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Metaphysical Millionaires by R.J. Purcell
Metaphysical Millionaires by R.J. Purcell
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The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power
by Max Chafkin
"An incisive portrait of a tech industry whose explosive growth and power is both thrilling and fraught with controversy."
💼 BIOGRAPHY | TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP | POLITICAL HISTORY
Essential reading for those tracking the intersection of Silicon Valley technology, venture capital, and modern political influence.
Extended Synopsis
Since the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, Peter Thiel has been a behind-the-scenes operator shaping the trajectory of Silicon Valley and global technology. In The Contrarian, Max Chafkin delivers the first major biography of this enigmatic billionaire venture capitalist. The book traces Thiel's singular life from his upbringing as the child of immigrant parents and his years at Stanford as a conservative thought leader, through his foundational roles at PayPal and Palantir, to his early investments in Facebook and SpaceX.
Chafkin rigorously details Thiel's relationships with tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, while illuminating his extensive efforts to export his values into Washington politics. From funding the lawsuit that destroyed Gawker to his backing of far-right political candidates, this deeply reported narrative exposes the delicate power balance between Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and the broader American political landscape.
Accolades & Awards
- A New York Times Notable Book
“Much more than a consistently shocking biography... It’s also a disturbing history of Silicon Valley that will make you reconsider the ideological foundations of America’s relentless engine of creative destruction.”
— Brad Stone, author of The Everything Store
About the Author
Max Chafkin is an accomplished business journalist and author whose deeply reported work focuses on the dominant figures and underlying structures of the modern technology industry.
Product Tables: Key Narrative Subjects
| Industry / Sector | Thiel's Involvement Analyzed |
|---|---|
| Venture Capital | Founding of PayPal and Palantir; early investments in Facebook and SpaceX. |
| Media Dynamics | Funding the litigation that ultimately bankrupted Gawker Media. |
| Political Influence | Backing political campaigns and exporting Valley values to Washington. |
Technical Specifications
| ISBN-13 | 9781984878533 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Publisher | Penguin |
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