In his 2009 (?) book,The Fifth Risk, Michael Lewis wrote about how the government might possibly develop a way of rewarding the good workers in its various departments. There are multitudes of good workers and probably dozens of outstanding workers. I think this book, Who Is Government? may be the results. He wrote the first story and he had other writers write about other workers. The writers are some of America’s finest
WHO IS GOVERNMENT?
The Untold Story of Public Service
by Michael Lewis et al
Read by Michael Lewis and the other authors
6 hours 3 minutes. (excellent!)
Rating: 10 – government/politics
Michael Lewis has this incredible ability to zoom in on one person’s story, and from there reveals
something much bigger about our culture. His books leave you seeing the world differently, and
his books about federal workers are no exception.”—Katie Couric
So oh my, yes, I did enjoy this book – it’s a collection of personal stories from employees of the Federal Government. The first one is from a mine engineer who helped develop the tests and formulas to make the underground mines and caves safe from falling earth and rock. The second tale is one of the veteran’s affairs cemetery workers –
And it goes from there with one fascinating story after another all dealing with government jobs and the absorbing characters who hold them.
One downer – this very morning I heard on television what Trump has done is that he has “leveled” the drug prices. This means that “research and development” will be all but eliminated and if you get to the last story in the book, “The Equalizer” by Sarah Vowell you will know what that’s a downer. Hopefully, the pharmaceuticals will fight that in court.
Becky's Books - 
Becky, many thanks for highlighting some of Michael Lewis’ work. After reading the largely unread briefing materials prepared by the outgoing Obama administration for the incoming Trump administration, Lewis knew far more about what government does than Trump and many of his cabinet members. Trump said he could learn what government does in two hours. That is an extremely naive statement. Scrolling forward to Trump’s even less knowledgeable cabinet in 2025, they are firing people not knowing what they do. Maybe Trump, Musk and the directors could ask Lewis. Keith
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I heard Michael Lewis interviewed about this on Colbert and I was so impressed by what he had to say, particularly against the background of Trump’s attitude to the public servants there.
Lewis said so many things but the one that really spoke to me was that DOGE has betrayed the trust of federal workers, the Civil Service. He said these are people who have worked out how to live meaningful lives, who won’t be regretful on their deathbeds like, say, someone on Wall Street or in big law firms. He said government is a portfolio of risks, it’s the place where all the things that private companies don’t what to do end up, like rare diseases. Big Pharma doesn’t want to do that. I so appreciated this appreciation of public (as we call them here, and as I was) servants. It was vindicating.
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Ah Sue! I’,m so sorry I didn’t get back to you, . I’ve been quite ill and was in the hospital for about a week probably starting the day you wrote. As you can probably tell, I agree with you on everything. My late hubby worked in the weather service (NOAA) and helped develop radar and started in on tracking birds! lol. –
I’m better now but it’s COPD with complications, so …
Fondly remembering the halcyon days. – (heh) Becky
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