According to the authors, both business journalists, no one has put all the pieces of the financial crisis together. This title explores the motivations of everyone from CEOs and politicians to anonymous lenders, borrowers and Wall Street traders. It goes back more than twenty years to reveal, how Wall Street, the mortgage industry, and the government conspired to change the way Americans bought their homes, creating a perfect storm. The authors take us inside elusive institutions such as Goldman Sachs, AIG, and Fannie Mae, to reveal who changed the game and why.

Includes index. "With a new afterword."--Cover.

The three amigos -- "Ground Zero, baby" -- The big, fat gap -- Risky business -- A nice little BISTRO -- The wizard of Fed -- The Committee to Save the World -- Why everyone loved Moody's -- "I like big bucks and I cannot lie" -- The carnival barker -- Goldman envy -- The Fannie follies -- The wrap -- Mr. Ambassador -- "When I look a homeowner in the eye--" -- Hank Paulson takes the plunge -- "I'm short your house" -- The smart guys -- The gathering storm -- The dumb guys -- Collateral damage -- The volcano erupts -- Rage at the machine.