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What Michael Lewis thinks about journalism

@michael-lewis · 16 positions · 0 changes of mind

American author of Liar's Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short and The Undoing Project, and host of the podcast Against the Rules.

Michael Lewis did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

5 dated positions, 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what Michael Lewis has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingStarting from what worked rather than from what failed is a different starting point from almost all journalism, and a journalist who did it would be accused of hagiography.

    Their wordsIn fact, if most journalists started there, they'd be accused of heography

    ↗10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)youtube.com 2nd of 16 in this recording

  3. Our readingAn audience is not buying the subject you cover; it is buying your interest in the subject.

    Their wordsThey learn to trust you that if you're interested, they'll be interested. That what in fact what they're buying into is not the subject, but your interest in the subject.

    ↗10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)youtube.com 5th of 16 in this recording

  5. Our readingYou never call a source uninformed: you call knowing everything already known, and then ask for what has not been said.

    Their wordsYou don't call uninformed. You call knowing as much as there is to know and then you start picking the brains of people who might know more and have not said.

    ↗10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)youtube.com 8th of 16 in this recording

  7. Our readingTaking notes by hand is a filter, and recording an interview removes the one filter that decides what is worth keeping.

    Their wordsSo this is a filter. Like if I'm talking to you, it takes effort to put it down on the page. I don't record anything that I've filtered it. It's interesting enough to me that it belongs on the page.

    ↗10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)youtube.com 10th of 16 in this recording

  9. Our readingGood reporting is being the world's best student: gather everything before making judgments, and make people want to teach you.

    Their wordsYou are gathering before you make judgments. You're open to learning things. You're trying to be the world's best student. You want people to want to teach you.

    ↗10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)youtube.com 12th of 16 in this recording