Book Review: Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Ever the contrarian, the entrepreneur/investor Peter Thiel is a complicated figure even by Silicon Valley’s standards. Regardless, following his successful leadership of PayPal and angel investment in Facebook, Mr. Thiel has a dedicated following of people who pay close attention to his thoughts on entrepreneurship and investing. In this short yet sharp book, Mr. Thiel gives his take on the qualities needed to create a successful business (which at its core must always “create value”) and beliefs on human progress in the 21st Century. The book definitely offers a rosier outlook for humankind’s inventions and developments for the future, but at the same time illustrates notable examples of how our nature can destroy such advancements.