Who Is Government?
The Untold Story of Public Service
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Who Is Government?
Narrated by:
Michael Lewis, Sarah Vowell, John Lanchester, Geraldine Brooks, Casey Cep, Dave Eggers, W. Kamau Bell
Buy for $19.80
ONE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 2025 SUMMER READS
AS SEEN ON CBS MORNINGS, CNN ANDERSON COOPER, ABC NEWS LIVE, MSNBC MORNING JOE, AND MANY MORE
"This eye-opening, multifaceted ode to public service. . . feels both urgent and moving." —The Guardian
"Terrific." —New York Times
An all-star team of writers and storytellers go in search of the essential public servant
Who works for the government and why does their work matter? Michael Lewis invited his favorite writers, including Casey Cep, Dave Eggers, John Lanchester, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell, and W. Kamau Bell, to join him in writing about someone doing an interesting job for the government. The stories they found are unexpected, riveting, and inspiring, including a former coal miner devoted to making mine roofs less likely to collapse, saving thousands of lives; an IRS agent straight out of a crime thriller; and the manager who made the National Cemetery Administration the best-run organization, public or private, in the entire country. Each essay shines a spotlight on the essential behind-the-scenes work of exemplary federal employees.
Whether they’re digitizing archives, chasing down cybercriminals, or discovering new planets, these public servants are committed to their work and universally reluctant to take credit. Expanding on the celebrated Washington Post series, these vivid profiles show how the essential business of government makes our lives possible.
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Critic reviews
Praise for Who Is Government?
“Perhaps never before has there been a book better timed or more urgent.” —Washington Post
"This eye-opening, multifaceted ode to public service. . . feels both urgent and moving." —The Guardian
"Terrific." —New York Times
“Thousands of unsung heroes in the government are making life better for Americans. But because of bureaucracies being made up of bureaucrats, we rarely hear those stories. This book showcases them. . . . As the federal government is in its biggest shake-up in a generation, it’s worth learning about where the bright spots are.” —NPR
“Lewis has done it again.” —LitHub
“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
"A spirited rebuttal to the canard that federal civil servants are nest-featherers up to no good. . . .
All the contributions. . . press the point that the government’s work is useful—and no one else but government workers are likely to do it. Compelling arguments against ideologues bent on dismantling the government." —Kirkus Reviews
“Perhaps never before has there been a book better timed or more urgent.” —Washington Post
"This eye-opening, multifaceted ode to public service. . . feels both urgent and moving." —The Guardian
"Terrific." —New York Times
“Thousands of unsung heroes in the government are making life better for Americans. But because of bureaucracies being made up of bureaucrats, we rarely hear those stories. This book showcases them. . . . As the federal government is in its biggest shake-up in a generation, it’s worth learning about where the bright spots are.” —NPR
“Lewis has done it again.” —LitHub
“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
"A spirited rebuttal to the canard that federal civil servants are nest-featherers up to no good. . . .
All the contributions. . . press the point that the government’s work is useful—and no one else but government workers are likely to do it. Compelling arguments against ideologues bent on dismantling the government." —Kirkus Reviews
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A Must Read!
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Cheers for the unsung heroes
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Unsung heroes
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Some of the narrators are very annoying to listen to. Some are great.
Great stories of individual contributions
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Enlightened
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