Exclusive Live Event: William K. Black on The Greatest Heist
I'm saying thank you to Narativ's paid subscribers by inviting you to join in a truly unique experience.
The truth - we’ve come to find out - is what separates proud democratic countries from authoritarian alternatives. I’m thankful to every Narativ subscriber - free or paid who fueled Narativ’s #1 mission to uncover the truth. I’m especially thankful to Narativ’s paid subscribers, without you I couldn’t have continued my reporting. We recently crossed a milestone: 1000 paid subscribers and I wanted to give you something special as a thank you, and to encourage those of you still on the fence to jump in.
I’m inviting you into the process of The Greatest Heist with a very special guest William K Black.
On Wednesday at 7 PM ET, join me for an exclusive Substack Live conversation with William K. Black—the federal regulator who exposed the Savings & Loan crisis and helped convict over 1,000 banking executives. It remains the only time in modern U.S. history that bankers actually went to prison for financial fraud.
Black isn’t just a former regulator; he’s also a criminologist and the author of the classic The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One. He coined the very concept of “control fraud”—how executives loot their own institutions.
Why This Matters to The Greatest Heist
The Greatest Heist is about the largest theft in history—how trillions were stolen from America’s economy and how the treasury was looted while prosecutors looked away.
Black is the rare figure who not only studied these crimes but successfully prosecuted them. His work during the S&L crisis sent executives to prison. The 2008 financial crisis, 70 times larger by scale, sent none.
I want to know why. And you’ll be there as I ask.
What Makes This Special
Exclusive for paid subscribers: a small, direct conversation where you can ask questions, share observations from the chapters you’ve read, and even shape the direction of the next stage of the investigation.
Real-time research: you’ll see how I gather evidence and interrogate history as I write.
A world first: a book written in real time, with readers participating in the actual investigative process. You’re not just reading The Greatest Heist—you’re inside it.
By exposing the truth, we can help shift the narrative in the future.
Details
📅 Wednesday, September 24 2025
⏰ 7 PM ET
🔒 Exclusive to paid subscribers
🎥 Recording available only to paid members
*select clips will be available to everyone.
Can’t afford to be a paid subscriber? The first 5 people who DM me will get a premium membership on me.
Thank you for making this journalism possible.
Hi Zev, i’ll never be able to thank you enough for all you’ve put in this sub stack!!! you’ve made my sanity turn into happiness. Is there anyway you can get Timothy Snyder on your show?
Outstanding!!!