Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

Time spent studying this book: 18h54m
Reading Sessions: 19

What I liked: I initially delayed reading this book because of what I heard and read about Peter Thiel. I shouldn't have. Reading somebody is a great way to create at least sympathy – not empathy – to their mindset. Reading Zero to One gave me a much better understanding of how some of the most successful VCs think about the world surrounding them. I understood how they choose the companies they invest in and build their team. It was both informative and helpful as I evolve in that universe. I don't agree with all he is saying and that's okay. I also took this book to better understand Peter Thiel and people like him. In that regard, I wholly got my investment in time back and I am sure it will pay dividends in the future.

What I disliked: Taking innumerable examples from history, there were some shortcuts taken to suit his discourse. It wasn't too bad but still, you have to be cautious stepping into the mind of someone, you might end-up trapped inside it. I also disliked the very PR feeling from some chapters, which make sense as the inception of this book was teaching/recruiting at Stanford.

Comic book analogy: Peter Thiel closer comic-book parallel in my head is Ozymandias. Billionaire contrarian who sees humans on a very macro-level, ready to take the heat and make extremely bold and controversial moves, all for what he believes is “the greater good”. Peter, I know you enjoy Tolkien work, but isn't that analogy great too?