breathe in, cash out

breathe in, cash out, by Madeleine Henry, Atria Books 2019 

This is a novel!  But the world of investment banking is so sharply depicted, you just know....

Author Madeleine Henry graduated from Yale in 2014 and worked at Goldman Sachs in NYC where she learned how investment bankers, at least some of them, live - consuming large quantities of caffeine and other stimulants, surrendering the possibility of personal lives for the ticker, analytics and more analytics.    But what happens before burnout or hitting the jackpot?  For those who make it,  an occasional quick exit to pursue an alternative life.  In the case of Allegra Cobb, the dream is extreme yoga - in three months when her bonus comes through.  A touch of risk?  Will it happen, and will Allegra make it?

Only someone who has lived in Wall Street trenches could tell the story with her crazy humor.  The juxtaposition of obsessed and downright evil bosses and sub-bosses, leaders who treat even celebratory cocktail parties as opportunities to enlarge their network, with their miserable subjects who would commit felonies to win the day, or the hour,  by knocking out a competitor, tells the story.  But Allegra continues to question - her yoga championship win reminds her of another, previous life abandoned for The Street, and it won't shut up.  She finds herself practicing moves in the bathroom; she reconnects with an admired yoga star, she even fasts.

How much would it take to end this skewed and unhealthy work/life/work lifestyle.  Try $100k, not enough bonus to live in Manhattan forever, or even a few years, but just about enough to make the switch.  It happens every season - some entrepreneurs make it, while others drift further and further into the hinterlands.  All depends on the money.

Mill Girl Verdict:  a fun read, crazy humor, great views into the crazy investment banking life.  Whew!