For the Love of Money : A Memoir

This is a memoir of a man driven to achieve financial success at all costs. The author is clear that his father may have a lot to do with his drive; the message was “you’ll never be good enough.” This drove Polk to school and college sports in an attempt to receive recognition. In his quest, he starved his body and became bulimic. It is fascinating to learn that, in the world of sports, men routinely stress their bodies as much as a high-fashion model.

In choosing a career, Polk went to the high-stakes table of Wall Street and proceeded through high-risk trading to make a name for himself and to rise through the ranks. He received millions in bonuses but was spurred on to attempt to receive the top performer’s bonus payment. Bonuses are the big carrot of Wall Street; they not only incentivize, but lock the trader into staying with the firm for the next big bonus. Polk walked away from the fast lane to establish a non-profit providing healthy food to those locked out of neighborhoods with fine groceries. A wonderful transformation and an interesting story.