The Money Trap Hardcover

A must read for anyone wanting to reflect on their place in the world and understand both the forces shaping the economic headlines, but also shaping one’s own life and career. The scope of the book and the vantage point in the inner sanctums of global high finance can seem intimidating, but Sama is a witty and humane guide. There are, of course, delicious tidbits and scenes from the crazy world of high finance and tech investing - and an inside look into some of the biggest deals in history (peppered with Sama’s hilarious one-liner reactions). However, any person can find a reflection of their own humanity and human experience in Sama’s inner monologue. You can fly through the story as it is paced very comfortably, however you’ll find yourself pausing to reflect and digest Sama’s ruminations, which span from dissecting the never ending search for *more* to identity and belonging as an immigrant and many more.Highly recommend. Even if you just want to read the crazy inside story of the deals everyone has heard of and wondered - how the f did they happen?

The disruptive force of SoftBank's Vision Fund on the tech landscape of the 2010s is staggering. Alok Sama had a front row seat and provides insightful commentary on the stories and considerations that helped shape the development and adoption of recent technological advances

I read a lot of business books (I like schadenfreude) and Masayoshi Son and SoftBank have, fascinatingly, been at the heart, or near to it, of many of them. Now we have the story of a man who was at the heart of SoftBank. And it’s brilliant. If you’re interested in this stuff, it’s revelatory. If you aren’t, well, Mr Sama tells an almost unbelievable story in a very human and ridiculously entertaining way. Endearingly, right at the end of this, he worries that he might not be any good at writing! It’s honest, emotional, often very funny and extremely likeable. I’m actually sad that I’ve finished it. Great stuff.

Loved the book. Read it over a weekend. It has a soul and is much more than the business bio book i expected when i ordered it. Alok has given us the real human elements of one of the most important periods in Tech investing and investor from the front seat. Fantastic prose from a first time author as well.

For me, at age 83, this was an insight into a dystopian world. The book is an easy read, I completed it in a couple of days. Alok jumps from one situation, one business meeting to another interspersed with personal ruminations, at breathtaking speed. I do not pretend to understand the intricacies of the business deals he outlines but his character study of the founder of softbank is illuminating and valuable. As a minor investor in several modern technologies both UK and USA his book has given me much food for thought and several ideas. Thankyou Alok! Somehow I doubt this will be a contendor for the Nobel Prize for literature...😎

I couldn’t put the book down. Having watched SoftBank and The Vision Fund over many years, the various mega deals etc it was just fabulous to have an inside seat into their operations and participation/influence on the major Technology bull market. Very eye opening.Having not been an investment banker, nor privy to what happens in the largest deals, it was amazing to get an insight as to what’s happening in the room with all the various parties. This book is a must read for any aspiring finance professional.The author’s humanity shines though and there are some surprisingly moving personal parts to the story.The only downside is I left wanting a G550/650!

Alok Sama was on the SoftBank stage with Son-san and an elaborate ensemble of irresistible characters. Masa will be undoubtedly be seen as one of the greatest technology investors of our time with an appetite for combining strategic, operational and financial risk which not even a handful of our generation has had the courage or talent to emulate. Sama has captured the essence of the moment, the craziness and the beauty of hope in the future.

The sheer scale of capital at Masayoshi Son's disposal was unbelievable and the way he deployed it . even more so. Reading about it all from someone who was right in the middle of it makes it absolutely fascinating. I can't help but wonder why didn't I come up with an innovative idea to grab a small slice of vision fund:)