By Beth Kieda

Staff Reporter

Jordan Belfort’s episodic autobiography, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” is an almost unbelievable tale of greed, addiction and non-stop action.

Advice to the audience – read the prologue. Knowing that Belfort was once a normal guy with a lot of humanity helps balance his actions during the book.

This is a biography that does not really feel like one.

The story begins in Manhattan in the early ’90s. Belfort is the founder and owner of an investment firm that employs young, ruthless stock brokers eager to follow their leader’s directions. Much of the millions of dollars made the firm are tied to stock manipulation and money laundering.

No aspect of Belfort’s life is devoid of insanity.

He is married to a woman he loves, yet sleeps with prostitutes on a weekly basis. He regularly consumes a drug cocktail of cocaine, Quaaludes, Xanax and Valium.

Belfort tells his story in a style that is exciting and honest and makes the book difficult to put down. Between his adventures on a yacht, the journey to open Swiss bank accounts and his love for his children, it’s hard not to find something to like in this story.

The reader becomes a part of Belfort’s life in a way that allows him or her to sometimes see the motivation behind his actions yet still want to scream at him.

Belfort is a very talented writer with an incredible story to share. However, his descriptions of things can be excessive at times.

Despite the in-depth details, readers without a knowledge of finance may not get a full understanding of the events in the book. It is clear that things done in the book are illegal, but not why they are illegal.

It still gives an intriguing look into a world many would otherwise never explored.

Anyone who thought the business world was boring is in for a surprise.

One other odd thing about the book is Belfort’s habit of explaining the words behind every non-verbal communication. It almost seems to be another symptom of the lifestyle he led.

Stories like “The Wolf of Wall Street” definitely have their purpose besides entertainment. Belfort’s memoir serves as a reminder of how easy it can be to go from an average guy looking to lead a comfortable life to a power-hungry drug addict who does not see anything wrong with having “midget-tossing” as an activity at a meeting.

Four stars out of five

lifeline@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Beth Kieda