by Stephen Birmingham is a history book that documents the lives of prominent New York Jewish families who immigrated from Germany in the 19th century. It explores how these families, including the Loebs, Goldmans, Sachs, Seligmans, and Guggenheims, built significant financial empires and created their own exclusive society despite being barred from the upper echelons of New York society due to their religion and origins. The book provides an engaging narrative of their rise to wealth and the social history they shaped.