Michael Lewis’s Book on SBF Nearing Publication

Michael Lewis, best-selling author of “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine” and “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game,” has revealed that he is nearing the end of his latest book, which is about Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) and the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange.

Lewis’ new book, “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon,” goes into the remarkable story of Bankman-Fried. When a buddy urged Lewis to meet with the FTX founder and analyse his character, their paths crossed in late 2021.

Lewis did not specify a precise publishing date during his lecture at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami on May 19, but emphasised his wish to publish the book around the time SBF’s trial begins in October. However, a cursory search on Amazon reveals an October 3 publication date.

Lewis was said to be nearly finished with the book just before FTX’s infamous collapse in November 2022. The ensuing legal allegations filed against SBF introduced a whole new dimension to the story of the erstwhile crypto billionaire.

During his Bitcoin conference lecture, Lewis recalled how the FTX upheaval eventually gave a huge twist to the novel, bringing a new viewpoint to the riveting story.

“I thought ‘I don’t have a book,” he said, adding: “I had this conversation with a kind of person I used as a sounding board…and he said, ‘Your problem is you don’t have a third act. You have the first two acts, but you don’t have a third act.‘ And I said, ‘That’s absolutely right; I don’t know how to end it.‘ A week later, FTX blows up. I was so grateful.”

While the author, Michael Lewis, did not provide a full description of the book’s details, he did indicate that he witnessed FTX’s meltdown directly as it transpired.

“It aims to read like a piece of fiction,” he said, adding, “If you didn’t know anything about crypto. If you didn’t even know who Sam Bankman-Fried was. You might think, ‘this is just a made-up story.”

Lewis said during the conference that he personally owns a little quantity of Bitcoin that is tied up in the FTX bankruptcy. This declaration adds a personal touch to the story, emphasising Lewis’ engagement and stake in the cryptocurrency realm.

Lewis’s upcoming book on SBF, based on his earlier success in deconstructing complex financial catastrophes in “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine,” is intended to reveal compelling insights into the major actors and important moments behind the collapse of FTX. Lewis intends to provide readers with a clear grasp of the events that occurred with his trademark depth and thoroughness.

Lewis revealed that in order to provide a complete picture, he interviewed members of SBF’s inner circle, FTX personnel, and government officials from the Bahamas and the United States. Lewis’ considerable research enables him to give a multidimensional vision, weaving together diverse points of view to create a fascinating and instructive account.

Notably, Lewis has had unprecedented access to SBF. Despite being under house arrest in Palo Alto, California, the FTX founder allowed Lewis to interview him on a regular basis for two years. This unprecedented access gives Lewis significant insights into SBF’s thoughts, behaviours, and the events that transpired during this turbulent period.