64: Michael Lewis: Bestselling Author of 'The Big Short', 'Liar's Poker' and 'Moneyball'

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Today we have a different conversation. Michael Lewis and Simon Brewer go back to graduating from the LSE in 1985, when they were both seeking a place on the fabled Salomon Brothers training programme. Michael’s success in securing that job allowed the world to have the enduring classic, ‘Liar’s Poker’, and from there to write 16 best sellers (three of which have been made into major Hollywood films).

His new book, ‘Premonition: A Pandemic Story’, tells the enthralling tale of the US pandemic preparations that started under President Bush, but which failed when COVID-19 struck, thanks to a mixture of institutional and political failings.

Michael brings the cumulative missteps to life by narrating the story of the real people involved, their extraordinary decisions, and what went wrong.

He continues this fascinating conversation by discussing two of his other books, ‘The Undoing Project’, and ‘Moneyball’, and explains how decision making is driven by varying degrees of data and/or human interactions - from sport to finance – resulting in unpredictable consequences.

The Money Maze Podcast is sponsored by Schroders, LiveTrade and Bremont Watches.

Schroders is a global investment and wealth manager, with a purpose to provide excellent investment performance to clients, through active investment management.

Bremont is an award-winning British company that produces beautifully engineered chronometers, designed to appeal to those who share the appreciation of a beautiful mechanical wristwatch.

LiveTrade has changed the way fine wine is bought and sold worldwide. You can instantly buy and sell - or place bids and offers on - key wines from Bordeaux, Champagne, Italy and other world regions.