Following the spectacular collapse of Enron, a host of books were rushed into print. This was not one of them. While other authors published, McLean and Elkind bided their time, meticulously researching the events leading up to the 2001 bankruptcy. Together with Bryce (2002), theirs is one of the best books on the fall of Enron.

McLean and Elkind cover the history of Enron, from its formation in the early 1980s to its bankruptcy in 2001. Subsequent events, including the bankruptcy of Arthur Andersen are only touched on briefly.

What makes the book exceptional is its depth of detail. Here are some examples.

While other books mention Skillings "Gas Bank," McLean and Elkind put it in context. They describe the state of the natural gas market back in the early 1990s. They identify the need to be met and explain how Skilling's idea met it.

This book offers the most informative account of Fastow's special purpose vehicles—and the various purposes they served—that I have read anywhere.

No other book explains how Enron traders gamed the California power markets as clearly as this one.

For professionals, this is the book I recommend. Other books' explanations of technical concepts will seem wishy-washy by comparison.