The Contrarian audiobook cover - Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power

The Contrarian

Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power

Max Chafkin

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Mind Map

The Contrarian
Early Life & Influences
Background
Fantasy Obsession
Stanford & Political Awakening
Campus Disillusionment
Right-Wing Provocateur
PayPal & Libertarianism
Founding Vision
Aggressive Tactics
Clarium Capital & Facebook
Ruthless Ambition
Major Investments
Palantir & Authoritarian Shift
Surveillance Focus
Embracing Evil
Political Influence & Trump
Anti-Globalization
Backing Trump
Exposing Silicon Valley Hypocrisy
Trump Transition
The Tech Summit
Shared Ruthlessness

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
How did Peter Thiel's childhood interest in playing Dungeons & Dragons foreshadow his later career?

The Contrarian — Full Chapter Overview

The Contrarian Summary & Overview

The Contrarian (2021) is a biography of controversial venture capitalist, tech investor, and PayPal founder Peter Thiel. It explains how Thiel’s politics have informed his career – and how he became one of the most powerful people in the US.

Who Should Listen to The Contrarian?

  • People looking for gossip on Silicon Valley
  • US politics junkies
  • Those interested in the intersection of tech and power

About the Author: Max Chafkin

Max Chafkin is a tech reporter and features editor at Bloomberg Businessweek. His work has also appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Fast Company, Vanity Fair, and Inc. 

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