The New York Post, "Required Reading"
"A Plimptonesque revel, and one of the most entertaining business books to come around in a long while." Kirkus, Starred Review
Elle magazine, "Readers' Prize"
Chicago Reader, "Critic's Choice"
MSNBC, "Fall Books Guide"
"This is a rip-roaring view of one woman's life in the trading pits of Chicago. Cari Lynn, a young writer who spent two years as a clerk at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, finds a world populated by larger-than-life characters, high-stakes risk-taking, and excess in all its forms. We follow along as she evolves from an innocent, overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the male chauvinists who dominate the trading floor, to an astute observer of what goes on amid the hard-drinking, fist-pounding, foul-mouthed mob." The Economist
“Leg the Spread is a kind book about a cruel world. If you’re a woman, Cari Lynn’s salty memoir will hearten you, though it might not sway you to enter the futures trading field. If you’re a man, it will embarrass you; most of the men here are pigs. If you’re greedy, it might empower you regardless of your gender because the money can be unbelievable.”
The Boston Globe
“As Leg the Spread makes clear, anyone who wants to encounter capitalism red in tooth and claw should visit the Merc’s trading floor. They don’t call it “the Pit” for nothing.” Forbes
“A sexy, adrenalized, very cool book that is a lesson as well as a pleasure.” James McManus, bestselling author of Positively Fifth Street
“Downright riveting...Lynn gives readers a glimpse into the world of the ‘Merc,’ a rough, gritty, action-packed scene dictated by money and testosterone...Leg the Spread is a skilled presentation of the sights, sounds, and even smells of a world that few women—or men, for that matter—ever truly understand.” Publishers Weekly
“A swashbuckling adventure in the heart of Chicago that should not be missed...Cari Lynn takes you inside the crash-and-burn world of “the Merc,” a baptism by fire where the good old boys’ club is invaded by girls who—with humor, guts, and acumen—get even by getting rich.” Gail Evans, author of Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman and She Wins, You Win
“Leg the Spread is a great introduction to life in the Merc’s pits, in all its filthy, adrenaline-fueled glory. From Pork Bellies to polyester blazers, Ms. Lynn grabs you by the jowls and doesn’t let go. This book made my inner woman want to stand up on the top tier of the pit, jam some fat bastard with a bad trade, and scream, 'Take that, you chauvinist jackass!'” John Rolfe, author of Monkey Business: Swinging Through the Wall Street Jungle
“Cari Lynn’s vivid descriptions make you feel as if you’re right there with her in the frenzied melange of the trading pits. If you’re a woman considering a career anywhere near stocks and trading, this is one book you have to read first.” Lois P. Frankel, author of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office