Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System — and Themselves. by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Sorkin’s story focuses only on the event itself, beginning with the Lehman Brothers debacle and ending with the distribution of TARP payments to the major financial institutions. He provides an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the crisis as it was unfolding, moment by moment. Through his interviews, he reveals the motivations — the fear, the greed, and the self-preservation — of the most powerful people in finance and politics. The book reads like a thriller, which is probably why HBO thought it would be a great idea for a film.
On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System by Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
Hank Paulson served as the Secretary of the Treasury at the time and was at the very center of the crashing financial markets. He provides a first-hand account of what was really happening, gives you a real sense of the impending doom that was felt, and the pressure they were under to come up with solutions. It’s an astounding story that covers the economic problems that had to be addressed while at the same time having to deal with the politics and the politicians who were involved.
The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath by Ben S. Bernanke
Ben Bernanke served as chair of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2014, and like Paulson, provides an insider’s account of the crisis. Bernanke’s writing is from the perspective of his office, and recounts the efforts of the Fed, working side by side with the Treasury Department, to come up with innovative programs and policies to save and ultimately revive the U.S. economy, all while dealing with a public outraged at Wall Street and a contentious Congress.
