Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Futureis a 2014 book by the American entrepreneur and investorPeter Thielco-written withBlake Masters.It is a condensed and updated version of a highly popular set of online notes taken by Masters for the CS183 class on startups, as taught by Thiel atStanford Universityin Spring 2012.[1]
 | |
| Author | Peter ThielwithBlake Masters |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Business, Politics & Government |
| Publisher | Crown Business |
Publication date | September 16, 2014 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 224(first edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0804139298 |
| Website | Official website |
Promotion
editTo promote the book, Peter Thiel sent out his first (and only) tweet ever on September 8, 2014. He was also interviewed byAlexia TsotsisofTechCrunch.[2]On September 9, Thiel was interviewed onTimothy Ferriss' podcast.[3]On September 11, Thiel answered questions forAsk Me AnythingonReddit.[4][5][6]
On September 13, Thiel appeared onNPRwith hostWade Goodwynto discuss the book.[7]
Reception
editInThe Atlantic,Derek Thomson describes Thiel's book as possibly the best business book he has ever read. In his review article, he wrote: "Peter Thiel's new book,Zero to One,shines like a laser beam. Yes, this is a self-help book for entrepreneurs, bursting with bromides and sunny confidence about the future that only start-ups can build. But much more than that, it's also a lucid and profound articulation of capitalism and success in the 21st century economy "and" it's surprising in a wonderful way just how simpleZero to Onefeels. Barely 200 pages long, and well lit by clear prose and pithy aphorisms, Thiel has written a perfectly tweetable treatise and a relentlessly thought-provoking handbook ".[8]
Publishers Weeklywrote of the book: "Thiel touches on how to build a successful business, but the discussion is too abstract to offer much to the nextSteve Jobs—or Peter Thiel. "[9]
In November 2014, Timothy B. Lee reviewed the book forVox.com,writing that although Thiel's book contained some good advice, he made the advice sound more contrarian than it really was, did not provide sufficiently concrete advice, and made some questionable claims.[10]
InThe New Atlantis,James Poulos compares Thiel toFrederich Nietzscheand argues Thiel, "the most political and theoretical of the supernerds," writes esoterically inZero to One,when he "raises the prospect of a remarkably comprehensive failure among our best and brightest."[11]
References
edit- ^Masters, Blake."Notes Essays—Peter Thiel's CS183: Startup—Stanford, Spring 2012".RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
- ^Buhr, Sarah (September 8, 2014)."Peter Thiel Tweets".TechCrunch.RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^Ferriss, Timothy(September 9, 2014)."The Tim Ferriss Show: Interview with Peter Thiel, Billionaire Investor and Company Creator".RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^"Peter Thiel, technology entrepreneur and investor. AMA".Reddit.September 11, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
- ^"Peter Thiel Reveals His Favorite Rap Artist and More in a Reddit AMA".Slate.September 11, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^Ferenstein, Gregory (September 11, 2014)."Peter Thiel goes after net neutrality, Uber, Bitcoin, and Hollywood (in 4 quotes)".VentureBeat.RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^"Peter Thiel In 'Zero To One': How To Develop The Developed World".NPR.September 13, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^Thompson, Derek (2014-09-25)."Peter Thiel's Zero to One Might Be the Best Business Book I've Read".The Atlantic.Retrieved2019-11-09.
- ^"Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (book review)".Publishers Weekly.August 11, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 14,2014.
- ^Lee, Timothy B. (November 30, 2014)."How Peter Thiel repackaged conventional wisdom as bold contrarianism".Vox.com.RetrievedDecember 19,2014.
- ^"Competing to Conform".The New Atlantis.March 2015.RetrievedFebruary 13,2016.