People Archives

Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX: The Rise Before the Fall

What were the strengths and weaknesses of FTX? How did Sam Bankman-Fried win the confidence of customers? Sam Bankman-Fried found success with his first company, Alameda Research. But, it still didn’t satisfy his desire to practice effective altruism on a grand scale. Biographer Michael Lewis relates why Bankman-Fried started FTX and how the company secured early success. Keep reading to learn about Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX before its collapse.

Sic Semper Tyrannis: The Wrath Behind the Lincoln Assassination

What did John Wilkes Booth expect after he assassinated President Lincoln? Why did some people prefer that Booth had been taken alive rather than killed? After April 14, 1865, America would never be the same. That day, President Abraham Lincoln became the target of the wrath that afflicted some who were sympathetic to the Confederacy’s cause and bitter about its demise. Keep reading to understand the anger behind the Lincoln assassination.

How Did Sam Bankman-Fried Get Rich? Michael Lewis Explains

How did Sam Bankman-Fried get rich? What drove him to make money? Sam Bankman-Fried quickly became one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. Biographer Michael Lewis details how Bankman-Fried found financial success in his first job at Jane Street Capital and his first two companies—Alameda Research and FTX. Continue reading to learn how Sam Bankman-Fried became wealthy.

How Sam Bankman-Fried’s Donations Reveal His Values & Aims

What did Sam Bankman-Fried do with his millions and billions? What did think Donald Trump might do if he gave him $5 billion? Sam Bankman-Fried quickly became one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Biographer Michael Lewis says Bankman-Fried used his money in three main ways: Lobbying politicians to further his business interests, donating money to mitigate existential threats, and minimizing the influence of Donald Trump. Continue reading to learn about Sam Bankman-Fried’s donations.

President Lincoln and the Civil War (And There Was Light)

How did Abraham Lincoln’s faith inform his view of the Civil War? How did the Emancipation Proclamation contribute to the Union’s war effort? The American Civil War dominated Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. Historian and biographer Jon Meacham discusses Lincoln’s motivations and actions during the war, covering in particular the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the war’s beginning and end. Keep reading to learn about President Lincoln and the Civil War.

Why Did FTX Collapse? 3 Precipitating Events on One Day

Why did FTX collapse? What happened on Twitter that got the ball rolling? How did Caroline Ellison make matters worse? Although Sam Bankman-Fried’s cryptocurrency empire skyrocketed in just a few years, its demise was far more sudden and dramatic. Michael Lewis provides an account of the downfall of FTX in his book Going Infinite. Read more to learn how three events on November 6, 2022, led to FTX’s collapse within days.

The Mysterious Case of FTX’s Missing Money (Michael Lewis)

How much money went missing from FTX? Has the mystery been solved? In Going Infinite, financial journalist Michael Lewis provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Sam Bankman-Fried’s astounding rise and fall. Lewis shares what’s known about billions of dollars that went missing, including what Bankman-Fried told him about it. Read more to learn about the mysterious case of FTX’s missing money.

2 Reasons to Question Sam Bankman-Fried’s Fraud Charges

Updated March 28, 2024 Did Sam Bankman-Fried commit fraud? Did his customers’ money truly end up in someone else’s pockets? Sam Bankman-Fried’s financial empire crumbled in November 2022 when FTX lost nearly $10 billion of its clients’ money. Although he’s charged with various counts of fraud, financial journalist Michael Lewis suggests that the case against Bankman-Fried is less damning than outsiders believe. Keep reading to learn two reasons why Lewis questions Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud charges.

The Freelancing Life: Why & How Paul Millerd Made the Switch

Is the freelancing life for you? What can you learn from others who’ve made the switch? Like most people, Paul Millerd was taught to place conventional, full-time work at the center of his life—but it made him miserable. Now, he’s a freelance blogger, consultant, career coach, and online course creator—and he’s much more satisfied with his life. Keep reading to get informed and inspired by Millerd’s story.

Sam Harris on Determinism: Every Event Is Caused by Other Events

What’s determinism? Why does Sam Harris adopt this philosophy? Does it necessarily imply fatalism? According to Sam Harris, determinism is the way the world works: We don’t (and can’t) have free will. Like other determinists, he believes that what we feel about our agency misleads us; what we experience when we’re thinking about a decision doesn’t indicate the true causes of our thoughts and actions. Read more for Harris’s explanation of the determinist perspective in the debate over free will.