
The Freakonomics Radio Book Club
20. Why Are People So Mad at Michael Lewis?
Dec 14, 2023
Michael Lewis defends his bestselling book on Sam Bankman-Fried, the billionaire behind the FTX fraud, against critics who say he went too easy on him. The podcast explores Sam's eccentric character, his legal troubles, and his detached relationship with the outside world. It also delves into the concept of effective altruism and discusses the idea of paying Donald Trump not to run for president.
50:02
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Quick takeaways
- The controversy surrounding Sam Bankman-Freed's book highlights the criticism of Michael Lewis for allegedly going easy on the cryptocurrency billionaire instead of exposing his alleged fraudulent behavior.
- Sam Bankman-Freed's rapid rise to fame and subsequent fall in the cryptocurrency world revealed his alleged involvement in fraud, conspiracy, and questionable practices.
Deep dives
Sam Bankman-Freed's Controversial Book and Anger
Sam Bankman-Freed's book has generated controversy and anger from readers due to its portrayal of the cryptocurrency billionaire. The sheer volume of the anger has surprised the author, Michael Lewis, and some argue that he went soft on Bankman-Freed instead of exposing his alleged fraudulent behavior.
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