Eric Lander's Reviews > Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
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Having heard Sam Bankman-Fried try to explain himself on multiple podcasts during the FTX collapse, I was struck by how unusual he was. He is not your typical conman. I have extensive training in psychology and still couldn't quite figure this guy out. That's what makes this book so undeniably crazy. Michael Lewis got sucked into the vortex. His account of Bankman-Fried is ultimately a defense of Bankman-Fried's assertion that FTX wasn't fraud and was simply a comedy of errors. The evidence doesn't support this.
Michael Lewis had direct access to Bankman-Fried during the rise of FTX and ultimately the collapse, so he paints a seemingly thorough picture of the man and what drives him. It's fascinating the way people were drawn to Fried, including Lewis. The story of Fried playing video games during the Sequoia Capital meeting where they agreed to give him hundreds of millions of dollars blows my mind. Amazing how smart people can be so dumb. The whole thing reminds me of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, though I find Fried infinitely more complicated than her (at least as a conman/woman).
The book provides a look at more then Fried. I did enjoy the elements of high-frequency trading, cryptocurrencies, philanthropy, bankruptcy, and the justice system.
I think Lewis was duped and he isn't self-aware enough to realize it. Perhaps he should read another big book that came out this fall that I gave five stars to, "Emotional Intelligence Habits" by Travis Bradberry.
Michael Lewis had direct access to Bankman-Fried during the rise of FTX and ultimately the collapse, so he paints a seemingly thorough picture of the man and what drives him. It's fascinating the way people were drawn to Fried, including Lewis. The story of Fried playing video games during the Sequoia Capital meeting where they agreed to give him hundreds of millions of dollars blows my mind. Amazing how smart people can be so dumb. The whole thing reminds me of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, though I find Fried infinitely more complicated than her (at least as a conman/woman).
The book provides a look at more then Fried. I did enjoy the elements of high-frequency trading, cryptocurrencies, philanthropy, bankruptcy, and the justice system.
I think Lewis was duped and he isn't self-aware enough to realize it. Perhaps he should read another big book that came out this fall that I gave five stars to, "Emotional Intelligence Habits" by Travis Bradberry.
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October 2, 2023
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Oct 05, 2023 05:08AM
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Watching the author on PBS News Hour now.
Almost finished listening to “Elon Musk,” he avoided SBF.
That said, it is not a rejection of the notion that it was intentional, but Lewis's account does not answer the questions I would need as a juror to convict. IOW, reasonable doubt.
My other concern is how ruthless law enforcement can be when in the hands of someone who stands to profit handsomely by a successful conviction. When looking for experienced con-men, don't assume their good intentions.
If this were decided on the preponderance of evidence rather than reasonable doubt, I'd throw in with you.