24 Days: How Two Wall Street Journal Reporters Uncovered the Lies that Destroyed Faith in Corporate America
By Rebecca SmithThis is the story of Rebecca Smith and John R. Emshwiller, the two reporters who led the Wall Street Journal's reporting on Enron and uncovered the unorthodox partnerships at the heart of the scandal through skill, luck, and relentless determination.
It all started in August 2001when Emshwiller was assigned to write a supposedly simple article on the unexpected resignation of Enron CEO Jeff Skilling. During his research, Emshwiller uncovered a buried reference to an off-balance-sheet partnership called LJM. Little did he know, this was the start of a fast and furious ride through the remarkable downfall of a once highly-prized company.
Written in an intense, fast paced narrative style, 24 Days tells the gripping story of the colossal collapse of what would become the world's most notorious corporation. The reader follows along as Smith and Emshwiller continue to uncover new partnerships and self-dealing among the highest levels of Enron's management. As they publish articles detailing their findings in the Journal, Wall Street and individual investors have a crisis of confidence and start selling Enron stock at unprecedented levels of volume. In the end - 24 short days later - Enron had completely collapsed, erasing 16 years of growth and losing $19 billion in market value while watching the stock drop from $33.84 to $8.41. Not only was the company destroyed, but investors and retired employees were completely wiped out-all the while Enron executives were collecting millions of dollars.
Climaxing with this 24-day period, this book shows the reporter's-eye view of a David-and-Goliath battle between journalists and a giant corporation. Each day a new story uncovered another fact; each day the company issued denials. And when the investigative stories reached critical mass and momentum, the stock market cast its final vote of no confidence. In the tradition of Indecent Exposure and Barbarians at the Gate, two other gripping narratives that began as a series of Wall Street Journal stories and ended up as books that defined an era, 24 Days brings the importance of great investigative journalism to life.
Book details
- Hardcover
- 428 pages
- English
- 0060520736
- 9780060520731
About Rebecca Smith
rebecca smith was Read More about Rebecca Smith
More Books By Rebecca Smith
People who bought this also bought
By What Authority? : Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, a
Used Book
The Saint, the Surfer, and the CEO: A Remarkable Story about Living Your Heart's Desires
New Book
The Psychology of Money : Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by Morgan Housel
New Book
A World of Ideas : Conversations with Thoughtful Men and Women about American Life Today and the Ideas Shaping Our Future
Used Book
The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild : The Forgotten Father of the Flower Garden
Used Book
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven: But Never Dreamed of Asking
Used Book
Lying in Weight : The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women
Used Book
Viets Guide To Sex, Travel and Anything Else That Will Sell This Book
Used Book
The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow by John C. Maxwell
New Book
Talking with My Mouth Full : Crab Cakes, Bundt Cakes, and Other Kitchen Stories
Used Book
Managing with Aloha: Bringing Hawaii's Universal Values to the Art of Business
Used Book
HBR's 10 Must Reads on Teams (with featured article The Discipline of Teams, by Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith)
New Book