The Fear Index
William Leith25 May 2012
The Fear Index
by Robert Harris
(Arrow, £7.99)
Alex Hoffmann, a brilliant American geek, lives in a splendid mansion in a posh part of Geneva. He’s absolutely loaded. That’s because he’s invented a computer programme that makes money by crawling all over the web, seeking out signs of fear, and then buying and selling stocks and bonds accordingly. In fact, this programme seems to have a mind of its own, and might be trying to destroy its inventor. What a superb idea — a money machine getting out of control and going on the rampage. Is this possible? Or is it just a function of Hoffman’s — and the reader’s — paranoia? Very slick. Very clever. Very readable. And not as far-fetched as you might think.
