I should have asked if you are a big lover of 50 shades of grey or the DaVinci code. That would have helped provide clarity here

@MartyE Did you read his report? Does it sound like he enjoyed it because it’s that kind of book?

@NicoDelon No I didn’t read the report but I’ve heard others reviews and it’s over flattery of the subject and lack of critical thinking skills by the author seem to imply it’s a waste of time so I just wondered if the reader has just easy to satisfy tastes

@MartyE you should read the report

@MartyE For the record: I have not read either of those and have no interest.

Oh yes, very much worth it. Report is out now: https://thezvi.substack.com/p/book-review-going-infinite

@ZviMowshowitz This is an awesome write up. Thanks.

I read it and I think it’s decently interesting. Pretty short too, so not a large time investment

@qumeric For some reason I thought it was long. Its being short makes me more interested in reading it now.

A review explicitly stating it's a good use of time:

https://humeanbeing.substack.com/p/book-review-going-infinite

I read the book, and don't think it was a good use of my time. The only thing I highlighted in the whole book was this quote from SBF in ~2018:

This combos really badly with the current EA shitshow I’m supposed to be, in some ways, adjudicating.

The parts on Jane Street and the early days of Alameda seem unreliable and not that useful

Most commenters on Marginal Revolution are relatively positive:

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2023/10/wednesday-assorted-links-422.html?commentID=160665219

I decided to read the book earlier than planned in order to make a more informed trade. I personally like the book. Almost all online commentary is attacking SBF (except MSM) so I find it more interesting that Michael Lewis is more or less making the case for SBF. I think SBF is clearly in the wrong and defending him is absurd but the book is still filled with very interesting information soo I think you will like it.

@Soli I finished the book and sold my position. It was somewhat entertaining but no really memorable

@Soli bought no :)

Great book.

I'm sure the book is enjoyable but I'd be curious to hear your impressions. Lewis is not covering himself in glory with his response to critics.

https://time.com/6321668/michael-lewis-sam-bankman-fried-going-infinite/

Michael Lewis On His New Book About Sam Bankman-Fried

Michael Lewis spoke to TIME about his new book, 'Going Infinite,' and why he thinks most people misunderstand Sam Bankman-Fried.

How is this going to be resolved? Is it the personal opinion of the question writer?

@MarkStahl yes

@MarkStahl Confirmed, yes. Fully subjective question, to avoid conflicts I'm not participating in the market (other than the last-trade free money snipe of course)

@ZviMowshowitz I'm about a third of the way through it. It's a fascinating portrait of people obsessed with effective altruism, how differently they evaluate the world. It's also fascinating how much hubris they have in their own ability to stay rational and altruistic when there's so much money on the line. Neither hagiography nor condemnation, just an interesting portrait. I think it's worth my time. If this type of thing interests you, it will definitely be worth yours.

@ZviMowshowitz I'm now 100% through it. And I'm sorely disappointed. At first, I thought that Mr. Lewis was just being even handed. He would present ridiculous things that SPF would say and not comment on them. I was okay with that. I don't mind figuring it out myself.

But the last chapter lost me. Suddenly, SPF is arrested and Michael Lewis is defending him to high heaven. It was a terrible, terrible ending and totally destroy the value of the book for me.

Right now I'm reading Numbers Go Up. I think it better captures the spirit of the crypto craze. It's not even handed at all. It's just a tear down job. But it's glorious.

I really enjoyed it. It is definitely entertaining. One section about the process to design the FTX building in Bahamas was hilarious.

Betting yes because multiple people are saying it's an entertaining read, and OP is intrigued by the book, and that OP agrees entertainment is a good reason to read a book

I read it all, and voted yes. It is very well written and entertaining. If you don't know much about some subjects -like how Jane Street looks like, details of the Alameda Schism- or like tidbits of restricted information -like Sam and Caroline's 'memos' -, you'll enjoy it. Does that count as 'good use' ? If you are searching for a true account of what happened, definitely not.

@ManueldelRio I am almost always in the second mode of looking for things - when you go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding it are very good, etc. If I got a useful true account, great. If I got endless entertainment, so long as my epistemics didn't get actively destroyed, that's great too.