This is a very good book and is likely to benefit many people wishing to learn about what constitutes great startups. I found myself agreeing with Peter on most topics. I liked his analysis of nations in terms of optimism and pessimism, definitiveness and the lack of it, and the parallels for startups; of competitions and monopolies; etc. He talks about some popular notions, notably the pursuit of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) by tech startups and puts it in perspective: well put! I also appreciated his emphasis on marketing and sales, which is definitely understated by some other authors who have written about startups recently. His views on what constitutes great founders are informing, but his analysis covers a very small group of some very prominent names, and I could neither agree nor disagree with those views in the general sense.

A nice read and a good starter book to understand how the world of startups work.

Peter Thiel is a brilliant businessman. He gives a lot of ideas and theories in the book to help you take your business to the next level. The book is even more powerful because it was written by someone who has had extraordinary success in business. I really didn't agree with the ideas on global warming and carbon.

Thiel's writing is sharp, concise, and thought-provoking. He doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths, offering a candid look at the challenges and opportunities in the tech world and beyond. The book is packed with memorable principles, like "Every moment in business happens only once. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. And the next Mark Zuckerberg won’t create a social network." These aren't just catchy phrases; they are invitations to rethink what innovation truly means.

It is inspired for me, especially the title. good advices for me who intend to be an entrepreneur. It also inspired me to think regarding my domain.

Brilliant read. Ashamed I hadn’t read this sooner, been working in tech for a few years now. Thiel is so surgical in his thought process, there’s no fluff. How often does a book tell you to think for yourself? Amazing. In a way, I think Thiel is a romantic. The book is actually incredibly hopeful for the future and the resilience of humanity to figure things out, but it can’t be taken for granted.

“Only by seeing our world anew, as fresh and strange as it was to the ancients who saw it first, can we both re-create it and preserve it for the future.”

It’s a good book overall. Because I listen to some podcasts before reading this book.. subject was more or less known

I find this book hard to get through. I'm only on chapter 3 and he's already trashed whole countries, various companies, our ancestors, just about everyone. For example, in chapter 1, he says "China has been...copying everything that has worked in the developed world...They might skip a few steps along the way....but they're copying all the same." If you read the book, prepared to be offended. He's ignorant on so many things and chapters 1 and 2 are full of questionable "facts", most arrogantly phrased. For example, he says "Since 1971, we have seen rapid globalization along with limited technological development, mostly confined to IT." He's basically dismissing not only advances in IT but all the advances in agriculture, medicine, and manufacturing. I was looking forward to learning about startups, but think I'll need at least a 6-pack of beer to slog through this negative book.

if you're a startup guy like me you should buy it... you won't regret

Great and different book about how to progress in business

Libro molto interessante, da leggere. Analizza con diversi esempi la traiettoria e le strategie delle start-up, con concetti, a volte un po’ estremizzati, ma mai banali.

Awesome book.

Great read with helpful insights into start up business philosophies that apply across the board and not just the tech sector. Worth a second read!