Greg Smith, the South African-born ex-Goldman Sachs executive who resigned this month, and went on to launch a scathing attack on Goldman’s culture in the New York Times, is seeking a deal to write a book about his experiences there.

The New York Times reported that Greg is now shopping for a book deal with major publishers in New York, several people with knowledge of the conversations told the paper.

Greg was paid $150 for his column that was published in the New York Times, but would stand to make much more if a deal is signed.

The paper continued:

According to several people who were present, Mr Smith described his book as a coming-of-age story, the tale of someone who came into the business with good intentions and sky-high ideals that were ultimately pierced by Goldman’s obsessive focus on making money.

It would also be a story of the history of Goldman Sachs and the perceived change in the culture of the firm that left Mr Smith, a native of South Africa who lived in London, disillusioned and eager to leave after spending nearly 12 years there.

Mr Smith is working with an agent, Paul Fedorko, a publishing veteran who works for NS Bienstock, a talent agency. Mr Fedorko did not return a call seeking comment. Mr Smith did not respond to an e-mail.

Reactions to the book deal have been mixed. Some say the story may be dead by the time the book is published, and others say Greg would probably have enough to write a damning account of what might have been happening during the course of his tenure.

It also wouldn’t be the first book of its kind to follow this narrative.

Critics noted similar examples like, “House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street,” in which William Cohan retold the fall of Bear Stearns.

The paper said that there was however “a ripe market for books that are targeted at the business and financial communities, groups that include many affluent, highly educated book buyers.”

Another obstacle Greg may need to overcome would be any legal issues that may arise as a result of what he writes.

[Source: NYTimes]