Book Review: Going Infinite

Post by forinti » Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 7:46 PM UTC

alexose wrote: post #20

pclmulqdq wrote: post #8

This sort of shoddiness with facts is becoming a concerning pattern for Michael Lewis. He's a great writer, but he really doesn't seem to have a close relationship with the truth. Two other examples: * Everything about the blind side that is now coming out in court. * The founders of IEX who are now begging the market making firms to come to the exchange which was designed to get rid of them... and creating a much wo…

Yes, I would say that's a good assessment. Anyone who's read Michael Lewis should have similar instincts: He's a great storyteller with a sixth sense for what makes characters jump off a page. But he is not a journalist, and he is does not act as a moral compass for the reader. I certainly do not share his credulity of financial services sector.

Post by tptacek » Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 7:58 PM UTC

yellowstuff wrote: post #12

tptacek wrote: post #7

Lewis has had a real knack for picking problematic protagonists in his later career: * The Tuohy family for Blind Side * Kahneman and Tversky --- not really problematic as people! but right in the middle of the reproduction crisis in their field * Brad Katsuyama, yeesh, who is also the reason Lewis was set up to do a hagiography on SBF * SBF, of course. I agree with the "man, can Lewis write" sentiment! He can! You k…

1) Kahneman had a chapter in his book about social priming, and endorsed the subfield, which was totally decimated by the reproduction crisis. But Kahneman himself didn't research social priming, and I don't think any of his research with Tversky has been challenged by the reproduction crisis. I think it's unfair to say he was "right in the middle" of it, unless I'm missing something. 2) What's wrong with Katsuyama?…

Post by A_D_E_P_T » Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 8:21 PM UTC

iwillremember wrote: post #24

randycupertino wrote: post #2

Zvi Mowshowitz also worked at Jane Street Capital and I found his take on SBF's rise and fall pretty compelling and detailed. Interesting how SBF seemed to almost be running around in a sort of dissociative state. He was sorta aware that there was a whole world out there with consequences but he just completely ignored it. Screw the consequences, just kept doing whatever dumb stuff he wanted to do.

Do you have a link to ZM's writing on SBF?

Post by throw0101a » Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 9:05 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #7

Lewis has had a real knack for picking problematic protagonists in his later career: * The Tuohy family for Blind Side * Kahneman and Tversky --- not really problematic as people! but right in the middle of the reproduction crisis in their field * Brad Katsuyama, yeesh, who is also the reason Lewis was set up to do a hagiography on SBF * SBF, of course. I agree with the "man, can Lewis write" sentiment! He can! You k…