Books like The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis

In "The Fifth Risk," Michael Lewis peels back the layers of American governance to show how leaders’ budget choices and staffing cuts are endangering vital federal programs. From shrinking food‑stamp and school‑lunch funding in Agriculture, to the Commerce Department’s staffing crisis that could jeopardize the 2020 Census, and the uncertain oversight of nuclear materials in Energy, the book paints a picture of a government under attack by its own decisions. Lewis argues that willful ignorance fuels these risks, while knowledge—though messy—can illuminate the problems that would otherwise be ignored. Yet amid the looming threats are a cadre of dedicated public servants—unsung heroes whose expertise, dedication, and proactive work keep the nation’s systems functioning. The book chronicles their efforts and the pressures they face in an environment of political expediency.

First publish date: 2018