The Hour Between Dog and Wolf by John Coates Summary

The Hour Between Dog and Wolf explores how biological processes, like hormone fluctuations (testosterone and cortisol), drive risk-taking behavior in financial markets. John Coates, a former Wall Street trader turned neuroscientist, argues that physiological states—not just rational analysis—shape boom-bust cycles. The book bridges economics, neuroscience, and stress physiology to explain why traders swing between irrational exuberance and paralyzing pessimism.

This book is essential for finance professionals, behavioral economists, and neuroscience enthusiasts. It’s also valuable for anyone in high-stakes decision-making roles (e.g., athletes, military leaders) seeking to understand how stress and success alter biology. Coates’ insights help readers recognize—and manage—physiological drivers of risk.

Yes. Coates combines gripping Wall Street anecdotes with rigorous science, offering a fresh lens on market instability. His findings challenge traditional economic models by highlighting the body’s role in decision-making. This book is particularly relevant for understanding systemic financial risks and stress management.

The phrase, borrowed from Jean Genet, metaphorically describes dusk—when a dog can transform into a wolf. Coates uses it to capture traders’ shift from rational actors to risk-obsessed participants during market swings. It symbolizes how biology can override logic under pressure.

Coates found that rising testosterone during winning streaks amplifies confidence and risk appetite, creating a feedback loop. This hormonal “high” impairs judgment, leading traders to underestimate dangers—a key driver of market bubbles. Conversely, sustained losses spike cortisol, fostering extreme risk aversion.

“Learned helplessness” refers to traders’ psychological and physiological collapse after prolonged losses. High cortisol levels suppress risk-taking, causing withdrawal and depression. Coates links this state to market crashes, as traders become too stressed to act rationally.

Coates’ research impacts sports, healthcare, and military strategy. For example, athletes under stress may choke due to cortisol spikes, while soldiers in combat face similar biological pressures. The book offers strategies to mitigate stress-induced decision flaws.

Some critics argue Coates overemphasizes biological determinism, downplaying institutional or cultural factors in financial crises. Others note the focus on male traders (testosterone-driven behavior) limits its applicability to diverse populations.

Coates’ dual expertise—as a Deutsche Bank trader and Cambridge neuroscientist—lends unparalleled credibility. His firsthand Wall Street experience grounds theoretical concepts, while his physiological studies provide empirical evidence for biology’s role in risk.

It describes the临界点 when traders transition from冷静 analysis to impulsive action. During this “hour,” euphoria or panic overrides logic, often leading to extreme risk-taking or withdrawal—a biological state Coates measures via hormone levels and heart-rate variability.

Coates disputes the “rational actor” model, showing how hormones and stress physiology distort decision-making. This biological perspective explains market inefficiencies that classical economics cannot, advocating for models that integrate body-brain interactions.

• Monitor physiology: Use wearables to track stress markers like cortisol.
• Diversify teams: Balance young, testosterone-driven employees with older,稳定 colleagues.
• Stress buffers: Encourage exercise and mindfulness to regulate hormonal responses.