Why people recommend it
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis is a gripping non-fiction book that details the eccentric financiers and outsiders who predicted and profited from the collapse of the United States housing market in 2007–2008. Freakonomics Radio highlighted the book among Lewis's most notable works. Paul Kix praised it on The Daily Stoic as one of the greatest and most successful non-fiction books of all time. The hosts of ChooseFI discussed the book alongside its cinematic adaptation while analyzing modern housing market trends. On SmartLess, Jason Bateman and Michael Lewis discussed how the book was successfully adapted into a critically acclaimed film, with director Adam McKay sharing on another episode that reading the book immediately gave him a clear vision for how to break the fourth wall and structure the movie. Additionally, on All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg, the hosts referenced investor Michael Burry, who became famous through his prominent role in the book. The widespread acclaim of the work across multiple platforms demonstrates its powerful impact in translating complex financial markets into an engaging narrative about systemic hubris, warning signs, and the 2008 global economic crisis.
Who recommended it
- Paul Kix Discussed
Paul Kix — 1 mention
“Like um like I think about um Michael Lewis and 'The Big Short' which is one of the greatest non-fiction books of all time but also a massive hit.”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 6
“His books include Liars Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short, Flash Boys, and now, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.”
“As we were looking at what’s going on in the housing market, I thought about how it’s wonderful, the book's great, and the movie's great as well. A lot of people, when we started this episode, were talking about comparisons, and you pushed back on that.”
“Some of his books have even become some of our favorite movies, such as The Blind Side, Moneyball, and The Big Short.”
“And what's funny is I said that to each of the directors and the writers who have taken the projects on: John Lee Hancock with The Blind Side, Bennett Miller with Moneyball, Adam McKay with The Big Short.”
“And I got lucky to some degree; it was The Big Short when I read that book, I had one of those weird moments where I just knew how it should look and I knew that I was going to break the fourth wall.”
“On August 22nd of 2019, Michael Burry, who is famous from The Big Short, discloses a three percent position in the company and highlights that ninety percent of GameStop's 5,700 stores are free cash flow positive.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- Liar's Poker
- Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
- Emerson
- Empire of the Summer Moon
- Empire of the summer moon
- First Principles
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I had an intriguing conversation once with author Michael Lewis, who has written 'Moneyball,' 'The Blind Side,' and 'The Big Short.' I asked him about the extraordinary success stories he had studied: which ones remained grounded and appreciated how far they had come?”
“And I think also Michael Lewis, the author of The Big Short and Liar's Poker, I love his work. I'm also a big fan of Richard Thaler, the Nobel Laureate economist.”