We the People Best of 2025: Michael Lewis on Who Is Government?
Jan 29, 2026
Michael Lewis, bestselling narrative nonfiction author (The Fifth Risk, Moneyball), discusses his 2025 book Who Is Government? and profiles public servants. He tells vivid stories of a Coast Guard oceanographer and mine-safety reformers. Topics include why government tackles problems markets avoid, how enforcement saves lives, civic motivations, and barriers that weaken federal effectiveness.
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The Oceanographer Who Saved Lives
- Michael Lewis recounts randomly choosing Arthur Allen, a Coast Guard oceanographer, and discovering his work on how objects drift saved thousands of lives.
- Allen developed the science after witnessing a boat capsizing that could have killed his family, driving lifelong mission-driven dedication.
From Coal Mines To Saving The Cathedral
- Michael Lewis tells Christopher Mark's journey from rebelling against his father to solving roof collapses in coal mines and reducing miner deaths to nearly zero.
- Father and son later reunite professionally to save the National Cathedral from collapse, adding dramatic closure.
Government Handles Market-Failed Problems
- Lewis observes government collects and solves problems the market won't address, often unpleasant but essential decisions land in public agencies.
- Those problems attract mission-driven people energized to fix what others ignore.
