After awaking at 4am for nearly two years writing "Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead" I reached out to Library Journal, one of the top four pre-publication book reviewers in the country. Though Shock Exchange had been out in print for a few weeks, Library Journal still found the book compelling enough to review. Well the review is finally here. In its March 2013 issue, Library Journal described Shock Exchange as:

"An innovative look into the Great Recession of 2008 ... An Intriguing work."

My goal for the book was to not only to teach economics, but to teach in the form of literary art, and not have Shock Exchange come off as a textbook. A glowing review from the industry's top book reviewer is a huge accomplishment for a first time author.

In its April Magazine, Midwest Book Review raves about our new book, "Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead." Shock Exchange examines the stock market and U.S. economy through the eyes of the kids on the team. Established in 1976, Midwest Book Review produces book review publications on a monthly basis with a focus on small press. It is one of the top book reviewers in the country. According Midwest Book Review:

"Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead" discusses how there were many who saw the 2008 Financial calamity in the distance, and how author Ralph Baker and his associates knew it was coming...and how their message was only heard by deaf ears. An enticing look at the warning signs of crisis, "Shock Exchange" is a must for collections looking for memoirs focusing on the financial world.

Apparently the Memphis Grizzlies' Kendrick Perkins criticized Shaq for talking about himself too much. In the following video, Shaq decides to put the focus all on Perkins.

As incoming editor of the New York Times Book Review, one of Pamela Paul's stated goals is to make the publication "unpredictable." In terms of the profile of authors featured by the review, critics have argued that the New York Times Book Review has become too predictable and thus, less relevant. To that end, the Times sent a shot across the bow when it reviewed its first self-published book - Alan Sepinwall's "The Revolution Was Televised" - in December 2012. Recently, Ms. Paul explained her criteria for being selected by the world's most coveted book review. Let's see how "Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead" measures up.

Does This Book Matter?

"Shock Exchange" explains the stock market and U.S. economy through the eyes of the New York Shock Exchange, a financial literacy program the author - Ralph W. Baker, Jr. - started in 2006 for his 11 year old son and other boys his age. The Shock Exchange was ahead of its time, as no one cared about financial literacy in 2006. In analyzing the kids' stock picks and macroeconomic trends that drove them, the Shock Exchange noticed how the economy was headed for financial calamity.

Our new book, SHOCK EXCHANGE How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn Predicted the Great Recession and the Pain Ahead, is now available in print at the legendary St Marks Bookshop.  St Marks (212-260-7853) www.stmarksbookshop.com , located 31 3rd Avenue, as been a fixture on the Lower East side since the '70s.  Getting the book out to a wider audience is a big deal.  Partnering with an established book seller like St Marks is exciting.  So please, visit the store and grab you a copy ASAP.  St Marks is known for its monthly reading series where it highlights new and established authors.  Will SHOCK EXCHANGE make that list some day?  According to Gothamist.com:

Harrison Barnes' ridiculous reverse dunk on the Nuggets' Anthony Randolph helped the Warriors tie their playoff series at 1-1 and brandished Barnes' nickname as the "Black Falcon." In our new book, Shock Exchange: How Inner-City Kids From Brooklyn and the Pain Ahead, the Shock Exchange chronicles college basketball, the NBA and how to fix both.

The cover art for the Shock Exchange's much-anticipated new book, SHOCK EXCHANGE ... How Inner-City Kids Predicted The Great Recession And The Pain Ahead is up.  Yes, the book cover features the iconic "Shock Boy" posing with a basketball and briefcase which has come to define the Shock Exchange.  We grabbed a random boy from the neighborhood and did the shoot in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn in 2006.  It took the kid about an hour before he could finally hold the briefcase and spin the ball at the same ____ time.  We then worked with a graphic design student from nearby Pratt Institute to craft the logo.  I envisioned Shock Boy as one day rivaling Nike's jumpman logo; however, he has surpassed our expectations. 

Shock Boy, with the Brooklyn streets as a backdrop, in a grainy, black and white setting captures the mood of the book and the "pain ahead."  It has a timeless appeal, similar to old family portraits or the days when John Pierpont Morgan frequented Brooklyn and was lord over all of Street.  Or maybe it is reminiscent of that old black and white family portrait of Grandma and Grandpa that hangs in the living room, keeping a watchful eye over the current goings on.  Will African Americans and/or followers of Wall Street talk about the "pain ahead" a century from now?  Actually, that is the book we tried to write ... timeless ... thought-provoking ... unapologetic and that's the look we were going for with the book cover.  The book is due out in mid-September and will be available on at Amazon (kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple (iPad, iPhone), Sony, and Kobo, amongst others.