Entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried and author Michael Lewis are guests in this podcast. Topics include Michael Lewis' influence in finance, the value of overcoming difficulties, the problematic portrayal of Wall Street, Sam Bankman-Fried's philanthropy, and discussions about Anna Wintour and Kelsey Grammer.
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Quick takeaways
Michael Lewis's uncritical portrayal of the adopting family in The Blind Side raises concerns about his journalistic integrity.
Michael Lewis's biased depiction of Sam Bankman Freed fails to critically examine his illegal activities and fraudulent behavior.
Michael Lewis's tendency to glamorize controversial figures in his writing reinforces harmful narratives and fails to address the true impact of their actions.
Deep dives
The Blind Side: A Distorted Narrative
Michael Lewis's book, The Blind Side, depicts the story of Michael Oher, a black teenager adopted by a wealthy white family who helps him navigate his way to an NFL career. However, the book has been criticized for glossing over important issues and misrepresenting the true nature of the story. Lewis's uncritical view of the adopting family and their questionable practices raises concerns about his journalistic integrity.
The Problematic Portrayal of Sam Bankman Freed
Michael Lewis's depiction of Sam Bankman Freed in his book is problematic. Rather than digging deeper and understanding Bankman Freed's true motivations and actions, Lewis falls for his persona and labels him as a financial genius. This biased portrayal fails to critically examine the illegal activities and fraudulent behavior that ultimately led to Bankman Freed's downfall.
Lewis's Tendency to Glamorize Controversial Figures
Michael Lewis has a history of glamorizing controversial figures in his writing. This can be seen in his book, The Big Short, where he presents Wall Street traders who profited from the 2008 financial crisis in a somewhat positive light, despite their questionable actions. Lewis's tendency to make these characters likable and impressive reinforces harmful narratives and fails to address the true impact of their actions.
The Questionable Ethical Choices in Lewis's Reporting
Lewis's reporting raises questions about his ethical choices. He often befriends the people he writes about and allows his personal connections to influence and shape his stories. This raises concerns about bias and highlights the need for a more objective approach to journalism. Lewis's willingness to overlook certain details and embrace positive narratives can distort the truth and lead to a misleading representation of the individuals he writes about.
Sam's lack of focus during an important business meeting
During a Zoom call with fashion industry icon Anna Wintour, Sam Bankman-Freed, the subject of the podcast episode, was playing a video game called Storybook Brawl instead of focusing on the meeting. Michael Lewis, the author, portrays Sam's behavior as evidence of his genius, marveling at his ability to multitask and view gaming as a source of inspiration. However, this behavior can also be attributed to Sam's ADHD, a condition that Lewis does not acknowledge in the book. The episode raises questions about the perception of distraction and its association with intelligence.
Lewis's misunderstanding of gaming and Sam's obsession with Magic: The Gathering
Michael Lewis demonstrates a lack of understanding about video games and board games, specifically his portrayal of Sam's obsession with Magic: The Gathering. Lewis describes it as a revolutionary game that introduced unique character customization, ignoring the fact that many war and strategy games influenced Magic's design. Lewis's misinterpretation reflects a generation gap in his knowledge of popular nerd pastimes. Furthermore, Lewis praises Sam's dedication to gaming as evidence of his genius, failing to recognize that gaming prowess does not equate to overall intelligence. Sam's dismissal of art, literature, and the humanities also reveals a lack of a well-rounded education and a narrow perspective.
Robert Evans is a Living God and can never lie.....Also we talk with Jamie Loftus about Sam Bankman-Fried and beloved biographer to con man Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short.