Mellyn's update of Lombard Street achieves the rare combination of being a book about finance that is both informative AND entertaining. His tour through the evolution of modern finance works both for the layman and the professional -- it's a sure bet there are tidbits in here that even the most interested students of economic and financial history have not heard before. Add to that his wry takes on why we all do what we do when we do it with our (and other people's) money, and you've got a book that feels worth the time spent.