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Audiobooks > Business & Economics >  Corporate & Business History > Barbarians at the Gate (Abridged): The Fall of RJR Nabisco
Barbarians at the Gate (Abridged): The Fall of RJR Nabisco Audiobook, by Bryan Burrough Play Audiobook Sample

Download Barbarians at the Gate (Abridged): The Fall of RJR Nabisco Audiobook

4.00016934801016 out of 54.00016934801016 out of 54.00016934801016 out of 54.00016934801016 out of 54.00016934801016 out of 5 (4.00) - 5,905 customer ratings
Barbarians at the Gate (Abridged): The Fall of RJR Nabisco Audiobook, by Bryan Burrough Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Bryan Burrough, John Helyar Narrator: Eric Jason Martin, Bryan Burrough, John Helyar Publisher: HarperAudio Audio Length: Release Date: April 2007 Format: Abridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9780061127472
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Publisher Description

“One of the finest, most compelling accounts of what happened to corporate America and Wall Street in the 1980’s.” —New York Times Book Review

A #1 New York Times bestseller and arguably the best business narrative ever written, Barbarians at the Gate is the classic account of the fall of RJR Nabisco. An enduring masterpiece of investigative journalism by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, it includes a new afterword by the authors that brings this remarkable story of greed and double-dealings up to date twenty years after the famed deal. The Los Angeles Times calls Barbarians at the Gate, “Superlative.” The Chicago Tribune raves, “It’s hard to imagine a better story...and it’s hard to imagine a better account.” And in an era of spectacular business crashes and federal bailouts, it still stands as a valuable cautionary tale that must be heeded.

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Quotes

  • “The fascinating inside story of the largest corporate takeover in American history...It reads like a novel.”

    - Tom Brokaw

  • “All the suspense of a first-rate thriller…one of the finest, most compelling accounts of what happened to corporate America and Wall Street in the 1980s.”

    - New York Times Book Review

  • “A superlative book, a reconstruction of awesome proportions...The writing is unflawed...steadily builds until the very end.”

    - Los Angeles Times Book Review

  • “One of the greatest business books ever written.”

    - Joe Nocera, New York Times

  • “It’s hard to imagine a better story to capture the essence of the 1980s business scene…and it’s hard to imagine a better account than the one by Burrough and Helyar.”

    - Chicago Tribune

  • “The most bizarre financial mock-epic of our age. Read it open-mouthed; wonder and shudder.”

    - Independent (London)

  • “Impressive qualities...delicious scenes...a cinematic yet extraordinarily careful book.”

    - New York Daily News

  • “The stage is always set, there is dialogue and drama aplenty, and the characters are larger than life…brilliantly effective.”

    - Fortune

  • “A reportorial tour de force that provides a stunningly detailed recap of the events leading up to the megabuck takeover of RJR Nabisco...A comprehensive and coherent account of a multilateral struggle.”

    - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Awards

  • A #1 New York Times bestseller

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Customer Reviews

Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fascinating look at the battle for RJR nabisco and the insider world of corporate finance. I really enjoyed it, but for whatever reason had a slow go of reading it. Took me months. Not really sure why. But a great read that does a great job of explaining what happened and why, without getting bogged down into too much technical descriptions "

    - Paul, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Fascinating. Incredibly well written. Complex, dramatic. A gem. "

    - Alice, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very interesting and entertaining book, even if you're not very interested in the mergers/take-over world of the 80s and 90s. It's amazing to see how the egos of powerful investors can collaborate to essentially destroy an entire company. I would have given it 5 stars, but I thought the first third could have been stronger - way too much detail into the backgrounds of the players. "

    - Rich, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Every MBA student should be required to read this book. "

    - L, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Reads like a book of fiction, no doubt it served as the playbook for the Enron hoodlums, and every other corporate thug. "

    - Sebastian, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great chronicle of an era of greed, with spectacular details and drama despite the fact that it's about the incredibly dull topic of leveraged buyouts. Huge cast of characters is tough to follow at times, but some very colorful ones too. "

    - Mrdarius, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I never would normally pick this up (usually raised letters on the cover mean Marty no likey). I pretty much only read it to get an idea of what the hell my husband does until 10pm every night. It actually was fairly entertaining, and I definitely learned a lot. "

    - Marty, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Excellent account of the ethos or lack thereof behind the leveraged buy outs (LBO's) that changed the landscape of corporate America. The book is often funny and the people are drawn as fully as a novelist might. "

    - Lemar, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a great book about the history of the LBO market and all of the players involved in what was, at the time, the largest LBO ever done. Great background of all the big guys today and the greed and fierceness of those players. "

    - Jonathan, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Awesome & a great introduction to private equity. "

    - Eric, 1/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Superior book, giving an insight into the world of Wall Street/ high finance. gripping.....well worth the read for even those who are notfinancial types. "

    - Harry, 12/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Also see the movie by the same title. "

    - Tom, 12/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great read- entertaining and informative. A business history that reads like a thriller. "

    - Seth, 12/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very interesting look at the inner workings of leveraged buyouts. Not a beach read by any stretch though! "

    - Lisa, 11/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " excellent read on M&A in the 70's /80's "

    - Sameer, 11/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The book to read if you want to understand Private Equity. "

    - Mishaal, 9/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Was thoroughly engrossed in this - I think because so much of this story affected the people here in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. "

    - Judy, 9/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Absolutely phenomenal "

    - William, 2/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Single greatest business book of all time. Not much more needs to be said. "

    - Suman, 2/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is supposed to be the most influential business books in history. Certainly an interesting story, but a little bit hard to follow just because of the way it's written. "

    - Gil, 2/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Amazing inside look at a major business transaction. Great character development for a book about a Leveraged Buy Out. "

    - Tom, 1/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Great book, I couldn't put it down. Very real and in depth tour of the corporate takeover and high finance world. One of the best business books I've ever read. "

    - John, 1/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is one of the best books I have found about the world of corporate takeovers. Well written enough to be interesting to someone who isn't in the field as well. "

    - James, 1/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Very well written book, thoroughly enjoyed reading every word :) "

    - Suvendu, 10/13/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This was an exciting, interesting read. One of the best "business" books I've read. Burrough does a great job introducing great characters and explaining the complex maneuverings behind this deal. "

    - Ryan, 6/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Very well written book, thoroughly enjoyed reading every word :) "

    - Suvendu, 5/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The first business book I ever read...20 years ago...and still by far the best. It puts you inside the room for every meeting and it's all you can do to keep from yelling "STOP!" as these guys drive a major American corporation (two, actually), right off a cliff. "

    - Michael, 4/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A terrific book for those interested in Private Equity. Worthless to all else, hence the low rating "

    - David, 2/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Certainly a business classic. The hoopla involved in this Leveraged Buyout is one for the ages, by far the biggest ever completed at its time. Burrough & Helyar did a fantastic job documenting it all, but the book got bland towards the end for me. "

    - Jordan, 2/10/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Incredibly well-researched and engaging book. There are points that lag with too much information, but the psychology of the business world is fascinating. "

    - Alex, 1/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Now I know the origins of the rancid stench I smell each time I hear the words "private equity." A lot of good lessons of what not to do when managing corporations. "

    - Bradley, 1/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A really interesting and detailed account of some the biggest players and biggest companies in their time. Highly recommended for anyone interested in big business or corporate finance maneuvering. "

    - Dan, 1/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good intro into corporate greed and the beginning of the Private Equity world. Well told and even though lengthy it doesn't seem to drag. "

    - William, 12/29/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I liked it a lot. A bit long, but very engaging. I learned quite a lot about business and finance things that I didn't know about. I'd recommend it. "

    - Matthew, 12/27/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Engaging, dramatic overview of the RJR Nabisco deal at the end of the 1980's buyout boom. Effectively illustrates the fast-pace, dynamic interactions among the many parties involved in the largest LBO deal at the time. "

    - Mario, 12/25/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Very well-written, and engaging. I have to admit, though, that the behavior of the people in the book makes me glad that I don't work in the world of high finance or big business. "

    - Taro, 12/11/2010

About the Author

Bryan Burrough is a special correspondent at Vanity Fair and the author of five previous books, including The Big Rich and Public Enemies. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, he is a three-time winner of the John Hancock Award for excellence in financial journalism. 

About the Narrators

Eric Jason Martin is an Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has narrated many dozens of audiobooks in fiction and nonfiction. He is also the host and producer of the award-winning This American Wife, a popular podcast, and now web series, that features original comedy and stories, as well as interviews with authors such as Robert Greene and Amy Tan.

Eric Jason Martin is an Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has narrated many dozens of audiobooks in fiction and nonfiction. He is also the host and producer of the award-winning This American Wife, a popular podcast, and now web series, that features original comedy and stories, as well as interviews with authors such as Robert Greene and Amy Tan.