Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service

¡ Penguin Random House Audio ¡ Narrated by Michael Lewis, Sarah Vowell, John Lanchester, Geraldine Brooks, Casey Cep, Dave Eggers, and W. Kamau Bell
8 reviews
Audiobook
6 hr 43 min
Unabridged
Eligible
Want a free 10 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline. 
Add

About this audiobook

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

ONE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 2025 SUMMER READS

AS SEEN ON CBS MORNINGS, CNN ANDERSON COOPER, ABC NEWS LIVE, MSNBC MORNING JOE, AND MANY MORE

"This eye-opening, multifaceted ode to public service. . . feels both urgent and moving." —The Guardian

"Terrific." —New York Times

An all-star team of writers and storytellers go in search of the essential public servant

Who works for the government and why does their work matter? Michael Lewis invited his favorite writers, including Casey Cep, Dave Eggers, John Lanchester, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell, and W. Kamau Bell, to join him in writing about someone doing an interesting job for the government. The stories they found are unexpected, riveting, and inspiring, including a former coal miner devoted to making mine roofs less likely to collapse, saving thousands of lives; an IRS agent straight out of a crime thriller; and the manager who made the National Cemetery Administration the best-run organization, public or private, in the entire country. Each essay shines a spotlight on the essential behind-the-scenes work of exemplary federal employees.

Whether they’re digitizing archives, chasing down cybercriminals, or discovering new planets, these public servants are committed to their work and universally reluctant to take credit. Expanding on the celebrated Washington Post series, these vivid profiles show how the essential business of government makes our lives possible.
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ONE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 2025 SUMMER READS AS SEEN ON CBS MORNINGS, CNN ANDERSON COOPER, ABC NEWS LIVE, MSNBC MORNING JOE, AND MANY MORE "This eye-opening, multifaceted ode to public service. . . feels both urgent and moving." —The Guardian "Terrific." —New York T...

Discover more

Ratings and reviews

8 reviews
alex brinley
July 14, 2025
Not really a Michael Lewis book, majority of it is by other people. Several sections that were so boring I had to skip them. Regret the purchase..
Did you find this helpful?
Christina Hernandez
April 26, 2025
Looking forward to hearing this .. already excited to learn something. God bless America? Land that I Love 🙃
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Michael Lewis is the best-selling author of Liar's Poker, Moneyball, The Blind Side, The Big Short, The Fifth Risk, and Going Infinite. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his family.
Michael Lewis is the best-selling author of Liar's Poker, Moneyball, The Blind Side, The Big Short, The Fifth Risk, and Going Infinite. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his family.

Rate this audiobook

Tell us what you think.

Listening information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.