"Martin Prager Mayer" is the writer of 35 non-fiction books, including Madison Avenue, U.S.A. (1958), The Schools (1961), The Lawyers (1967), About Television (1972), The Bankers (1975), The Builders (1978), Risky Business: The Collapse of Lloyd's of London (1995), The Bankers: The Next Generation (1997), The Fed (2001), and The Judges (2005).

Mayer's books describe and criticize American industries or professional groups. His book on Madison Avenue was described by Cleveland Amory as "The first complete story on the ... advertising industry". Mayer wrote a music column for Esquire (magazine)/Esquire from 1952 to 1975. He is currently a scholar at the Brookings Institution. He is married to Revenue Watch Institute President Karin Lissakers.

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It changed from a semi-secret occupation without government regulation to something that is transparent, with annual reports and public disclosure. That's a very large change. In the trading area, especially, there was a lot of secrecy.

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This is the twilight of the banks. It would be a more cheerful spectacle if we could envision the dawn of the institutions that will replace them.

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The company was the great speculator of the modern-day commodity exchanges.

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Except for con men borrowing money they shouldn't get and the widows who have to visit with the handsome young men in the trust department, no sane person ever enjoyed visiting a bank.

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This has nothing to do with whether you and I agree that someone should be using marijuana to make them feel better. It has to do with the law.

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They were really under the gun.

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It's changed banking for the better.

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They were market roughnecks, even by Chicago standards.

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