WHO IS GOVERNMENT? The Untold Story of Public Service

Think the federal civil service is filled with pencil-pushing drones? This collection of essays--curated by Michael Lewis and narrated by their authors--will quickly disabuse you of that notion. Casey Cep uses a journalistic tone that, nonetheless, conveys her genuine admiration for a remarkable Veterans Affairs employee who has devoted his life to honoring fallen soldiers. For a change of pace, W. Kamau Bell effectively uses the interview format with a young Black woman who is starting her career as a government lawyer. Inevitably, other authors are less successful at making the transition from print journalist to narrator. But the real star here is Lewis himself, who bookends the collection with two engaging essays delivered with the polish of a veteran podcaster. D.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]