From Davos: A chance encounter with Andrew Ross Sorkin

Decided against the Bill Clinton event last night — primarily in the interests of sleep. Due apologies. He’s scheduled at a Coca Cola reception tonight, so I’ll probably catch him there.

I did spend some quality time with Andrew Ross Sorkin. We were typing away on dueling computers, both generally unaware of each other … until I finished up and looked over to my left. Lovely fellow. Surprisingly unselfpossessed given the extraordinary success of his recent book, Too Big to Fail.

We don’t know each other well, but I particularly wanted to discuss the book with him. In part because I’d been recommending it to friends who refuse to read anything on the financial crisis. But mostly because it’s such a complicated story that he handles with remarkable balance and discipline. 

Andrew said his view on writing the book was akin to Tarantino directing a movie — he wants everyone coming away believing they’ve read a different story. Interesting, clever, probably not my take (I generally want everyone to "get me." Though I suspect my general urge to be liked is greater than Andrew’s.) 

From my perspective, the thing Andrew got truly on the money, as it were, was his sense of humanity around all the major bankers (I think the public sector folks got a bit of a rougher ride). In 30 years, presuming a conversion, I suspect I’d like Andrew to be my rabbi. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the subjects disagreed. I didn’t discuss the book with Merrill Lynch’s ex CEO, John Thain, but I know him well … and thought quite well of the portrayal. Not John’s view, says Andrew. Same on Lehman’s Dick Fuld — and his annoyance with the book I’ve already heard from Dick’s old friends.

Maybe the better take on Too Big to Fail is that if everybody finds something to criticize, he’s hit it just right. Nah, that’s clearly not right either. Just read it.