Rating: 
Summary: Weak attempt to cover interesting material
Review: I was a fan of BDTH, but there are several significant problems with this book. I work at a hedge fund that invests in Asian markets and the discussion of "hedge funds" and Asian markets is superficial, at best. Please don't read this book and think that you have any relavent knowledge of either of those topics. Secondly, there are little details that the author did not research very well and that just destroy his credibility. For example, Ivy League schools do not give athletic scholarships. It is one of the conditions of being in the Ivy League athletic conference, a conference that prides itself on "scholar athletes." For this reason it would be difficult to get a "full ride" for football at Princeton. Another example, foreigners are not allowed to rent cars in Bermuda. That is why everyone rides those vespas around everywhere. I know these are minor details, but they destory the credibility of the author. When you change the details of someone's story you have to do the research to make sure the new persona makes sense. Lucky Mezrich isn't creating cover stories for a CIA spy, or they would surely be dead. Finally, I think the discussion of the sex trade is relevant to the story, but somewhat gratuitous and cliche.
Rating: 
Summary: a well written and entertaining work...
Review: I went to school with the protagonist of this story, so I probably have a very different perspective than a lot of the prior negative reviewers...firstly, people need to understand that this is loosely based on real facts and characters...it is based in the mid-late 90's, so prior reviewers crying about a lack of detail regarding the 80's should learn how to read book covers...many of the subplots were real, although details were changed for obvious reasons...this is not, nor was it meant to be a treatise on arbitraging the Japanese markets...the intent was always to focus on the characters, not the markets or actual trades...it is a book about an extraordinary opportunity offered to a select few, who literally changed the financial landscape in Asia...for those reviewers crying about a lack of credible details, maybe a "Random Walk Down Wall Street" would be better suited to your arrogant and egocentric tastes...for those who want a super fast beach read for this summer, this book delivers...also read "Bringing Down the House"...
Rating:
Summary: Buy Liar's Poker instead!
Review: My review is directed at those suckers who bought and read the book in the first place as well as those who are contemplating the purchase. Honestly, comparing the book to "Liar's Poker" is a stretch, at best. First of all, the author doesn't posses the style, the knowledge and, quite frankly, the wit of Michael Lewis. Secondly, those interested in the world of finance and specifically the inner life of hedge funds should avoid this book at all cost! "Ugly Americans" will not tell you how "millions" are or were made by hedge funds in the Asian markets, or anywhere else, for that matter. For a sensible alternative turn to "When Genius Failed" by Roger Lowenstein or "Inventing Money" by Nicholas Dunbar. As far as the whole Japanese backdrop is concerned, well, I have never been to Japan, but having read the book I was left with the strong aftertaste of all the clichés normally found in the 80's Hollywood flicks...Finally, my real problem with digesting the pulp fiction of "Ugly Americans" was Ben Mezrich's disturbing fascination with anything and everything Ivy League (ok, ok, Stamford and MIT would do, too), like the "blond, athletic, tanned" Ivy League graduates (see Chapter 13, for example) or other characters that belong to a cover of J. Crew catalog, but not to the book that is purportedly "non-fiction". Add to this his endless rants about Porsches, Mazeratti s, Ducatti's and other "bling-bling" and you end up having a bad cross between P. Diddy videos, the entire lineup of Wesley Snipes/Asian fetish movies, "The Talented Mr. Ripley", "The Bourne Identity", "The Rainmaker"... Oh, did I mention more than two Matt Damon movies? Well, you got the point!
Rating:
Summary: Future blockbuster movie with the right cast
Review: One reviewer stated: "I look forward to the movie starring Matt Damon." The same thought ran through my head as read the book, right down to Matt Damon as the protagonist. He'd be perfect for the role. I bought the book to read on the plane ride home and I finished it the next day. IMO it's a quick, exciting read because the storyline and characters are intriguing. Some reviewers here have given the book a lackluster review because, while categorized as a non-fiction piece, is lacking accurate details in regards to hedge funds. While I do not deal with hedge funds and have little to base the story's facts against, the author did state that he had to hide identities and details in order protect the real life people that the story is based on. Therefore readers who are educated with hedge funds or Ivy League particulars will likely pickup on inconsistencies. I bought the book because I wanted to read a story that grabbed my attention and never let go. IMO the author fulfilled my purpose for this book. For those of you looking to start a career in hedge funds, apply to an Ivy League university, or move to Tokyo, you may want to do further research beyond just reading this book. For the rest of you looking for a non-stop ride of a young American thrown into the Japanese business culture, you will get your money's worth with this quick read.
Rating:
Summary: cheap knock-off of movie "Boiler Room"
Review: The author is no F. Scott Fitzgerald, and this book will never be considered for the Pulizer, or any other major literary award. This is one case where the movie was better than the book. The movie "Boiler Room" may have been plagiarized in this novel; simply change the names from New York and Long Island to Tokyo and Kobe and you have most of the same story: some people involved with finance are corrupt. You're probably better off buying the book, "When Genius Failed : The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management" by ROGER LOWENSTEIN.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining account of the life of a professional trader
Review: The best way to describe this book is a work of fiction that is loosely correlated to real life events. The book is lacking in technical details and is not recommended as a handbook for how to arbitrage Nikkei futures. Of the several hundred pages in the text, only a small handful are dedicated to the mechanics of arbitrage and trading. The description of trading is very generic and does not provide any insights to anyone with even a passing knowledge of finance.
Nonetheless, like his last book, this one was entertaining. He could have fleshed out his main characters with a little more relish, so that the reader could feel more empathy with their stories. Overall, an entertaining narrative if approached as such. If you are hoping to learn the intricacies of trading, then expect to be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Real Fiction
Review: This book is amazingly stupid. As an expat who actually trades the Asian markets for a living, I can tell you first hand that this book is complete fiction. There's nothing of any substance regarding the financial world. The little that he does talk about markets and traders, he manages to both oversimplify and get it wrong. In order to make-up for the lack of real information, Mr. Mezrich spends roughly half the book describing every minutia of every scene. The dust cover talks a bit about Mr. Mezrich transforming himself from a suspense writer to a non-fiction journalist. This book is certainly not journalism. At best, "Ugly Americans" is a third rate novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the READ
Review: Unlike a few of the reviews I read, I really liked this book. Perhaps the other reviewers are too close to the subject (or perhaps see themselves in the pages...hmm) or lack the ability to get engrossed in a book. This book is a fast read because it keeps you interested from beginning to end and it peaks your interest into learning more about the subject. I actually purchased this book as a present and the recipient thought it was a terrific book! That's what made me read it. And I have to say... he's not an easy guy to please... especially when it comes to literature. It's worth the time and the money.
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