Hey, everyone. This is the bookpile, a podcast about the best of books and the worst of books.

If this is your first time to the podcast, welcome. If you've been a fan, then you know that we're currently in a schedule or my co-host, or I'm his co-host. It's the eternal argument.

David Vance makes an appearance every other week. Speaking of which, he'll be back next week, Monday, May 13th,

where we'll discuss the fantastic book, Bird by Bird. But on the between weeks, like today,

I either record a solo episode or I have a guest, or I bring back to the surface, an older

episode that has been buried in the past. I've unearthed it, like I'm a podcast, Indiana Jones, but more of an

archaeologist who only digs for episodes of his own podcast. You get the metaphor. Today's

artifact comes from almost exactly two years ago when Dave and I covered the nonfiction book

that I wish for all our sakes had been fiction, The Big Short,

the true story of a few guys who had billions against the stock market without letting the

rest of us know what terrible future was in store. The movie adaptation of which features

Michael Scott, Batman, Benjamin Button, and Ken.

Just check out the poster to appreciate that joke.

Anyway, I think this is a solid, funny episode full of scary facts and very weird tangents,

including one about a waterborne disease that sounds made up.

So now, without further ado, from 100 episodes ago, this is me and Dave.

The big short is the story of people who made a ton of money by predicting the market would crash.

But then, how come all the pessimists I follow on Twitter are so poor?

I feel attacked. And this is the bookpile.

Think of what you know about big banks.

So nice, right?

You agree big banks are honest and kind?

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