How an art history major became Wall Street’s premier storyteller
In short: Michael Lewis didn't start as a financial titan or a career journalist. He was an aspiring art historian who was told by his own advisor that there were no jobs for him in academia. This rejection paved the way for one of the most influential careers in modern nonfiction.
Born into a privileged lineage—descended from explorer Meriwether Lewis and President James Monroe—Michael Lewis first pursued a degree in art history at Princeton University. He graduated cum laude in 1982 with a thesis on Donatello, but his academic path hit a wall when his adviser warned him that the field lacked both jobs and talent for his specific writing style. This pivot led to a period of aimless work as an art dealer's stock boy, a cabinetmaker’s apprentice, and even a European tour guide.
Lewis eventually pivoted to economics at the London School of Economics in 1985. His entry into high finance was facilitated by family connections: his cousin, Baroness Linda Monroe von Stauffenberg, arranged a dinner where he met the wife of a Salomon Brothers managing director. This connection secured him a role as a junior bond salesman in 1984. While working on Wall Street during the 1980s, Lewis secretly published pieces in The Economist and The Wall Street Journal, using his insider experiences to build a portfolio for his first book.
His 1989 debut, Liar’s Poker, transformed him into a household name by exposing the 'infantile behavior' of cutthroat bond traders. Since then, Lewis has mastered the art of explaining arcane systems—from baseball sabermetrics in Moneyball (2003) to the housing bubble in The Big Short (2010)—by centering them on compelling personal narratives. His work is so culturally resonant that his 'Moneyball' concept even inspired a 2023 California House bill regarding stadium relocations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Michael Lewis | Biography, Journalism, Books, Movie Adaptations, & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Michael Lewis
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