Trim waving wands for magic buds
full of anecdote and detail (and much in the form of an extended essay). His digressions outlining their unique career paths provide further proof that they are motivated not by money but by public service – and, like the biography of astronaut Kathy Sullivan, are very interesting in themselves.
The real value of The Fifth Risk lies in its insight into the importance of considered,
apolitical, long-term government, but its impetus lies in the risk of losing that under an uninformed Trump administration. The antiTrump angle is strong, the prologue setting out how, the day after Trump’s election, government departments were ready to brief the new administration but many heard nothing for days, if not weeks, and when representatives did appear, or when appointments were made, many had little knowledge of or interest in the areas to which they were assigned.
The consequent threat is the defunding – or the elimination – of important government functions. Lewis provides little conclusive evidence of this, though he hints at a reorganisation of ‘‘Rural Development’’.
There is a fundamental difficulty in writing about current events like this, especially when it involves a transitioning government. Nevertheless, The Fifth Risk is still very effective in outlining the unappreciated workings of benign government, whatever the risks to it might be.
– Charles Cole