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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Dark Towers summary
Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction
31 mins
Brief summary
'Dark Towers' by David Enrich is an exhilarating financial thriller that delves into the shady practices of Deutsche Bank and their ties to Donald Trump's business empire.
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Dark Towers
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From its founding, Deutsche Bank set a precedent for dealing with unscrupulous characters and nefarious institutions.
In September 1883, a train full of dignitaries pulled into Gold Creek, Montana. Waiting to meet them was Henry Villard, a German immigrant turned railroad tycoon. Villard’s company had built part of the transcontinental railroad, and he was in Montana to nail in the ceremonial last spike. Also present to witness the proceedings was the richly dressed German banker Georg von Siemens. His 13-year-old bank, Deutsche, had bankrolled the railroad.
Despite the pomp, Villard’s business was in shambles. Weeks after the ceremony, it defaulted on its loans, and its investors – including Deutsche – lost their money. But Villard, who had used the borrowed money to build a lavish mansion in Manhattan, refused to accept blame for the debacle.
The key message here is: From its founding, Deutsche Bank set a precedent for dealing with unscrupulous characters and nefarious institutions.
Having skulked back to Germany, Villard made friendly overtures to Siemens. Despite the money he’d lost on Villard’s reckless railroad ambitions, Siemens received him. The two became close friends.
Three years later, in 1886, Siemens sent Villard back to the United States to sniff out potential investments on behalf of Deutsche Bank. For a time, things went well, and Deutsche became a major funder of the US railroad network. But Villard’s nature couldn’t be suppressed; predictably, his new company went bankrupt. Even more predictably, Villard ducked the blame.
Despite Villard’s failings, Deutsche continued to grow, buoyed by European industrialization. By 1913, it was the sixth-largest bank in the world.
When Hitler came to power in 1933, Deutsche became the chief financier for the Nazi regime. The bank was in charge of converting gold stolen from Holocaust victims – including fillings extracted from people’s teeth – into cash. Deutsche also financed the construction of Auschwitz, the notorious concentration camp, as well as the factory that produced Zyklon B, the poison gas used in the camps’ death chambers.
After the war, Deutsche Bank’s ruined Berlin headquarters fell under British command. Because Germany still owed Britain reparations from World War I, it was in Britain’s interest for a strong German bank to resuscitate the economy. Although the bank’s wartime director, Hermann Abs, had been convicted of war crimes, Britain let him off with a light sentence. By 1956, he was running the show at Deutsche once more.
In 1970, the year of its centenary, Deutsche was German through and through. It had built two massive towers that dominated Frankfurt’s skyline, nicknamed “Debit” and “Credit” by locals, and invested in all the top German companies.
In the coming years, this was to change dramatically.
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What is Dark Towers about?
Dark Towers (2020) is a heavily researched look into the ignominious rise and devastating fall of Deutsche Bank. Over the course of 150 years, the bank helped build the American railroad system, funded Nazi genocide, schmoozed Russian oligarchs, and had a hand in the election of President Donald Trump. When Deutsche executive Bill Broeksmit killed himself in 2014, he came to symbolize the destructive power of the bank’s institutional greed.
Dark Towers Review
Dark Towers (2020) delves into the shadowy dealings of a global banking giant, uncovering a web of corruption and financial malpractice. Here are three reasons why this book is worth reading:
- With meticulous research and thorough investigative journalism, David Enrich exposes the dark underbelly of the banking industry, providing a shocking glimpse into the world of high finance.
- The book offers a fascinating narrative that combines personal stories, behind-the-scenes intrigue, and economic analysis, making it both informative and entertaining.
- Through its exploration of power dynamics and unethical practices, Dark Towers serves as a cautionary tale and highlights the importance of holding institutions accountable.
Best quote from Dark Towers
Oh my God, were screwed. – Justin Kennedy, upon learning of Edson Mitchells death.
—David Enrich
Who should read Dark Towers?
- People who work in finance
- Anyone still mad about the government’s Wall Street bailout
- Stock market watchers
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Dark Towers FAQs
What is the main message of Dark Towers?
The main message of Dark Towers is a shocking exposé of Deutsche Bank's unethical and risky practices.
How long does it take to read Dark Towers?
The reading time for Dark Towers varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Dark Towers a good book? Is it worth reading?
Dark Towers is a gripping and eye-opening book that delves into the corruption and reckless behavior at Deutsche Bank. A must-read for anyone interested in financial scandals.
Who is the author of Dark Towers?
The author of Dark Towers is David Enrich.
What to read after Dark Towers?
If you're wondering what to read next after Dark Towers, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- SYSTEMology by David Jenyns
- Escape from Freedom by Erich Fromm
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Spider Network by David Enrich
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Compromised by Peter Strzok
- The Four by Scott Galloway
- Be Here Now by Ram Dass
- The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber & David Wengrow
- Un-Trumping America by Dan Pfeiffer