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I recently came across All You Need to Know About the City by Christopher Stoakes, a book that does exactly what the title promises, but in a way that is far more entertaining than you might expect.
This is actually a book I used to reach for in the early days of my career, before tools like ChatGPT and instant search made it possible to look up almost any financial term or concept in seconds. At the time, it was one of those practical guides that helped demystify the City of London and the many institutions, acronyms and traditions that make up the financial services ecosystem.
For anyone who has ever wondered how the City actually works, the institutions, the culture, the unwritten rules, Stoakes breaks it down in a way that feels both accessible and surprisingly revealing. It’s part guide, part history lesson, and part decoding of the strange ecosystem that underpins much of the global financial system.
Today, of course, much of this information can be found quickly online. But there’s still something satisfying about having it all explained clearly in one place. For anyone who prefers the more traditional route, or simply wants a structured introduction to the world of finance and the City, this book is still a great place to start.
What makes it particularly enjoyable is its ability to explain complex financial concepts through stories, anecdotes and personalities rather than jargon. Stoakes walks through everything from the origins of key financial institutions to the mechanics of markets, while also capturing the peculiar traditions and culture that make the City such a distinctive place.
Whether you’re new to the sector or have spent years around it, it’s the kind of book that helps you see how the machinery of finance actually fits together.
- 2026, Books, January, Liminal recommends, Newsletters
