The Fifth Risk
Undoing Democracy
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The Fifth Risk
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Narrated by:
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Victor Bevine
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By:
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Michael Lewis
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.
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What listeners say about The Fifth Risk
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- J100
- 14-10-18
Not vintage Lewis
The book contains a collection of interesting facts/themes, but not a clear overriding angle, which is so often Lewis’ hallmark.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- G-Montoya
- 10-03-19
Not too sure...
I am a huge fan of Michael Lewis and read most if not all of his books. I am not too sure about this one though.
Perhaps it is more relevant to the American people?
I really liked the first half of the book but perhaps then main point about the risks of not managing government transitions got lost in the details of tornadoes and others...
Perhaps I missed something?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alejandra Diaz
- 10-03-19
a must-listen book
I work in public services and this book has open my eyes to the perils of democracy at the hands of those elected.
it was compelling, full of interesting facts and details that most people we oils not know but make the cast majority of the functional lives in society.
really recommend this book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kerstin Glueck
- 16-03-19
superb listening and very educational
very insightful read and provides a great insight into US government departments and the shortcomings of current governments leading these departments. loved the part on using data science for the 1st time by Obama Admin to create insights into policing, health and prediction of natural disasters
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-10-23
Very interesting, fun listen
The book follows a lot of interesting people doing amazing things in government without bring publicly visible. Learned a lot about what lies behind a lot of things one takes for granted in a safe society
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hoobs
- 26-11-20
Fascinating
An absolutely fascinating insight to the departments in the US government and the handover process (or lack thereof!), a real great listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bumblesquat
- 20-09-20
Big data, big Government and small people
A beautiful account of the imagination and optimism of scientists. Whether the weather be good.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Grumpy Scot
- 16-11-18
Fascinating interpretation of the status quo. REALLY?
An analysis based on the incongruous. Lewis builds his case based upon the familiar, the indisputable. Just when you think you know what the department of agriculture does he pulls the rug from under you. Then he does it to you again and again. Eminently readable.. Look forward to being educated , amused and ultimately flabbergasted.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mdta
- 22-02-19
Light and a little one sided
I like Michael Lewis' books. I had high hope for this one and the topic (administration) it covered. Sadly, I feel like it was a little one-sided and its intentions were clear from the start.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Robert
- 30-01-20
The Fifth Risk Should be a Podcast
I wish Michael Lewis would turn the Fifth Risk into a Podcast. It would great to hear him continue his dig into the inner workings of the United States Government.
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