A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street

“The Madness of Russian Rock” was written for about five years and became Kushnir’s seventh major literary work. According to the author, the main declared goal of this tome is to remind those who have forgotten about Captain Kuryokhin and introduce those who have never heard anything about this flamboyant musician. The book is built on several hundred interviews with Kuryokhin’s contemporaries and friends, as well as with his relatives, musicians of the legendary Pop-Mekhanika orchestra, film directors, philosophers, and political figures. Among them are Boris Grebenshchikov, leader of the Aquarium band; music critic Artemy Troitsky; musicians Aleksandr Lipnitsky and Sergey Letov; artists Sergey “Afrika” Bugaev and Dmitry Shagin; directors Sergey Debizhev and Dmitry Meshkiev; Kuryokhin’s wife Anastasia Kuryokhina, and many others. “The Madness of Russian Rock” tells about Kuryokhin’s birth in Murmansk, his move to Moscow, his studies in Evpatoria, his creative path in St. Petersburg, numerous performances in Europe, America, and Japan; the reasons why the musician joined the “National-Bolshevik Party,” and also about the sudden death of the artist at the age of 42 from a “practically nonexistent illness.”

“Ed the Torp’s memoirs read like a thriller. Hidden wearable computers are involved—ones that even James Bond wouldn’t refuse—sinister characters, great scientists, and attempts at poisoning (not to mention the sabotage after which Ed was supposed to ‘end up in an accident’ in the middle of the desert). This book paints a portrait of a neat, serious, organized person dedicated to the search for life, knowledge, financial security, and, not least of all, pleasures.”

(Nassim Taleb)

“I invite you to take part in my odyssey through the worlds of science, gambling, and securities markets. You’ll learn how I managed to overcome all kinds of dangers and achieve success in Las Vegas, on Wall Street, and in my own life. On this journey, you’ll meet interesting people—from card-counters in blackjack to investment specialists; from movie stars to Nobel laureates. You’ll also learn about options and other financial derivatives, as well as hedge funds, and discover how a simple investment strategy can, in the long run, beat everyone—even the most experienced investors.”

(Edward Thorpe)