In the book Who is Government?, brilliant author Michael Lewis and six others share stories about individuals working within the federal system. Each essay profiles a different person, someone whose title may lead you to believe they are a worthless bureaucrat, but after reading the stories, you will undoubtedly feel otherwise.
Lewis and collaborators share the story of someone at the Bureau of Mines who took the initiative to save hundreds of lives by inventing a new support system for mine roofs. There are stories of an employee at the National Archives working to make government records more accessible, of others creating an integrated medical records system for rare disease cures, of an antitrust prosecutor at the Department of Justice, and of someone inspiring excellence and care in the National Cemeteries.
All of these people have benefitted the nation, but mostly are unheralded and work without fanfare. Lewis’s book brings them all to life and shines a light on their contributions.
The book is an enjoyable read and also an inspiration to ferret out unrecognized heroes in your organization. Who are the people behind the scenes in roles that you may not understand, but that provide essential value to the organization or beyond? It’s time to go beyond the titles and tell the untold story.
