WARREN BAFFLER, Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder. He's putting his legendary reputation as the shrewdest stock-picker of them all on the line by hiring Brainstorm Bill to take Institutionalized to the stars (or at the very least somewhere other than down).

JACK SQUELCH - perhaps the most influential corporate leader of the twentieth century - turned GEE WIZ from a successful global conglomerate into a successful global conglomerate ... but bigger, better and something more Jack than any of his books could ever capture. Why is Jack the most important thorn in Bill's side?

BRUCEY WAFFLESTEIN, aka BRUTAL BRUCEY, Wall Street Kingmaker and major investor in Institutionalized Industries. No one in a square mile can escape the power of Brucey's trademark raspy bellow (not without ear plugs anyway).

DR. GRETA VEERMAN is Bill's brisk and efficient, impersonal psychotherapist, until, that is, things turn personal. Can their relationship survive Bill's escalating professional crises? How many prescriptions for HappyZax can a CEO take?

SIR? JULIAN FLEECER, III convinces the Yanks not only to buy his UK operation, but also his act (yes, they think he's an old-world aristocrat). While some may dare to be daring, Julian dares to be different. He's not just another lemming racing toward the usual cliff; he creatively, proactively and passionately chooses a cliff all his own.

MR. WU is the behind-the-scenes, permanently smiling patriarch of Chiang Shu Associates, a gigantic holding company with controlling fingers in mainland businesses more numerous than Bill's tablets. A former officer in the People's Intimidation Army, Mr. Wu partners with Bill to revolutionize the Chinese construction industry while executing inscrutable plans of his own.

NY General Attorney, ELVIS SPRITZER, has a nose for corporate malfeasance and Institutionalized is just begging to be investigated. With the Urbane-Moxley Act, he has 'em headlocked and hog-tied. Baby, this isn't some mom and pop store who forgot to file their 1099's on time, no sir, we're talking serious missappropriation of forms here ... not to mention the Govenor's mansion.

BOB BUMMER is a quirky and inventive New York businessman and a no-bullshit kind of guy. Bob taught Lance everything he knows ... and Bob will stop at nothing to get him back in Bummer.

Plus: a horde of naked protesters, NYC cops, cab drivers, bloggers, newspaper reporters, skinhead secretaries, corporate wives and gilfriends and the Chinese Secret Service who all conspire to make this a story you'll never forget ... no matter how badly you want to.

A Blood & Treasure Publication

ISBN: 1 90555 8 00 7