Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1466 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

An update on a legend that rings true...
At last we move on from the dated Craig Copetas book written way back in 1985 (Metal Men: Marc Rich and the 10-Billion-Dollar Scam). Copetas's sensationalist work of part-fact/mostly-fiction has framed the discussion on Marc Rich for far too long. Daniel Ammann has done his homework and produced an eminently readible and balanced piece of work which allows Marc Rich to present his own case (through a series of interviews), while at the same time presenting other view points out there on this controversial man. The most interesting parts of this book are the incredible story about how Rich went about accumulating his more than $1USbn fortune (a lasting testament to his single-mined trading brilliance), his views on the morality of dealing with some of the most evil regimes on this planet (the most controversial part of this book is Marc Rich's assertion that business and politics don't mix ("business is neutral") which is debateable to say the least but what is amazing is how Marc Rich was able to do business with regimes of any colour including pre- and post-revolutionary Cuba, the Shah of Iran and Iron after the revolution, apartheid South Africa and the ANC!), and the reasons behind his pardon by former US President Bill Clinton (mainly due to the recognition by Clinton and his team that the original case against Rich was based mainly on politics (the book highlights how bad a US president Rudolph Giuliani would have made!)). A great book to read even for those who know nothing about the commodities business, but a wonderful book for those with some knowledge of the business.

Theres no business like the oil business
Marc Rich was a global oil trader that rocked the world. The US government chased him for years until sanity prevailed. Tax evasion ranks as his sole crime. The Swiss author has given a full account of the pardon by President Clinton which appeared to be (at the time) a gross mistake which shocked many Americans. However much Marc Rich may have crossed the line one cant help admiring his trading instincts and his pursuit of a profit. The subject of ISRAEL is also covered which is the most sensitive part of the book. Criticism of ISRAEL does make a minor showing although not to any great extent. All in all a great read for all those fascinated with the inside story of oil trading and political intrigue. A real classic yarn and a business thriller written with a sense of humour and respect.

A gripping story
This was one of my favourite books of 2009. At last someone could meet Marc Rich and get more than monosyllables out of him. This book is very well researched and I congratulate the author for his tenacity in explaining to other people what oil trading is all about. Not only that, we learn that Marc Rich's ex-wife was perhaps not, as previously widely reported, the sole individual who helped gain a last-minute pardon from Bill Clinton. Some Israeli friends seemed to have helped a lot too.

I'm still not sure whether Marc Rich is a saint or a sinner. But, after reading this book, you have to admit, he's a very clever man and extremely astute when it comes to business.

As for Bill Clinton, I can imagine that last-minute pardon still seems a mystery to most people.

Marc Rich says he will never return to the United States for a visit, just in case he's arrested, for example, for a minor parking offence. Does that mean he doesn't really believe too much in that presidential pardon?

You have written a very entertaining book, Daniel Ammann.