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alexisrt's review
5.0
I've been following Peter Thiel since the Gawker/Valleywag days. This book did nothing to contradict my impression of him, which is that he's a sociopathic techno-authoritarian who is a symbol of Silicon Valley hubris and an overall cancer on humanity.
I'm enjoying all the aggrieved fanboy reviews. Everything in this book is well sourced, and I should know, because again: this has mostly all been reported (I did get some nice additional context and details).
I'm enjoying all the aggrieved fanboy reviews. Everything in this book is well sourced, and I should know, because again: this has mostly all been reported (I did get some nice additional context and details).
eznark's review
2.0
If Michael Moore wrote a biography...
Chafkin is embarrassingly naive, disturbingly dishonest and shamefully cynical. I was really excited for this book and now am really looking forward to an adult tackling this book. Daniel Schulman has shown how a partisan opponent can write a compelling, even handed and honest biography of a foe (Sons of Wichita is a tremendous look at the Koch brothers from of all things a Mother Jones staffer!) and I wish Chafkin had a bit of that talent.
Reading this book we learn next to nothing about Thiel as a businessman (or person) but we learn a hell of a lot about Chafkin. If you disagree with Max you are a "reactionary" (haven't seen that insult hurled this much since the Great Leap Forward. To Mr. Chafkin "libertarian" means xenophobia, closed borders and crony capitalism (in other words Chafkin has no idea what the word means). Thiel invented the idea of "exit" and "voice" (read Hirschman sometime, it's great!).
Perhaps most ludicrous is Chafkin's blaming Thiel for the 1/6 insurgency. The Contrarian is a bizarre mess of an attempted hit job that fails on all accounts. It's so personal in its animus you have to wonder what the ax being ground here is.
Two stars because I listened to the audiobook and Will Damron does a great job!
Chafkin is embarrassingly naive, disturbingly dishonest and shamefully cynical. I was really excited for this book and now am really looking forward to an adult tackling this book. Daniel Schulman has shown how a partisan opponent can write a compelling, even handed and honest biography of a foe (Sons of Wichita is a tremendous look at the Koch brothers from of all things a Mother Jones staffer!) and I wish Chafkin had a bit of that talent.
Reading this book we learn next to nothing about Thiel as a businessman (or person) but we learn a hell of a lot about Chafkin. If you disagree with Max you are a "reactionary" (haven't seen that insult hurled this much since the Great Leap Forward. To Mr. Chafkin "libertarian" means xenophobia, closed borders and crony capitalism (in other words Chafkin has no idea what the word means). Thiel invented the idea of "exit" and "voice" (read Hirschman sometime, it's great!).
Perhaps most ludicrous is Chafkin's blaming Thiel for the 1/6 insurgency. The Contrarian is a bizarre mess of an attempted hit job that fails on all accounts. It's so personal in its animus you have to wonder what the ax being ground here is.
Two stars because I listened to the audiobook and Will Damron does a great job!
chiso's review
2.0
Nice to get some insight into a controversial figure, but unfortunately reads like a hatchet piece
catalystcafe's review
4.0
Crazy how those like Thiel can shape so much of our political and technological world. This was quite illuminating, particularly his connections to the Trump campaign and Cambridge Analytica, and puts into perspective how a few people even outside of politics can shape so much. A contrarian, but also someone who is hypocritical with himself constantly. Infuriating at times, but altogether puts into perspective power in our current age.
mrdylancollins's review
3.5
A well written book which is ultimately quite depressing. Thiel comes across as a brilliant investor who lacks conviction and has a deep cynicism for the world (perhaps this is as much a reflection on the world).
spyder_trauma_rose's review
4.0
A good overview of the man, Peter Thiel. The closer the book draws to the present the more scattershot it becomes in focus, with random excursions to other topics that are only tangentially related.
That all being said it's still a good overview of the life of someone with an incredible influence over the modern United States.
That all being said it's still a good overview of the life of someone with an incredible influence over the modern United States.
rick2's review
3.0
Interesting but lacking direction in the last third.
Definitely going to offend the Thiel fanboys. But I think if read with a pinch of critical thinking, this is one of the better books out there demystifying Thiels world.
In my opinion, the mark of a good book hits a few things. On the lowest level a good book entertains, a better book will inform, and on the highest levels a great book changes who you are. This book is not great. But as an informative you into the world of Peter Thiel and the entities he’s created it’s the best that I know out there. It’s informative and overall a well done, negatively oriented, unofficial biography of a fairly reclusive SV giant.
A few years ago I worked at a company backed by one of Thiels partners. And as such, I’ve always been curious about Founders Fund, the Thiel fellowship, and follow a good number of current and former FF guys. I never really placed the ecosystem that they existed in until now. So in that way, this book is tops.
What unfortunately I think was missed in some of the hatchet wielding is that there’s an interesting ethos attributed to Thiel, basically that he hates all government and authority, that Im not sure about. My cynical orientation is that he wants to deregulate so that private (Thiel backed) tech companies can regulate. But I think the impact there gets lost in this idea of Thiel as a maniacal anarchist. Anarchists don’t build fortunes.
I think you go into reading this book knowing that it’s presenting a negative view of someone who typically doesn’t get much negative press. It seems like the author wrote this as an attempt to balance the scales, whether or not you think a book should do that is entirely up to you. I’d maybe stay away from this if you’re not familiar with the players and events as it’s going to be difficult to distinguish fact from hyperbole.
I wish it was a bit more impartial so that the author could take a step back at the end and have a reasonable synthesis of the information presented.
Definitely going to offend the Thiel fanboys. But I think if read with a pinch of critical thinking, this is one of the better books out there demystifying Thiels world.
In my opinion, the mark of a good book hits a few things. On the lowest level a good book entertains, a better book will inform, and on the highest levels a great book changes who you are. This book is not great. But as an informative you into the world of Peter Thiel and the entities he’s created it’s the best that I know out there. It’s informative and overall a well done, negatively oriented, unofficial biography of a fairly reclusive SV giant.
A few years ago I worked at a company backed by one of Thiels partners. And as such, I’ve always been curious about Founders Fund, the Thiel fellowship, and follow a good number of current and former FF guys. I never really placed the ecosystem that they existed in until now. So in that way, this book is tops.
What unfortunately I think was missed in some of the hatchet wielding is that there’s an interesting ethos attributed to Thiel, basically that he hates all government and authority, that Im not sure about. My cynical orientation is that he wants to deregulate so that private (Thiel backed) tech companies can regulate. But I think the impact there gets lost in this idea of Thiel as a maniacal anarchist. Anarchists don’t build fortunes.
I think you go into reading this book knowing that it’s presenting a negative view of someone who typically doesn’t get much negative press. It seems like the author wrote this as an attempt to balance the scales, whether or not you think a book should do that is entirely up to you. I’d maybe stay away from this if you’re not familiar with the players and events as it’s going to be difficult to distinguish fact from hyperbole.
I wish it was a bit more impartial so that the author could take a step back at the end and have a reasonable synthesis of the information presented.