The Big Short
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Epilogue
Themes
All Themes Outsiders vs. Conformists Wall Street’s Culture of Overconfidence The Problems with Capitalism Pessimism vs. Optimism Needless Complexity
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Michael Lewis Steve Eisman Vincent Daniel Daniel Moses Michael Burry Ben Hockett Charlie Ledley and Jamie Mai Greg Lippmann Porter Collins Wing Chau Eugene Xu Meredith Whitney John Gutfreund Joel Greenblatt Howie Hubler Bill Miller Sy Jacobs Joe Cassano Ace Greenberg Jim Grant
Terms
All Terms Collateralized debt obligation (CDO) Credit default swap Hedge fund Long Short Subprime mortgage Tranche
Symbols
All Symbols Bonds
Download PDF
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The Big Short

by

Michael Lewis

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Prologue
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Epilogue
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Outsiders vs. Conformists  Theme Icon
    Outsiders vs. Conformists
  • Wall Street’s Culture of Overconfidence Theme Icon
    Wall Street’s Culture of Overconfidence
  • The Problems with Capitalism  Theme Icon
    The Problems with Capitalism
  • Pessimism vs. Optimism Theme Icon
    Pessimism vs. Optimism
  • Needless Complexity Theme Icon
    Needless Complexity
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Michael Lewis
  • Steve Eisman
  • Vincent Daniel
  • Daniel Moses
  • Michael Burry
  • Ben Hockett
  • Charlie Ledley and Jamie Mai
  • Greg Lippmann
  • Porter Collins
  • Wing Chau
  • Eugene Xu
  • Meredith Whitney
  • John Gutfreund
  • Joel Greenblatt
  • Howie Hubler
  • Bill Miller
  • Sy Jacobs
  • Joe Cassano
  • Ace Greenberg
  • Jim Grant
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Collateralized debt obligation (CDO)
  • Credit default swap
  • Hedge fund
  • Long
  • Short
  • Subprime mortgage
  • Tranche
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Bonds Symbol Icon
    Bonds
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
Previous
Tranche

The Big Short Symbols

Next
Bonds

Bonds

In The Big Short, bonds represent a broken promise between the financial elite and average Americans. A bond is, on the most basic level, a promise. In financial terms, a bond is a type…

read analysis of Bonds

Bonds Symbol Icon
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Tranche
Previous
Tranche
Next
Bonds
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Bonds

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