Although non-fiction, “The Big Short,” reads like a novel. Lewis dives deep into the psyche of the main characters who, though obvious geniuses, look a bit like they belong on “The Island of Misfit Toys.” …(Lewis) avoids dense, glassy-eyed explanations and industry jargon. He simplifies complex transactions like collateralized debt obligations, credit default swaps and reinsurance through adept story-telling that shows just how the financial sausage was made.