McCullough is this generation’s every man. From humble roots in backwoods Canada to the center of the hedge fund universe in New York City, his journey is one we can all relate to on different levels. As he and Blake weave this tale, they also educate the reader on the inner workings of the hedge fund universe from the eyes of a true insider. Along the way, we also meet such compelling character as “Jonesy”, “Frenchie”, and a German son of a textile manufacturer, “Blum”. This story travels the decade and history of the hedge fund, one of the most dominating financial forces in the markets and global commerce today. This is a highly recommended read for anyone looking for an inspiring story, or general background on the secretive world of hedge funds. Rating: 5 / 5

I really enjoyed reading Diaries of a Hedge Fund Manager, completed it in one night while on vacation. It is a great look into the secretive world of hedge funds that few are willing to talk about. The book sends a great message about how far hard work and character can take someone in their career and personal life. I highly recommend the book to both Wall Street professionals and anyone interested in investing. Rating: 5 / 5

Broken down like this it was easy to see why the system collapsed. Greed,group think and lack of regulation left the door wide open to reckless investing. McCollough work ethic and Blake’s brass tack writing style make for a readable explanation to the market collapse of 2008. Tim Geithner, Bernanke and company should peruse. Rating: 5 / 5

He doesn’t pull punches, this insider’s view of the investment business (and hedge funds in particular), chronicling both his wins and his crushing defeats, all while pushing forward with grit and determination. We’d all wish to have produced such a fresh, candid self-assessment, even while still in the prime of our careers.

Part autobiography, part portfolio management journal, lessons are illustrated with vignettes, my favorite being the cheery banter at the Pacific Sunwear analyst meeting.

This book is also ideal for the investor whose idea of contrarian thinking is more than ordering the tuna sandwich for lunch when everyone else is getting the chicken. It’s all about quality of thought, doing the work and conviction!

Co-author Rich Blake’s clean writing style fits within the plain-truth narrative, nothing fancy but it gets his points across.

Keith McCullough is a rising star, possibly one of the upcoming generation’s great investment minds, if his intellect, work ethic and independent streak continue to bless his performance results. Imagine if, fifty years ago, you could identify the next Warren Buffett or George Soros. With this book, you may be witness to the evolution of such a career on the rise.

Finally, the book is an ideal read for the young professional (perfect for your soon-to-be college grad — you’d like for them to hear it “like it is,” right?), as well as a critique about what is wrong with Wall Street’s excesses. The conclusion of this story returns to investment ethics, earning our clients’ trust through transparency, accountability and meeting challenges head-on.

As McCullough likes to say, this is a job he would do whether he’s paid a modest amount, or a fortune. My bet is that he’s out to prove that a fortune is just what he’s bound to achieve. Rating: 5 / 5

Keith McCullough’s story is fantastic and very relevant in today’s world – I’m not a hockey fan, but loved reading about his passion for the game and his experiences “on the road” playing the game and then seeing how that same kind of passion in his business, fighting against the establishment when greed was overwhelming the investment world. I can also see how the values and passion that have defined Keith’s life are now translating into Hedgeye, his investment research product. It’s about honesty, transparency and an investing process that cuts out all the BS that defined so much of the investing world for years and years. Kudos to Keith for this great book and for the great work and investing ideas from him and his team at Hedgeye. Rating: 5 / 5