Renowned mathematician and billionaire Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has taken to social media to voice his sharp criticism of Michael Lewis’s recently released book, “Going Infinite.” The book delves into the tumultuous collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency giant in the previous year, but Hoskinson’s scathing review paints a contrasting picture.
Hoskinson Labels the Book a “Dumpster Fire”
In a post on social media platform X, Hoskinson minced no words in expressing his opinion about “Going Infinite,” describing it as a “dumpster fire.” This strong language left no room for doubt regarding his disapproval of the book’s content and approach.
Looking at Michael Lewis's dumpster fire of a book, there seems to be a group of people in the elite circles who desperately want to somehow get a public exoneration for SBF. We saw this with the kid gloves treatment by the New York times and now a book that's basically an… — Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) October 9, 2023
Skepticism Surrounding Sam Bankman-Fried’s Treatment
Hoskinson raised intriguing questions about whether influential individuals within elite circles were seeking to secure a public exoneration for Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of FTX. His tone bordered on sarcasm as he voiced concerns about what he perceived as a “kid-glove treatment” of SBF in some media outlets.
Accusation of an “Apology Tour”
Accusing Michael Lewis of creating “an apology tour” for SBF with his book, Hoskinson expressed his indignation, referring to SBF as “the Bernie Madoff of his generation.” He questioned why the media appeared to be giving SBF “a free pass.” Hoskinson concluded by suggesting that this situation reflects deep-seated corruption within certain circles, particularly when individuals have the right connections.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb Joins the Criticism
Notably, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the acclaimed author of bestsellers like “Black Swan,” “Skin in the Game,” and “Antifragile,” also joined the chorus of criticism aimed at Sam Bankman-Fried. This criticism stemmed from a quote in Michael Lewis’s book where SBF expressed skepticism about Shakespeare’s status as the world’s greatest writer, citing historical literacy rates.
Taleb Disagrees with SBF’s Viewpoint
Taleb took issue with this viewpoint, asserting that individuals like SBF may have knowledge of statistics but lack an understanding of historical processes and dynamics over time. He reminded both the community and SBF that Shakespeare’s work has endured nearly five centuries of scrutiny and appreciation. Taleb suggested that the Bard’s literary legacy has been significantly filtered and refined by the passage of time, emphasizing its enduring relevance.
In summary, Charles Hoskinson’s critique of “Going Infinite” and his questions about the treatment of Sam Bankman-Fried in the book have sparked a lively debate, with notable figures like Nassim Nicholas Taleb weighing in on the discussion. The controversy surrounding the book continues to unfold, highlighting the complex interplay of narratives in the cryptocurrency and literary worlds.
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