Liar’s Poker

Lewis begins his work in London as a “geek,” or rookie, salesman. His bosses, “on average ten to fifteen years my senior and old hands in high finance,” are more interested “establishing relationships with customers” than in trying to sell them the latest type of bond (192).

Salomon wants to become a worldwide powerhouse; it focuses on London, which is an easier adjustment for staff than its Japanese branch is and less regulated, as well. Lewis works at the London office for a little over two years, during which time staff expands from 150 to 900, they move to a new and much larger building, and “[t]ens of millions of dollars were poured into our operation by the men on the forty-first floor in New York” (193).

Lewis works for manager Dick Leahy and assistant manager Leslie Christian, selling bond options and futures. They help teach him the ropes, becoming what Salomon workers call “rabbis.” Lewis likes his bosses for their easygoing natures: “Rabbi Christian and Rabbi Leahy told me to find any way I could to make money and not to worry too much about pushing options and futures” (195). Leahy’s manager, Stu Willicker, “paid almost no attention to what he was told to do and encouraged his charges to intransigence […] He let us cut office meetings and work our own hours” (196).