The fall, in 2001, of the much-touted corporate giant the Enron Corporation made headlines as billions of dollars virtually disappeared and reports of corporate malfeasance surfaced. Investors--including pension plans, Enron employees, and ordinary Americans--were left stunned, angry, and broke. A concerned public asked how it happened, and wanted to know whether the company's inflated status and its political connections had enabled it to circumvent the oversight of both its own accounting firms as well as the SEC. Focusing on the major players and the events that led to Enron's demise, financial journalist Kurt Eichenwald unravels the scandal and the investigation that led to charges against Ken Lay, Enron's chairman and CEO, and his associates. Eichenwald reveals much about the inner workings of Enron, the exuberant corporate environment, and the high-stakes game of Wall Street. THE CONSPIRACY OF FOOLS is based on Eichenwald's reporting for the New York Times, and on his research in voluminous sources, including notes, transcripts, tapes, memos emails--as well as many interviews with principles. Overall, it makes sense of, and clearly indicates a need for change in, business as usual in corporate America. It is also a highly readable, epic account of power and greed. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.