Why do you think Sorkin goes into detail about the players’ personal backgrounds? How does this technique shape the text?

Several of the major players described in the book predicted that the economy was overdue for a crisis before 2008. Why were they not able to prevent these events? Is there something they or others could have done to avert the crisis? Why or why not?

Those responsible for the bailout believed that they had to explain their actions “in plain English” so that the average person could understand them. Did they accomplish this goal? Why or why not?