Private Equity

Private Equity by Carrie Sun is a gripping memoir that delves into the high-stakes world of Wall Street and the personal journey of a young woman navigating the complexities of extreme wealth, privilege, and a demanding work culture. This is a compelling narrative of self-discovery and the often unseen cost of climbing the corporate ladder in pursuit of the American dream.

At the heart of the story is Carrie Sun, a daughter of Chinese immigrants who has excelled academically, graduated early from MIT, and pursued a promising career. Despite her impressive achievements, Carrie finds herself unfulfilled and questioning her life's direction at the age of twenty-nine. She has left her analyst job, dropped out of an MBA program, and is stuck in an unhappy engagement. Just as she contemplates her next move, a rare opportunity arises: the chance to work at one of the most prestigious hedge funds in the world.

After enduring fourteen rigorous interviews, Carrie lands the job and becomes the sole assistant to the firm's billionaire founder. As she manages his work life, Carrie finds herself deeply immersed in the firm's culture, which prioritises return on time above all else. She quickly adapts to this luxury-laden world, where money seems to solve nearly every problem.

As Carrie plays the game at the highest levels, she finds her identity increasingly defined by her work. The pressure and demands of her job begin to take a toll on her physical and mental health, forcing her to reassess her life's priorities and what it truly means to waste one's life. Her journey becomes a profound examination of our modern relationship with work and the pursuit of success.

Through Carrie’s eyes, readers are given a front-row seat to the contrasts and excesses of Wall Street, where efficiency battles with extravagance, and power and fortune reign supreme. Her story is a vivid counterpart to the winner-take-all economy, shedding light on the personal sacrifices made in the relentless quest for achievement and status.

Private Equity is more than just a memoir; it is a searing critique of the pressures and inequalities inherent in high-stakes finance. Carrie Sun's voice offers a universal tale of self-invention, daring to question the sacrifices made for success and the courage required to break free from its gilded cage. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever questioned the true cost of ambition—and what it means to find balance and fulfilment in a world of extremes.