A Different Take on the Government Michael Lewis, author of Liar's Poker, The Big Short, and Moneyball, delves into the workings of government bureaucracy in his new book, The Fifth Risk. Lewis manages to remove political ideology from his narrative, instead focusing on the work performed by civil servants within the Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, and other government institutions. I will readily admit that I'm unconvinced about the importance of the government, though Lewis manages to persuade even his most skeptical readers of the value we derive from government investments and programs. Here's my The Fifth Risk book review. Roughly seven...
Winners Take All Book Review
A Growing Divide Anand Giridharadas, a former foreign correspondent for The New York Times, draws attention to the hypocrisy practiced among the "philanthropic" elites in his Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. I'll share my thoughts on his take in this Winners Take All book review. Giridharadas introduces us to "MarketWorld," the universe in which corporate executives, thought leaders, and globalists operate. While MarketWorld has grown aware of the fractures that have emerged in our society, they seek to find "win-win" solutions to our many problems. The elites believe themselves to be the agents of change who can usher in an era of global prosperity, a...
One Second After Book Review
When Life as You Know It Ends William Forstchen's One Second After follows the life of John Matherson after an EMP strike rids Black Mountain, North Carolina of electricity. Matherson, a former Army Colonel and well respected college professor, recognizes the extent of the crisis early. Having learned about them during wartime, he informs the town's leaders about EMPs: "We finally figured out that when you set off a nuke in space, that's when the EMP effect really kicks in, as the energy burst hits the upper atmosphere. It becomes like a pebble triggering an avalanche, the electrical disturbances magnifying... It's called the 'Compton effect.'" (63-64) The EMP rendered most car...
