Who Is Government?
The Untold Story of Public Service
“Perhaps never before has there been a book better timed or more urgent.” —Washington Post
It’s been a rough year for federal government employees. I should know. I used to be one until April 2025 when I decided to take an early retirement after 33 years with the Social Security Administration. It’s hard to explain how bizarre my work life became after January 20, 2025. I started my career under George H.W. Bush, so I saw a lot of administration changes over the years, but nothing came close to the chaos of this year. The performative cruelty exacted on federal government employees and agencies was completely unnecessary, and ultimately there was little to no fraud, waste, and abuse uncovered (check the receipts).
Yes, it’s been a rough year, which is why Micheal Lewis’ book couldn’t have been a more timely and welcome read. In March 2025 Lewis released this collection of essays from his favorite writers who shared stories of the unrecognized and uncelebrated people who work for the federal government. As Lewis notes, government employees are not used to getting recognized. “They were the carrots in the third-grade play.” They are committed to their work and reluctant to take credit. They aren’t interested in accolades — they are interested in serving the American public. Imagine that.
In this collection of essays you’ll meet eight people who work for various federal agencies. Civil servants doing work that you probably never heard of or even realized was happening. The profile of Ronald Walters of the National Cemetery Administration alone is amazing. I would read a whole book about that guy. But he’s just one person.
Federal employees are vital to our everyday lives. They keep our mines safe, protect us from cybercrimes, ensure our military veterans receive proper burials, and maintain our history. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg (there’s a U.S. National Ice Center that tracks icebergs, btw). The federal government is a vast, complex system that is our shared resource for addressing the biggest problems of society. It’s important to have career employees with institutional knowledge who maintain consistency over different administrations.
These riveting and inspiring stories are a reminder of why career civil servants are so crucial to our infrastructure. It’s a wonderful book full of fascinating accounts of meticulous work often performed over years. No kings, just a whole lotta carrots.
I loved it. I give Who is Government? 33 early retirements.