Theil seems to be too busy making his core argument to be sidetracked by such considerations.Īgain, the flaws in this book shouldn’t stop anyone from reading it, as long as they remain alert to the problems. No safeguards to protect society are considered or recommended. He is quick to state that monopolies can be misused by the greedy, but he doesn’t linger on this point. When a company knows it can earn a termed monopoly via patents and similar methods, the firm is motivated to invent new technology, which benefits society. Monopoly, on the other hand, has the potential for positive effects. It results in anti-social behavior and squelches innovation. Competition, he explains, is not the social good we were all taught that it was in econ 101. Thiel demonstrates not only his ability to come at an old topic from a new direction, but also a fearless ability to speak heresy. One example of Thiel’s unique reasoning is his enthusiastic embrace of monopoly. Groundbreaking ideas have a way of doing that.

This book is likely to challenge anyone’s opinions, no matter where they may fall on the political spectrum. Intellectual honesty is challenging, but it can bring the greatest rewards. The reader should maintain an open mind and evaluate Thiel’s opus critically. Taken on its own merits, the book is a well-written, thought-provoking read. The reader shouldn’t allow any such baggage to keep them from reading Zero to One. As much as some readers may admire him, others probably do not. In order to reach this goal, the entrepreneur will need to question conventional wisdom, embrace monopoly and capture value for their new enterprise.Ī character as well known and controversial as Peter Thiel is at something of a disadvantage as an author. Unlocking the power of innovation is the primary goal. In Zero to One, Peter Thiel draws on his experience at PayPal and Palantir to offer ideas and suggestions for technology startups. To go from zero to one is to conjure something into existence from the dark void of oblivion. This is the greatest leap possible - greater than going from one to 10 or even from one to 100. Going from zero to one means going from nothing to something.

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