The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power

Ignore the organised backlash against this book, as evidence in the numerous, similar 1 star reviews being left.This is in-depth, very good reporting, especially on his early years. Last 3rd part of the book (post-2016) is more well trodden ground and less engaging, but the first 2/3rds is great to understand where Thiel came from and how he became a major force within the tech worlds elite.Whenever a member of the establishment elite gets held to account, there is backlash, which is what has happened against this book, which is another sign of why it's important reading.

Excellent book although the author has a clear bias towards this new left ideology. Time has also shown Theils contrarian view on the covid response was also alot closer to the truth, the more the press finally reveal.Infact taking the contrarian view on most things that are force fed to us from mainstream media these days seems far closer to the truth, hence the censorship. You only aggressively censor when your covering something up history tells us.With a likely swing to the right after the radical new left have turned everyone's lives upside now it will be interesting to see whether it's the libertarian version of Theil politics or the more frightening controlling power that far right ideologies could bring!!

A deep and gripping story of Silicon Valley's sole Republican VC leader. No great secrets of investment success to be found here. Thiel seems to have gotten lucky as much as brilliant. I expected more of the successful start-ups as they grew to powerhouses, but it seems Thiel's life after a few successes focused more on the political than on business. A unique and well-done portrait

This is in no way a bias portrayal, I think this is representing the man as he is. It’s not the authors fault that every page includes crazy, self obsessive, heartlessness. That’s probably Peters doing and it’s right that it’s documented. A great book, not one that paints a picture of a charming, caring soul, but one of a man who has probably influenced the western world more than anyone else in the last 20 years. A great man with aN even greater flaw.

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