In 1982, it was clear to many that the path to success was well-defined. The most direct route was to major in economics, which would naturally lead to a job as an analyst on Wall Street. This position was viewed as a stepping stone to prestigious business schools like Harvard or Stanford, which would further propel one’s career. Many young individuals were focused on this trajectory, prioritizing it over other life considerations.

Michael Lewis's book "Liar's Poker" explores this single-minded ambition and the culture of Wall Street during that era. It captures the competitive environment and the strategies people believed were necessary to secure a prosperous future in finance. The narrative reflects the mindset of graduates who were eager to follow this seemingly foolproof plan to success, encapsulating the drive and aspirations that characterized the financial world of the time.