Best of: Michael Lewis reads my mind

Dec 28, 2020

In this engaging conversation, Michael Lewis, renowned author of best-sellers like "Moneyball" and "The Big Short," reveals his process for transforming complex topics into captivating narratives. He shares insights on the importance of building trust with subjects and how genuine connections enhance storytelling. Lewis also reflects on the evolving landscape of journalism and political narratives, as well as the impacts of societal change on personal relationships. With humor and depth, he underscores the transformative power of literature and original questioning in creative writing.

01:43:56

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ANECDOTE

Donatello Thesis

Lewis's college thesis explored Donatello's use of classical sources.
He enjoyed the deep immersion, despite language barriers, using a resource documenting when statues were unearthed.

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ADVICE

Recognizing Interesting Topics

Recognize when something is truly interesting, a skill not all writers possess.
Michael Lewis emphasizes trusting your own interests, as they often resonate with a broader audience.

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ANECDOTE

Lost Rescuer

Lewis found a compelling character for his Fifth Risk follow-up: a man who revolutionized Coast Guard search and rescue.
Ironically, this man frequently gets lost himself, adding a layer of intrigue.

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Cultural Cycles and Connection

05:31 • 4min

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The Art of Engaging Narratives

09:55 • 20min

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Voice, Insecurity, and Acceptance

30:20 • 9min

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Navigating Feedback and Storytelling

38:51 • 4min

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Choosing Voices in Financial Narratives

42:23 • 4min

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Navigating Political Leadership and Unconventional Campaigns

46:49 • 9min

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Navigating Journalism's Challenges

55:32 • 23min

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Storytelling in a Polarized Landscape

01:18:19 • 20min

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Influential Literary Works and Their Impact on Writing

01:38:41 • 3min

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The Challenge of Originality in Journalism and Creative Questioning

01:41:23 • 4min

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#38

• Mentioned in 284 episodes

How to Change

The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Katy Milkman

In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.

#1628

• Mentioned in 26 episodes

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.

#1419

• Mentioned in 29 episodes

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.

#1345

• Mentioned in 31 episodes

The Right Stuff

Tom Wolfe

Published in 1979, 'The Right Stuff' by Tom Wolfe is a seminal work of nonfiction that delves into the lives of the pilots and astronauts involved in the U.S. postwar research with experimental rocket-powered aircraft and the early human spaceflight program, Project Mercury. Wolfe's book is based on extensive research, including interviews with test pilots, astronauts, and their families. It focuses on the bravery, machismo, and the unspoken code of 'the right stuff' that defined these individuals. The book contrasts the Mercury Seven astronauts with other test pilots like Chuck Yeager and Scott Crossfield, highlighting their courage, skills, and the risks they undertook. Wolfe's narrative is characterized by its vivid descriptions and use of literary techniques to evoke the era and the people involved in the early days of American space exploration.

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 Stuff by Tom Wolfe

Credits:

Producer/Audio engineer - Jeff Geld

Researcher - Roge Karma

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