Product Description

Everyone's got a child, a friend or a neighbour who works in the City. The six-figure bonuses and golden hellos are no secret, nor are the hundred-hour weeks, the highpressure deals or the regular rounds of redundancies in the Square Mile. It's a cut-throat world...everyone knows that. But do they know what it's like for the thousands of fresh-faced young graduates who pour into the City each year? Do they know what it's like to get woken up at three in the morning by a taxi outside your window, ready to haul you back into the office? What it's like to feel guilty for sloping off to the gym at nine o'clock at night? This cynical but entertaining novel follows two 'high-flyers' through their first year in the City. Based on the writer's experience at an American investment bank, it reveals a world that doesn't quite match up with the fast-paced, exhilarating one that was painted so enticingly on the undergraduate milk-round. "Golden Handcuffs" is about twenty-something graduates in the City. It tells of ambition, hard work and disillusionment. It has been called a 'latter day version of "Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis', a 'must-read for all young professionals' and strikes a similar chord to "I Don't Know How She Does It" by Allison Pearson, though it is aimed at a younger reader. A witty insight into the City, it is told with a fresh, young style that cannot fail to appeal to this as-yet untapped market.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18139 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Review
Her biting descriptions neatly expose the banality of a macho culture addicted to its own mythology. Metro A thought provoking work which begs the question, are golden handshakes really as glittering as they seem? CityLife

Customer Reviews

Spot on
A very real depiction of what it's like to be pondlife in the city - something I'm all too familiar with. I recognised plenty of the anecdotes. If you enjoyed Liar's Poker, you'll like Golden Handcuffs.

A great Insight
A very good and amusing account of working in the city. This is the first book that I have found that dared to delve deeper into the lives of the `Tube Sheep' community (quote Dave Holliman from Horsfall's `You Are Here') or the Sharp Suits with no scruples (McLaren's `Black Cabs'). It is a different life and not one I fancy if I'm honest.

A breath of fresh air
Polly Courtney clearly knows the city. An honest - sometimes humourous, sometimes brutal - account of life as a "high flier", this book is a must-read for all those contemplating a life in city-banking or similar. Those working in the city will cringe, those unfamiliar to it will smile in disbelief. I advise you to read this insightful first release from a soon to be household name. More please!