"Barbarians at the Gate," which details the 1988 takeover of RJR Nabisco. The authors, Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, conducted numerous interviews with key figures involved in the complex and high-stakes battle for control of the company. The excerpts provide a glimpse into the personalities, motivations, and strategies of the major players, including RJR Nabisco CEO Ross Johnson, investment banker Peter Cohen, and the formidable duo of Henry Kravis and George Roberts from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. The text highlights the intricate negotiations, corporate intrigue, and cutthroat competition that characterized the takeover, illustrating the ruthless world of corporate raiders and the power dynamics within the financial industry of the 1980s.