Michael Lewis: leading author or toothbrush salesman?
Michael Lewis is out with a new podcast series entitled Against the Rules. In it, he looks at examples of contemporary American life in which refereeing and arbitration, designed to make games fairer and more balanced, are coming under growing strain. More and more, it seems Americans want the rules of life to be written in their favour (Donald Trump is an expert at tapping into this phenomenon). At the centre of each episode is a referee – in sports, consumer finance, social media – and all are rewarded for their efforts with scepticism and scorn, many are simply ignored.
Mr Lewis has himself built a career by breaking the rules, specifically by questioning key standards and assumptions that preside over corporate finance. Whether he’s exposing the follies of 1980s bond trading (Liar’s Poker), or following a motley group of bankers confronting algorithmic trading platforms (Flash Boys), Michael Lewis has consistently pitched his narrative flag among free-thinking misfits.
For many economics students of my generation, it is precisely Mr Lewis’ refusal to conform to the standards of others that make him so popular. It was much my chagrin, therefore, when I heard him advertising Quip toothbrushes in his latest podcast series. “Quip has a built in two-minute timer… helping guide a full and even clean.” My ears pricked up, not quite believing what I’d just heard. The writer famed for not yielding to other people’s rules was trying to sell me a toothbrush?
“Quip starts at just 25 dollars”, starts – the consummate salesman gimmick, “and if you go to getquip.com\rules right now, you get your first refill pack for free.” The advert practically winded me. Never mind the risk of a chipped incisor, I’ve just had a bit of my soul chipped away.
