Is corruption involved in the calamities of 2020? I began probing this question this year. As part of my research, I read a pair of books by Sarah Chayes. The first book, “Thieves of State” published in 2015, explores governmental corruption. It links governments to the origins of radical religious movements that threaten global security. The second book, “On Corruption in America” published August of 2020, exposes long-standing corrupt networks here at home in the US. Sarah blends her educational background in history, with first-hand experience to paint vivid warning signs for us. Thankfully, there is hope. We’ll explore these books, a few of the lessons, and get introduced the author now.