SBF

How the FTX Bankruptcy Unwound Crypto's Very Bad Good Guy

By: Brady Dale

Narrated by: Ray Greenley

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

A first-hand look at the extraordinary collapse of FTX, Alameda Research, and Sam Bankman-Fried

In SBF: How the FTX Bankruptcy Unwound Crypto's Very Bad Good Guy, accomplished crypto reporter Brady Dale presents an engrossing take on the spectacular and sudden implosion of FTX, Alameda Research, and their associated companies, as well as the criminal indictments of Sam Bankman-Fried and several of his associates. In the book, you'll go beyond the salacious details and tawdry gossip to grasp the real lessons to be learned from one of the most dramatic corporate failures in living memory.

The author explores: the often-confusing world of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance, offering a deep understanding of both industries; the history of Sam Bankman-Fried, what smart money players had to say about him in 2019 and 2020, and why many decentralized finance professionals considered him a "pirate" even before FTX and Alameda blew up; and what the aggressive lobbying campaigns waged by FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried reveal about the latter's motives and goals. An extraordinary account of almost unimaginable wealth, greed, and hubris, SBF is a can't-miss account of a fascinating corporate tragedy that continues to unfold to this very day.

©2023 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (P)2023 Ascent Audio

More crypto than SBF

This book is more of a history of crypto than the story of SBF – which is what the book is advertised to be.
Dry, tedious, and boring.
When the author does talk about SBF, he can’t bring himself to criticize him, and on the rare instances where he he comes close, he follows it up with an excuse. Towards the end he puts SBF in an alternate reality, where SBF saved the world, if only he had not get caught. Pretty ridiculous.
It’s the work of a reporter, not a writer, and that’s painfully obvious from beginning to end.

Enter the Complex, Weird World of Crypto

In a densely packed, unconventional and sometimes snarky narrative, Brady Dale, a plugged-in business journalist with a penchant for philosophical asides and pop culture similes, reveals an intimate account of how cryptocurrency’s conspicuously unkempt Icarus, Sam Bankman-Fried, plummeted back to earth.

More than SBF and FTX

Although this is titled. "SBF", the book is more about crypto in general over since inception. I have read several books on the FTX collapse and this book allowed me to understand the technical aspects of cryptocurrency. "Number Go Up" is a discussion of cryptocurrency in the real world - the author attends cryptocurrency conferences, NFT parties where he buys a "bored ape", tries to buy McDonalds in the real world, visits countries trying to adopt cryptocurrency, and the use of cryptocurrency for criminal activity. "Going Infinite" is a biography of SBF and discussion of SBF's childhood, education, work experience and the final days of the FTX collapse. "Easy Money" is about an actor, Ben Mackenzie, who decided crypto seemed dumb and set out to learn about the topic. All of these books are great.

"SBF" is about all types of cryptocurrencies as they developed and the best explanation of the technical issues behind the FTX collapse. The book started out a bit difficult to follow as he provided a roadmap to the book with explanations of when the issue will be further discussed but the book, in the end, answers the questions. The author also explains "effective altruism" as he had attended some meetings of "EA" members before even becoming a journalist.

I would recommend this book if you are interested in the technical issues behind the scene.

Of note, none of these books even tries to explain blockchain or the coding that is involved. Which, to me, is fine because I do not have the coding skills to understand the process.

Terrible book. Wait for Michael Lewis's book

Most of the book isn't about FTX. It's spent explaining what crypto and investing is in such basic terms that it's insulting. What's even worse is the author defends SBF so much

A good read

This is the third book I’ve read about SBF, plus listening to Podcasts. I think part of the fascination is the "Why? No one can answer that but this book makes some very reasonable suggestions. I recommend it.