what are some good books about douchey 80s wall street culture?

Predators' Ball?

money by martin amis

Den of Thieves

I would not call Barbarians at the Gate a "book about douchey 80s wall street culture"

+1

I read it, it's ok but not very well written. Real people manage to look flat and forgettable but some of the events can be compelling. Well maybe most of the people involved weren't very interesting anyway. It's not about Douchey 80s WS culture but I guess it related to that. People writing for the WSJ would use the term "hubris" instead of "douchey" but that's because they're finance drama queens and think everything revolves around WS.

Most of the hubris in that story is around corporate characters rather than the "Wall Street" ones. Well written or not, it's a book about a transaction, it's intricacies and drama, and the personalities around it, rather than about the WS culture. I really cannot see how this could be called a book about the "douchey 80s wall street culture" - it's not the right label (unlike the other books mentioned in the thread). If one finds the characters in Barbarians douchey, then they can apply that label to most high-level business executives, not only in finance, and not only in the 80s.

As I said it is tangentially related. I guess I agree with your assessment. I'd recommend the book, as the sequence of events can be entertaining.

Money by Amis is a great, laugh-out-loud book.

You didnt say anything about Bright Lights, Big City. Personally, I wasnt impressed, but after fawning over Bret Easton Ellis (and you should read all of his books, AP was just the icing), I figured I would give Jay McIrney a try.

Try Fiasco by Frank Partnoy. Actual deal-doing takes place.

Bonfire is about New York, not just Wall Street. Only one character happens to work on Wall Street.

American Psycho.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad.