Paul Stiles' whining gets on your nerves after a while. If "standard" Merrill training genuinely is no training...yet Merrill possesses one of the best trading arms in the world...the vast majority of the recruits must've been smart enough to pick things up as they went along, which seems to indicate a shortcoming in Stiles rather than the system. It's unfortunate but understandable that Stiles lacked the ability or intestinal fortitiude to excell in what is an extremely difficult (both mentally and emotionally) position. However, it is even more unfortunate that he blames society and those around him for his own greed-driven decisions, making this book a exemplary whine-fest. The only redeeming feature: some relatively interesting asides about the technical aspects of a trading desk. Read Liar's Poker (Lewis, non-fiction) or The Bombardiers (Bronson, fiction) for much better and more entertaining Wall Street bedtime stories.