The Money Trap

This is a lovely book. A solid personal experience that draws into the arcane world of finance. He keeps it witty, deliberately self deprecating and pacy. Thoroughly entertaining and written very well. Way to go !

A fascinating story and great personal memoir by a globetrotting champion Alok Sama . Thanks for amazing insights, craziness , secrets , humor ( cook and hunter ) and many many learnings .. A must read !! Thanks Alok Sama !! Gratitude and Commitment !!

The book offers an inside look into the author’s time at SoftBank. Some chapters are engaging, providing detailed accounts of key decisions, events, and the author’s perspective on the investment landscape during that period. These parts make for an insightful read. However, many chapters fall short in presentation and depth. The author could have added more value by exploring what drove startup valuations during that time, the investment philosophies of various competing funds chasing the same deals, and the unique challenges and considerations involved in investing in Asian startups. These omissions leave the reader wanting a more comprehensive view of the market context in which SoftBank was operating. Overall, it’s a decent one-time read for those curious about venture capital and SoftBank’s role in shaping the startup ecosystem, but it misses the opportunity to be a more analytical or reflective work.

Alok had a cockpit view of the evolving craziness that was Softbank. He has chronicled the journey to perfection, injecting equal parts finance, sentimentality and the personal relationships that built up Softbank. I chuckled repeatedly with his turn of phrase, the subtle infusion of humour keeping the tale breezy while simultaneously sharpening the prose. A highly recommended read.

The book starts off like a financial thriller—with a mysterious smear campaign and high-stakes dealmaking. But it slowly loses its edge. Alok Sama’s journey from banker to SoftBank’s top dealmaker had the potential to be gripping. Instead, the narrative gets bogged down in jargon, name-dropping, and insider lingo. It’s not quite a memoir, not quite a business exposé—just somewhere in between. As a reader, I found myself waiting for it to land emotionally or deliver deeper insight. It doesn’t. The book flirts with drama, but doesn’t commit to storytelling. In the end, it feels like being invited to a high-powered meeting that drags on too long—interesting at first, but hard to stay with.

After seeing "The Money Trap" recommended by the Economic Times as a must-read, I decided to pick it up—and I am so glad I did. While I usually rotate between several books at once, Alok’s memoir was truly unputdownable. Why you should read it: • Immersive Writing: The descriptions are so vivid that you feel like a "fly on the wall" during every conversation and pivotal moment. • Subtle Wisdom: Rather than preaching, the book weaves thoughtful lessons into every chapter, making the insights feel earned and authentic. • Lasting Impact: This isn't just a business book; it’s a deeply personal memoir that stays with you long after the final page. If you are looking for a book that combines a compelling narrative with genuine life lessons, this is it. Highly recommended!

Superb book!

As someone who's spent over a decade scaling fast-paced internet businesses, I’ve seen firsthand how ambition can take over—not just your time, but your identity. What struck me about Alok’s story was the brutal honesty. He doesn’t glamorize success—he dissects it. The constant chase for more, the shifting definitions of fulfillment, the compromises we don’t even notice until much later—it all resonated deeply. What I appreciated most is that The Money Trap doesn’t preach. It invites. It invites you to pause, to reflect, and to question if the goals we’re chasing are even ours to begin with. A powerful read for anyone navigating growth, pressure, reinvention—and especially those in the middle of it all. Thank you, Alok, for putting such a thoughtful mirror to the journey so many of us are on.