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The Fifth Risk

Undoing Democracy

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The Fifth Risk

By: Michael Lewis
Narrated by: Victor Bevine
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis, read by Victor Bevine.

The morning after Trump was elected president, the people who ran the US Department of Energy - an agency that deals with some of the most powerful risks facing humanity - waited to welcome the incoming administration's transition team. Nobody appeared. Across the US government, the same thing happened: nothing.

People don't notice when stuff goes right. That is the stuff government does. It manages everything that underpins our lives from funding free school meals, to policing rogue nuclear activity, to predicting extreme weather events. It steps in where private investment fears to tread, innovates and creates knowledge, assesses extreme long-term risk.

And now, government is under attack. By its own leaders.

In The Fifth Risk, Michael Lewis reveals the combustible cocktail of wilful ignorance and venality that is fuelling the destruction of a country's fabric. All of this, Lewis shows, exposes America and the world to the biggest risk of all. It is what you never learned that might have saved you.

Audio updated in December 2019 to include a bonus afterword that the author has added in light of the recent turbulent political landscape in America.

©2018 Michael Lewis (P)2018 Penguin Audio Political Science Politics & Government Government

Critic Reviews

Jaw-dropping ... genuinely stopped me in my tracks. (Stefano Hatfield)
Given that we now seem to be inhabiting a somewhat medieval world of plague and portent, I'd like to make the case for the prophetic powers of the US journalist Michael Lewis ... In December the notion [of the fifth risk] seemed wildly far-fetched. Four months on, it seems we will get the chance to find out if he was on the money. (Tim Adams)
All stars
Most relevant  
it's amazing to catch a glimpse of how many critical functions are performed buy agents of the federal government that most people have no clue about.

Mind expanding

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this is an incredibly interesting and inspiring book.. my views were shifted as always thanks to Michael!

My worldview has changed

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Read this book! It’s brilliant and scary. This is the invisible working of government Amazing! Well-written & researched Michael Lewis’ trademark.

Wow!

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While the book doesn't explore trumps high level decisions it follows the down river consequences of his blatant disregard for the functioning of government. The floor in this reasoning came to light in the most recent government shutdown where trumps administration could not see any disasters consequences from a government shutdown. Government is a complex Institution disregarding its function is something you make at your own peril and only heights the fifth risk to humanities existence.

The best book published thus far on the Trump Adm.

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Some of the chapters have been covered in his podcast, I think there may be more content in this book than the podcast (or maybe I just captured more listening the second time round). Also the narration is quite good but after Michael narrated Liars Poker and his podcast I found myself wishing he was narrating several times.

Enjoyed it, but…

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What I love about reading his work is that Lewis succeeds in making even the most dry content utterly and completely bewitching. The book explores particular departments of the American government, some of its vital past and present players and shines a light on the changing landscape of democracy as we know it. The book is an exploration of these ideas, invites the reader to consider these points and wants you to pick apart issues you didn't even know about, using new information you never knew was relevant.

Lewis has done it again

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I thought I would get a glimpse of an incompetent transition and apathy from an incoming administration.
While that is true, and far worse – the best part of this book was leaning about all the outstanding accomplished individuals who choose to go into government service, the breadth of what is handled by US government departments, the sheer scale of the risks and the services, sciences and technologies they provide that put simply would not be pursued by the private sector.

Engrossing and worthwhile

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Once again Michael Lewis explains complex problems in a way a Trump should be able comprehend. Federal bureaucracy discussed and it makes you wonder how important these agencies are. Great listen!

Wait for your President to care for this

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This feels like a short book rushed out in time for the 2018 mid-term elections. A valid message but unworthy of the writer of such excellent books in the past.

The two messages: the fifth risk is project management and "it's what you don't imagine that will kill you" are pertinent for this time. The anecdotes from the excellent employees in various government departments bring out the necessity of having the truly expert protect the country.
But it could have been much more thoroughly developed.

Obviously political message

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Struggled through this one. I have listened to every Michael Lewis audiobook and this one is the only one that failed to keep my interest. Perhaps being a non american has something to do with it. As usual Lewis uncovers some little known but important issue and weaves a narrative. However i was not entertained.

Boring

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