The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine

Michael Lewis’ book, The Big Short, depicts the culture inside the world’s financial markets in the years leading up to the market crash of 2008 and the Great Recession that followed.

I cannot imagine a more vivid example of the final years of a seven-year cycle, where greed overrides all common sense and normal citizens end up as both perpetrators and victims. Even to this day, no one is taking responsibility for the destruction caused by the 2008 fiscal meltdown.

To be honest, little has changed about our system of finance, and, as a result, it is very likely this tragedy will repeat itself in a future generation (or perhaps even sooner). The book is an interesting read for someone familiar with the world of finance, but may be cumbersome for readers of the general public.

The newly-released movie adaption of The Big Short, directed by Adam McKay, captures Michael Lewis’ story extremely well. McKay expertly takes on the task of making the world of finance interesting for audiences on the big screen. Of course, Hollywood does not miss a chance to share foul language and bare skin in their storytelling, making the “R” rating something one should consider before deciding to see this movie. If you have read “Know the Time Change Your World” and your moral compass allows you, go see this movie. Otherwise, wade through the book.

My point is this: the story Michael Lewis relates to us in The Big Short clearly helps my readers understand the consequences of failure to rest in year seven. It also shows how truth is revealed when the Divine Light of Day One shines on the situation.

Anyone who claims there is no way to prevent the events of 2008 from recurring needs to consider this simple Biblical instruction: “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.” DEU 15:1

Our culture will not readily adopt this simple idea. Nevertheless, those who understand the Seven and Fifty-Year biblical cycles are equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves and to be a blessing to others in times of financial turmoil.

Book signing at Barnes and Noble

Thanks to everyone who came out to my Barnes and Noble book signing on Tuesday night. It was great to see many friends and new faces as well!

September 29th Presentation and Book Signing

Barry will make a presentation entitled “What about Year One?” followed by question and answers and a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Lancaster PA on September 29, 2015 from 7 PM to 9 PM

 

 Address for the Lancaster PA Barnes and Noble store;

Red Rose Commons
1700 H Fruitville Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601

Know the Time, Change Your World

The book goes on sale through normal channels today

Find the book's website here

Advance Book Launch and Ice Cream Party, June 25, 2015, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

The public is welcome to an ice cream social featuring the new book  “Know the Time, Change Your World”.  Advance copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by the author at the event. We hope to see you! Feel free to extend the invitation to anyone who may be interested.

RSVPs on Linked In or Facebook requested but not required.

Brick Gables is located at 800 E Newport Rd, Lititz, PA 17540. In front of the Newport Commons complex, along Newport Road.

Advance copy books are here!

Books Arrived today!

I will be in Ephrata all day and into the evening either at the house or the shop if you want to pick one up! Sales tax and a $5 donation to Casa Ray orphanage in Romania is included in the price of $20 for paperback and $30 for the hardcover.

The hardcovers are a limited run of 500 copies,

As I travel around South Central PA in the next few months I will post other locations that you can catch up with me.

Don’t be afraid to email or call me to set a meeting location.

Just in time for your summer reading

After almost a quarter century of tinkering with the idea, I have finally written the book!

Official release date is September 29, 2015, however, I will have advance copies in early June.

I have posted Chapter One at my new web site: http://7and50rhymes.com/

If you want an advance copy let me know by dropping me an email at barry@7and50rhymes.com

Paperback Retail $17.99, Hardcover TBD

Expect Anything

“I am not good at predictions, especially about the future”

I have no idea who originated this quote, but it is a favorite of mine. As we head toward the end of year seven this fall, what is really happening around us will become even more obscure. On the time scale of seven years we are now at the furthest point from the "Divine Light" which came into our situation in year one, six plus years ago, and the “Divine Light” we know is coming in the upcoming year one is still hidden from us.

Fourteen years ago at this point Muhammad Atta and his boys where learning about big airplanes and Ken Lay and Jeffery Skilling where still cooking the books at Enron.

Seven years ago the banking industry was still handing our liar loans and Bernie Madoff was still using creative accounting to keep his Ponzi scheme afloat.

So what is happening now? We have no idea.

Twenty-one years ago there was no financial crisis but instead the new set of seven years kicked off the best six economic years this country has ever seen. Remember Fed Chair, Allen Greenspan calling it "irrational exuberance" . Greenspan made that remark in 1996, the markets did not stop going up until March of 2000, spring of year six, by the way.

So what should we be doing? What does rest look like in a Year Seven? Do we just sleep a lot? I don’t think so, remember slaves where to be set free, land was to remain un-plowed and at the very end of the seventh year debts where to be forgiven. 

I think it’s a time of tinkering, doing those little things you thought about over the last few years that would improve your performance. Take the time to read a book, Take a class, try to make a prototype of that idea you had a while back. Write out your point of view on a subject you care about, it is likely you don’t even know what you really think about something until you write about it.

If you have gotten yourself into a good, restful, place this is a great time to help someone else who may be having a difficult time.

Recently in speaking with a fellow businessman about what to be doing at this juncture, I described the position we are attempting to be in as we enter year one as the equivalent of a football linebacker before the ball is snapped. Having no idea which direction the play may go, the player in a completely balanced stance is ready for anything. This is exactly the purpose of the seventh year, to be ready for anything.

In the end it may appear you predicted the future. But that is not the case you simply will be ready to go any direction when the Divine Light reveals what is really going on.

Happy Tinkering