know anything about the author and impressed how he went from living in the Projects (sharing a 2 BR apt with his parents, sister and grandma, with a shared bathroom down the hall), to being CEO of Goldman.
Then there’s a section that won’t interest most people unless you trade forex. Then a long section on the IPO, and it’s all about how much the partners will make. I’ve slept since I listened to the book, but think the newest group of Partners walked away with $84,000,000 each. The author (I think) got $164,000,000. AND they now have NO personal liability if they go all in on bad calls (hello Bear Sterns)…sorry stockholders…oops.
Author tells the story of Robert Maxwell, but somehow doesn’t inform the reader who his daughter is…Ghislaine. Yeah, the madam and sometimes girlfriend to Epstein.
While doing a short stint in London, he looks down on his American colleagues who want to send their kids to Eton, but tells the reader his wife brought/packed cans of tuna, PB and 600 rolls of TP. Wife, who has a nanny, also needed 4 associates (whatever) from Goldman to help her unpack all that they brought to be in London for less than a year.
Early in his career at Goldman, of course the author needs a home in the country to relax, and of course, chooses the Hamptons. Then tells us the drama of buying a $350k house…can he afford it?!!…then, tells us he makes $550k/year. Yeah, I think so.
There is the obligatory 9/11 “I was there”. On Sept 13th, staff came in to make a breakfast buffet, but only for “professional employees”.
There is really a distinction between being a Partner and that lifestyle vs other people working at Goldman. The author becomes unlikeable either boasting about Goldman’s foresight/risk management during the housing crisis/recession and defending everything Goldman. I had to speed up the audiobook, then fast forward, then just quit.
Author doesn’t have a negative word to say about anyone. Is this book a set up to run for political office? He says he’d love to be mayor of NYC (but doesn’t want to run a campaign).
Then there’s a section that won’t interest most people unless you trade forex. Then a long section on the IPO, and it’s all about how much the partners will make. I’ve slept since I listened to the book, but think the newest group of Partners walked away with $84,000,000 each. The author (I think) got $164,000,000. AND they now have NO personal liability if they go all in on bad calls (hello Bear Sterns)…sorry stockholders…oops.
Author tells the story of Robert Maxwell, but somehow doesn’t inform the reader who his daughter is…Ghislaine. Yeah, the madam and sometimes girlfriend to Epstein.
While doing a short stint in London, he looks down on his American colleagues who want to send their kids to Eton, but tells the reader his wife brought/packed cans of tuna, PB and 600 rolls of TP. Wife, who has a nanny, also needed 4 associates (whatever) from Goldman to help her unpack all that they brought to be in London for less than a year.
Early in his career at Goldman, of course the author needs a home in the country to relax, and of course, chooses the Hamptons. Then tells us the drama of buying a $350k house…can he afford it?!!…then, tells us he makes $550k/year. Yeah, I think so.
There is the obligatory 9/11 “I was there”. On Sept 13th, staff came in to make a breakfast buffet, but only for “professional employees”.
There is really a distinction between being a Partner and that lifestyle vs other people working at Goldman. The author becomes unlikeable either boasting about Goldman’s foresight/risk management during the housing crisis/recession and defending everything Goldman. I had to speed up the audiobook, then fast forward, then just quit.
Author doesn’t have a negative word to say about anyone. Is this book a set up to run for political office? He says he’d love to be mayor of NYC (but doesn’t want to run a campaign).
May 4, 2026
I went into Streetwise expecting a typical Wall Street memoir and ended up getting something much more grounded. What stayed with me most was how comfortable Lloyd was being exactly who he was at every stage. He never tried to reshape himself to fit the room, even at Harvard, and you see that same edge show up early at Goldman when he’s still figuring out how to operate inside a place like that. There are moments where it clearly made things harder for him, but it also felt like the foundation for everything that came later.
At the same time, I appreciated his level of self-awareness. He didn’t compromise who he was, but he learned how to take feedback and adjust in ways that made him more effective for the people around him, whether that meant managing up or managing down. You see that evolution in how he starts to communicate, how he builds trust inside the firm, and how he navigates situations where being right isn’t enough if you can’t bring people with you.
The most interesting parts of the book were the inside look at how Goldman actually functions. The partnership model, the idea that you’re a steward of the firm rather than just an employee, and the emphasis on protecting the franchise all come through clearly. You get a real sense of how decisions are framed internally, not just in terms of P&L, but in terms of reputation and long-term impact.
The GFC section in particular stood out. The voice notes he shared with employees during that time made everything feel immediate. You can hear the uncertainty, the need to project calm while still being honest about what’s happening, and the weight of knowing how much is at stake. It’s one thing to read about that period from the outside, it’s another to hear how it was communicated from the inside in real time.
It reads like someone looking back honestly on how they navigated their career, with enough detail to understand both the environment and the decisions. I got a lot out of seeing how he thought about staying in the game over a long period of time, and how discipline, self-awareness, and a clear sense of responsibility to the firm all compound over time.
At the same time, I appreciated his level of self-awareness. He didn’t compromise who he was, but he learned how to take feedback and adjust in ways that made him more effective for the people around him, whether that meant managing up or managing down. You see that evolution in how he starts to communicate, how he builds trust inside the firm, and how he navigates situations where being right isn’t enough if you can’t bring people with you.
The most interesting parts of the book were the inside look at how Goldman actually functions. The partnership model, the idea that you’re a steward of the firm rather than just an employee, and the emphasis on protecting the franchise all come through clearly. You get a real sense of how decisions are framed internally, not just in terms of P&L, but in terms of reputation and long-term impact.
The GFC section in particular stood out. The voice notes he shared with employees during that time made everything feel immediate. You can hear the uncertainty, the need to project calm while still being honest about what’s happening, and the weight of knowing how much is at stake. It’s one thing to read about that period from the outside, it’s another to hear how it was communicated from the inside in real time.
It reads like someone looking back honestly on how they navigated their career, with enough detail to understand both the environment and the decisions. I got a lot out of seeing how he thought about staying in the game over a long period of time, and how discipline, self-awareness, and a clear sense of responsibility to the firm all compound over time.
March 17, 2026
This is a great book, very fun and interesting. I skipped some parts that were either too sophisticated for me in terms of finance and math; and some parts that felt like they came out of the annual report (and were repetitive; we know now that Goldman has a strong family/partner/community ethos, got it).
But parts of it are fascinating and funny. Blankfein is apparently famous for snapping out fast one-liners and he has a fast, funny, smart way of describing many things in very few words.
I compare this book to the Keith McNally autobio, which similarly feels very honest. He talks about his strengths and things he's proud of but he has a sense of humor about sharing criticisms other people have of him. In the photo section, he includes a "360 review" from people who work with him, that is fairly shattering. We know people love him, but we can also see how people um dont.
Worth the price of admission alone: His inside description of life at the top of the group that was trying to handle 2008 and the financial crisis. I had just finished Andrew Ross Sorkin's book 1929 and the descriptions of America's top bankers gathering to try and stop the bleeding back then is very similar to what Blankstein describes in 2008.
I continually compare new autobios to the recent Graydon Carter book, which is a fun snappy read and seems completely empty and phony. This book and the Keith McNally book are the opposite. They're raw, and honest and you feel while you're reading that someone else almost certainly has a different vision of what happened in this or that situation — but you feel that McNally and Blankfein would have no problem with that. The Carter book is a little bit more of a faux fairy tale.
But parts of it are fascinating and funny. Blankfein is apparently famous for snapping out fast one-liners and he has a fast, funny, smart way of describing many things in very few words.
I compare this book to the Keith McNally autobio, which similarly feels very honest. He talks about his strengths and things he's proud of but he has a sense of humor about sharing criticisms other people have of him. In the photo section, he includes a "360 review" from people who work with him, that is fairly shattering. We know people love him, but we can also see how people um dont.
Worth the price of admission alone: His inside description of life at the top of the group that was trying to handle 2008 and the financial crisis. I had just finished Andrew Ross Sorkin's book 1929 and the descriptions of America's top bankers gathering to try and stop the bleeding back then is very similar to what Blankstein describes in 2008.
I continually compare new autobios to the recent Graydon Carter book, which is a fun snappy read and seems completely empty and phony. This book and the Keith McNally book are the opposite. They're raw, and honest and you feel while you're reading that someone else almost certainly has a different vision of what happened in this or that situation — but you feel that McNally and Blankfein would have no problem with that. The Carter book is a little bit more of a faux fairy tale.
March 30, 2026
Blankfein comes off as an smug, self-absorbed and elitist jerk. Of course you have to have a certain degree of belief in your own worth to write an autobiography, but most of the stories are pretty much a list of things that (may or may not have) happened and offer little insight into either the events taking place or the people involved. Occasionally he trash talks one of his former colleagues for not working enough of a 996, but that's about it. What little value I got from this book was from the constant reminders of what a disproportionate number of elected officials throughout the world came from the toxic pit of greed that is Goldman Sachs and investment banking in general.
Perhaps the smarmiest anecdote came when the author gushes about Hank Paulson and his wife being "modest people" who are "appalled by any waste or excess". Paulson's personal assistant bought him a $10 pair of socks for a trip and then Paulson's wife made her return them because you can get 3 for $10 at Century 21. These people are filthy rich and they don't have the slightest bit of respect for common people or the rest of society around them.
The last section of the book is filled with Blankfein whining about how persecuted he was by the media and drips with contempt for Occupy Wall Street protestors while brushing over all of the reasons why average people were disgusted with bankers and traders after 2008. He then spends a few pages quoting some tweets he wrote at Bernie Sanders. This is honestly pathetic but I suppose I can say it was at least somewhat illuminating in showing how the obscenely wealthy who can do literally anything with their time and money choose to spend both.
Perhaps the smarmiest anecdote came when the author gushes about Hank Paulson and his wife being "modest people" who are "appalled by any waste or excess". Paulson's personal assistant bought him a $10 pair of socks for a trip and then Paulson's wife made her return them because you can get 3 for $10 at Century 21. These people are filthy rich and they don't have the slightest bit of respect for common people or the rest of society around them.
The last section of the book is filled with Blankfein whining about how persecuted he was by the media and drips with contempt for Occupy Wall Street protestors while brushing over all of the reasons why average people were disgusted with bankers and traders after 2008. He then spends a few pages quoting some tweets he wrote at Bernie Sanders. This is honestly pathetic but I suppose I can say it was at least somewhat illuminating in showing how the obscenely wealthy who can do literally anything with their time and money choose to spend both.
June 1, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed Street Wise and would easily give it 5 stars. Loyd Blankfeld’s story is both inspiring and deeply insightful, offering a compelling look into a remarkable life shaped by determination and resilience.
I found the book particularly interesting as Blankfeld recounts his journey from a poor Jewish family in New York City, his drive to better himself, his acceptance into Harvard and law school, and his eventual career at a bank that would later be absorbed by Goldman Sachs. His personal narrative is engaging and motivational, showing what’s possible through hard work and ambition.
However, the most profound section for me was his firsthand account of navigating the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Hearing his thoughts on the tough choices that had to be made, and the events as they unfolded from his unique perspective inside the industry, was truly eye-opening and added tremendous value to the book.
I also found his reflections on life and his battle with cancer to be incredibly touching and humanizing. These passages added emotional depth and made the book much more than just another Wall Street memoir.
This book is important not only because of the significant role Loyd Blankfeld played in the financial world, particularly in relation to Goldman Sachs, but also because it provides rare, candid insights from a strategic leader during one of the most turbulent periods in modern finance. It’s both entertaining and educational — well worth the time to read, as are other books from leaders who have shaped our economy and institutions.
Thank you, Loyd, for taking the time to share this important piece of work. Highly recommended!
I found the book particularly interesting as Blankfeld recounts his journey from a poor Jewish family in New York City, his drive to better himself, his acceptance into Harvard and law school, and his eventual career at a bank that would later be absorbed by Goldman Sachs. His personal narrative is engaging and motivational, showing what’s possible through hard work and ambition.
However, the most profound section for me was his firsthand account of navigating the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Hearing his thoughts on the tough choices that had to be made, and the events as they unfolded from his unique perspective inside the industry, was truly eye-opening and added tremendous value to the book.
I also found his reflections on life and his battle with cancer to be incredibly touching and humanizing. These passages added emotional depth and made the book much more than just another Wall Street memoir.
This book is important not only because of the significant role Loyd Blankfeld played in the financial world, particularly in relation to Goldman Sachs, but also because it provides rare, candid insights from a strategic leader during one of the most turbulent periods in modern finance. It’s both entertaining and educational — well worth the time to read, as are other books from leaders who have shaped our economy and institutions.
Thank you, Loyd, for taking the time to share this important piece of work. Highly recommended!
May 28, 2026
A refreshing take on a financial legend's experience through the industry.
Goldman Sachs is one of the most prestigious, successful financial institutions on Wall Street, and to listen to the memoirs of its highest tenured CEO is a pleasure.
From a personal point of view, it's refreshing hearing the tales of someone achieving success despite coming from humble beginnings, a poor family raised in the NYC 'projects' social housing.
Slightly less awe-inspiring is his realisation that nepotism (explicitly called out by him) and more traditional elite funnels for getting into prestigious roles is his now preferred choice, at least for his own family - I guess if you can't beat them, you join them!
Some other key takeaways from this book:
- Lloyd remained critical about the over-regulation of firms post-2008, one great quote is "you shouldn't shop when you're hungry, you shouldn't make regulations when you're angry".
- Goldman used to require each incoming partner to both invest in the firm, and set up a personal fund for philanthropy. I love this concept and think it's something we should encourage more from our high ranking executives.
- "If your obituary is nine paragraphs long, no more than 2 should be about your career" - sage advice to follow
- He wishes he spent more time with his family, and admits times where he was too terse to his partner - I appreciate his honesty in not following his own advice!
Goldman Sachs is one of the most prestigious, successful financial institutions on Wall Street, and to listen to the memoirs of its highest tenured CEO is a pleasure.
From a personal point of view, it's refreshing hearing the tales of someone achieving success despite coming from humble beginnings, a poor family raised in the NYC 'projects' social housing.
Slightly less awe-inspiring is his realisation that nepotism (explicitly called out by him) and more traditional elite funnels for getting into prestigious roles is his now preferred choice, at least for his own family - I guess if you can't beat them, you join them!
Some other key takeaways from this book:
- Lloyd remained critical about the over-regulation of firms post-2008, one great quote is "you shouldn't shop when you're hungry, you shouldn't make regulations when you're angry".
- Goldman used to require each incoming partner to both invest in the firm, and set up a personal fund for philanthropy. I love this concept and think it's something we should encourage more from our high ranking executives.
- "If your obituary is nine paragraphs long, no more than 2 should be about your career" - sage advice to follow
- He wishes he spent more time with his family, and admits times where he was too terse to his partner - I appreciate his honesty in not following his own advice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2026
I largely enjoyed the book, particularly the biography sections and his recollections about the various people he worked for and worked with at Goldman Sachs. I expected a little bit more information in detail about his role and responsibilities during the financial crisis in 200eight. I did enjoy some rather candid comments that he did make about people he worked with, particularly in his earlier career days, where he felt that he was taking advantage.
The author was very complementary about the abilities and accomplishments of Hank Paulson. I don't know if I have read a book or article that wasn't complementary about Paulson, particularly his leadership in the financial crisis in 2008.
I admit that I skimmed through a lot of the financial technical sections and jargon that was found throughout the book. I was much more interested in the authors dealings with people who were both on his level and whom he managed. He provided some insight into his management style, which he admitted could've been a little bit more sensitive and not as caustic.
In many ways, this is an inspiring story. Blankfein worked his butt off to get to the CEO role at Goldman Sachs. He played the political game extremely well. Excellent business book not only for NBA's but for those with more than a casual interest in financial management.
The author was very complementary about the abilities and accomplishments of Hank Paulson. I don't know if I have read a book or article that wasn't complementary about Paulson, particularly his leadership in the financial crisis in 2008.
I admit that I skimmed through a lot of the financial technical sections and jargon that was found throughout the book. I was much more interested in the authors dealings with people who were both on his level and whom he managed. He provided some insight into his management style, which he admitted could've been a little bit more sensitive and not as caustic.
In many ways, this is an inspiring story. Blankfein worked his butt off to get to the CEO role at Goldman Sachs. He played the political game extremely well. Excellent business book not only for NBA's but for those with more than a casual interest in financial management.
March 25, 2026
I didn't know anything about Lloyd Blankfein before reading his book and was primarily interested in reading it because of curiosity about Goldmann Sachs. While I did enjoy learning more about the firm, I loved the time I spent getting to know Blankfein himself. I appreciated learning about his time at Harvard, and how he transitioned from feeling like an outsider in that rarefied environment to becoming the ultimate insider as he transitioned from J. Aron and climbed the ladder at Goldman Sachs.
Blankfein is an engaging writer with the driest of wit. He hasn't written a managerial textbook, but he offers excellent insight into how he used his people skills to manage effectively while also acknowledging his own shortcomings. His love and respect for Goldman Sachs are apparent throughout the book, but he doesn't shy away from revelations about colleagues with whom he sharply disagreed. Equally, he spares no praise for those, like Henry Paulson and Gary Cohn, he admires.
I liked that he wrote so openly given his background as a lawyer and CEO which could have easily stifled any revelations under opaque corporate-speak. It's impressive that someone with a reputation for speaking his mind ascended to the CEO role when often leadership is reserved for those who will more reliably toe the company line.
Blankfein is an engaging writer with the driest of wit. He hasn't written a managerial textbook, but he offers excellent insight into how he used his people skills to manage effectively while also acknowledging his own shortcomings. His love and respect for Goldman Sachs are apparent throughout the book, but he doesn't shy away from revelations about colleagues with whom he sharply disagreed. Equally, he spares no praise for those, like Henry Paulson and Gary Cohn, he admires.
I liked that he wrote so openly given his background as a lawyer and CEO which could have easily stifled any revelations under opaque corporate-speak. It's impressive that someone with a reputation for speaking his mind ascended to the CEO role when often leadership is reserved for those who will more reliably toe the company line.
March 30, 2026
Lloyd is truly inspirational. It’s clear that having a chip on his shoulder, so to speak, carried him very far in life. I often wonder if the quality of introspection is a gift or a curse, but it seems at least for Lloyd that introspection made him a great risk manager, which proved to be a very useful skill in his career as a financier.
It makes sense why Lloyd was so good in a crisis, because no matter how bad things got, he was always tough since his youth.
One thing I wonder is if he could’ve made a lot more money if he left Goldman earlier in his career. After all, he seems to be a great leader and trader, so perhaps he could have started a hedge fund. Maybe, the reason he didn’t is because he enjoyed the prestige of Goldman too much?
My only critique of the book is that as he covers more recent events, compared to when he covered his childhood, the tone becomes more historical rather than personal. I would’ve liked to hear him be more transparent about things like his parenting style, why he kind of retreated into private life after he left Goldman, and also if they were any personal setbacks for him along the way, as he kind of just covers the major macro events.
It makes sense why Lloyd was so good in a crisis, because no matter how bad things got, he was always tough since his youth.
One thing I wonder is if he could’ve made a lot more money if he left Goldman earlier in his career. After all, he seems to be a great leader and trader, so perhaps he could have started a hedge fund. Maybe, the reason he didn’t is because he enjoyed the prestige of Goldman too much?
My only critique of the book is that as he covers more recent events, compared to when he covered his childhood, the tone becomes more historical rather than personal. I would’ve liked to hear him be more transparent about things like his parenting style, why he kind of retreated into private life after he left Goldman, and also if they were any personal setbacks for him along the way, as he kind of just covers the major macro events.
May 12, 2026
There's something different about reading a book written by the CEO who was at the helm when you joined a firm. Every anecdote lands with extra weight, every cultural reference hits differently, and you find yourself nodding along not because you've read about this world but because you've lived inside it.
Streetwise was that book for me.
I laughed in recognition more times than I could count. The language, the sensitivities, and the unspoken rules of how Goldman operates lloyd captures them with a candor that felt almost disarmingly honest. There were moments I had to pause because I could place exactly what he was describing.
But the idea that stayed with me long after I closed the book is deceptively simple: you don't have to be extraordinary. What separates people, in the end, is resilience. Not brilliance. Not pedigree. The capacity to absorb difficulty and keep going.
For anyone who has spent time inside a major financial institution or who is trying to understand what it actually takes to build a career in one, this is essential reading. And for those of us who were there during his tenure, it's something more personal than that.
Streetwise was that book for me.
I laughed in recognition more times than I could count. The language, the sensitivities, and the unspoken rules of how Goldman operates lloyd captures them with a candor that felt almost disarmingly honest. There were moments I had to pause because I could place exactly what he was describing.
But the idea that stayed with me long after I closed the book is deceptively simple: you don't have to be extraordinary. What separates people, in the end, is resilience. Not brilliance. Not pedigree. The capacity to absorb difficulty and keep going.
For anyone who has spent time inside a major financial institution or who is trying to understand what it actually takes to build a career in one, this is essential reading. And for those of us who were there during his tenure, it's something more personal than that.
April 18, 2026
It started so strong; his background didn’t make him a likely candidate for Harvard or Harvard Law, and his journey there and his adventures were riveting. His path to Goldman was also unexpected and a fun read. He is gifted at explaining complex financial terminology, and the 2008 disaster is written with clarity and urgency. He’s smart and funny.
What took me out of the book was his illness. Even though he is quick to mention that most people don’t have his resources, the fact that all his family could visit whenever they wanted, his friends brought meals from his favorite 5 star restaurants and as a major donor to a medical school, he had access to the best medical advice. I don’t begrudge him any of it, but it still grated. The end, when he pontificates, doesn’t go anywhere and his lack of courage about politics disappoints.
I enjoyed it but it could have been great.
What took me out of the book was his illness. Even though he is quick to mention that most people don’t have his resources, the fact that all his family could visit whenever they wanted, his friends brought meals from his favorite 5 star restaurants and as a major donor to a medical school, he had access to the best medical advice. I don’t begrudge him any of it, but it still grated. The end, when he pontificates, doesn’t go anywhere and his lack of courage about politics disappoints.
I enjoyed it but it could have been great.
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