The Gray Area with Sean Illing Michael Lewis reads my mind
Bestselling author Michael Lewis, known for works like 'Moneyball' and 'The Big Short', shares insights into his unique storytelling process. He reveals how he identifies compelling characters in seemingly dull topics and builds trust with them. Lewis explains the role of passion in transforming complex subjects into engaging narratives while reflecting on the evolving nature of literary influences. He also discusses the current political landscape, the delicate interplay of trust in institutions, and the challenges of journalism in today's fast-paced world.
01:43:27
Bay Area Stories
- Michael Lewis explains his move to the Bay Area was motivated by wanting his book subjects to be within driving distance.
- He found this has been true, with many subjects for books like Moneyball, The Big Short, and The Undoing Project being local.
Immersion and Luck
- Immerse yourself in your topic and enjoy the learning process.
- Michael Lewis emphasizes the importance of genuine interest in a topic and credits luck.
Donatello Thesis
- Michael Lewis's college thesis explored how Donatello used classical sources, revealing his early love for deep dives into topics.
- He enjoyed the process of immersing himself in a topic for an extended period.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Bay Area Reflections: Innovation and Change
02:54 • 6min
The Art of Storytelling in Journalism
09:23 • 20min
Embracing Voice and Identity
29:41 • 12min
Unveiling Human Stories Behind Financial Turmoil
41:46 • 3min
Unconventional Politics and Authenticity
44:41 • 22min
Narratives in a Changing Political Landscape
01:06:42 • 12min
Navigating Trump's Unpredictable Governance
01:19:09 • 15min
The Cycle of Trust and Institutional Failure
01:34:38 • 2min
Literary Influences and the Writer's Journey
01:36:32 • 3min
Navigating Originality in Journalism
01:39:13 • 3min
Trail fever
Michael Lewis
In *Trail Fever*, Michael Lewis delves into the chaotic world of the 1996 presidential campaign, capturing the essence of American politics through witty observations and compelling storytelling.
The book profiles fringe candidates and their fervent supporters, revealing the raw human dramas behind the campaign trail.
Lewis's narrative offers an entertaining and thought-provoking glimpse into the underbelly of electoral ambition.
Furious Hours
Casey Cep
Furious Hours by Casey Cep is a captivating blend of true crime and literary biography.
It explores the mysterious murders linked to Reverend Willie Maxwell in rural Alabama and Harper Lee's fascination with the case, which she hoped to turn into her next book.
The narrative delves into the racial politics of the Deep South and offers a poignant portrait of Lee's struggles with fame and creativity.
The Fifth Risk
Michael Lewis
In *The Fifth Risk*, Michael Lewis delves into the Trump administration’s botched presidential transition, highlighting the consequences of willful ignorance and greed among its leaders.
The book explores the critical services managed by the U.S.
government, including ensuring food and drug safety, predicting extreme weather events, and tracking black market uranium.
Lewis focuses on the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce, revealing their often-overlooked roles and the dedicated employees who work within them.
The title 'The Fifth Risk' refers to 'project management,' the unforeseen and long-term risks that only a vigilant and committed agency can forecast and prevent.
Lewis's narrative is character-driven, featuring interviews with former federal staff members and historical context to illustrate the importance of effective government management and the dangers of short-term solutions.
Liar's poker
Michael Lewis
Liar's Poker is a non-fiction, semi-autobiographical book that details Michael Lewis's three-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street's premier investment firms in the 1980s.
The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of bond traders, highlighting the frat-boy camaraderie, killer instincts, and high-stakes games of bluffing and deception.
Lewis describes the creation and use of mortgage bonds, the excessive bonuses, and the ruthless competition among traders.
The narrative also touches on the author's disillusionment with the industry, leading to his resignation and transition into financial journalism.
Moneyball
The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
Michael Lewis
The book tells the story of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, where General Manager Billy Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta used advanced statistical analysis, known as sabermetrics, to assemble a competitive team despite a limited budget.
The approach, pioneered by Bill James, focused on metrics such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage rather than traditional measures like batting average and runs batted in.
This data-driven strategy allowed the Athletics to compete with teams having much larger payrolls, like the New York Yankees, and achieve significant success, including a 20-game winning streak and a playoff appearance.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel that explores themes of racial injustice, childhood innocence, and moral courage in the American South.
The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of a crime.
Lee's powerful storytelling captures the complexities of race relations in the Jim Crow South, highlighting the prejudice and injustice faced by Black people.
The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.
The big short
Inside the Doomsday Machine
Michael Lewis
The Big Short tells the story of the 2007-08 financial crisis through the lens of several key players who predicted and profited from the collapse of the housing market.
The book focuses on characters such as Steve Eisman, Mike Burry, Greg Lippmann, and the founders of Cornwall Capital, who saw the impending disaster and made significant gains by shorting the market.
Lewis explains the complex financial instruments and the systemic failures that led to the crisis, making the narrative both accessible and engaging.
How to Do Nothing
Jenny O'Dell
The Blind Side
Evolution of a Game
Michael Lewis
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game is a dual narrative that examines the evolution of offensive football strategy, particularly the rise of the left tackle position, and the personal story of Michael Oher.
The book delves into how the introduction of players like Lawrence Taylor changed the game, emphasizing the importance of the left tackle in protecting the quarterback's 'blind side.
' It also follows Michael Oher's journey from his impoverished upbringing to his adoption by the Tuohy family and his eventual success as a college and professional football player.
The book touches on themes of sport, culture, family, and the complexities of racial and socioeconomic dynamics in American football.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Published in 1884 in the UK and 1885 in the US, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' is a sequel to Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'.
The novel follows Huck Finn, a young boy who escapes his abusive father by faking his own death, and Jim, a runaway slave.
Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft.
Along the way, they encounter various characters, including con artists and feuding families, and Huck grapples with moral dilemmas, particularly regarding his support for Jim despite the societal norms against helping a runaway slave.
The novel is a critique of pre-Civil War American society, especially its treatment of slavery and racial issues, and it has been praised for its realistic portrayal of boyhood and its exploration of complex moral themes.
A Confederacy of Dunces
John Kennedy Toole
A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel that tells the story of Ignatius J. Reilly, an overweight, unemployed, and intellectually arrogant man living with his mother in New Orleans.
The novel is a rich satire that critiques modern society through Ignatius's interactions with a diverse cast of characters, including his mother Irene, his girlfriend Myrna Minkoff, and various eccentric figures from New Orleans.
Written in the early 1960s while Toole was in the army, the book was published posthumously in 1980 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981.
It is celebrated for its witty and absurd portrayal of life in New Orleans and its memorable protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly.
Michael Lewis needs little introduction. He’s the author of Liar’s Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short, The Blind Side, The Fifth Risk. He’s the host of the new podcast “Against the Rules.” He’s a master at making seemingly boring topics — baseball statistics, government bureaucrats, collateralized debt obligations — riveting. So how does he do it?
What I wanted to do in this conversation was understand Lewis’s process. How does he choose his topics? How does he find his characters? How does he get them to trust him? What is he looking for when he’s with them? What allows him to see the gleam in subjects that would strike others, on their face, as dull?
Lewis more than delivered. There’s a master class in reporting — or just in getting to know people — tucked inside this conversation. As in the NK Jemisin episode, Lewis shows how he does his work in real time, using me and something I revealed as the example. Sometimes the conversations on this show are a delight. Sometimes they’re actually useful. This one is both.
Book recommendations:
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
A Collection of Essays by George Orwell
The Right Stuffby Tom Wolfe
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