#1000
Mentioned in 22 episodes

The Contrarian

Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power
Book • 2021
In 'The Contrarian,' Max Chafkin provides a meticulous biography of Peter Thiel, one of Silicon Valley's most influential and controversial figures.

The book explores Thiel's singular life and worldview, from his conservative roots at Stanford to his founding of PayPal and Palantir, and his early investments in Facebook and SpaceX.

Chafkin also delves into Thiel's political activities, including his support for Donald Trump and his role in the lawsuit that destroyed the blog Gawker.

The biography is both a portrait of Thiel and an examination of the broader tech industry, highlighting its explosive growth, power, and the controversies surrounding it.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 22 episodes

Mentioned by
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Bethany McLean
in relation to Peter Thiel's investment and endorsement of Curtis Yarvin.
130 snips
Is Silicon Valley Turning Fascist?
Mentioned by
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Robert Evans
as a sizable source for information about Peter Thiel.
44 snips
Part One: How Peter Thiel Became the Gravedigger of Democracy
Genannt als eine der Hauptquellen für die Recherche über Peter Thiel.
41 snips
#01 Bad Bromance: Elon Musk, Peter Thiel und ihr Weg an die Macht – Teil 1
Vorgestellt von
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Janne Knödler
als Biografie, die tiefe Einblicke in Thiels Leben gibt.
35 snips
Wie ein deutscher Milliardär die Demokratie zerstört
Mentioned by
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Nate Silver
as a biography of Peter Thiel.
32 snips
#389 — The Politics of Risk
Mentioned by
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Carol Massar
as the author of the book, discussing his insights on Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley.
30 snips
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - March 21st, 2025
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Emily Graffeo
as the author of the article "Altman and Musk, Trump and Powell: These Feuds Will Define 2025", and the book 'The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power'.
27 snips
SoftBank’s Son Pledges $100 Billion US Investment at Trump Event
Mentioned by the host as the author.
15 snips
Introducing: Everybody's Business
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Tim Stenovec
as the author of the book.
15 snips
Apple Will Add 20,000 US Jobs Amid Threat from Trump Tariffs
Mentioned by Max Chafkin in discussion of Elon Musk's offer to buy OpenAI.
15 snips
Powell Tells Congress Fed Still in No Rush to Lower Rates
Mentioned by
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Brad Onishi
when discussing Peter Thiel and Elon Musk's relationship.
13 snips
Weekly Roundup: Elon Isn't King and So Many Other Reasons for Hope
Mentioned by
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Max Chafkin
during a discussion about Elon Musk and his companies.
13 snips
SpaceX Weighs Tender Offer, Geopolitical Turmoil
Mentioned by
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Carol Massar
as the author of the book.
12 snips
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - January 3rd, 2025
Mentioned by
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Carol Massar
as the author of the book.
11 snips
Amazon, Apple Earnings and Musk's DOGE Days
Mentioned by
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Katie Razzall
as the author of a biography of Peter Thiel.
11 snips
Mehdi Hasan, BBC Gaza doc controversy, Peter Thiel profile
Mentioned by
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Max Chafkin
in discussion of self-driving cars and AI investment.
JPMorgan Names Piepszak COO as Pinto Set to Retire in 2026
Mentioned by
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Tim Stenovec
as a book written by Max Chafkin about Anthony Lewandowski, CEO of Pronto.
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - February 28th, 2025
Mentioned by
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Spencer Jakab
as a recently read book about Peter Thiel.
Spencer Jakab on the Death of Meme Stocks
Mentioned by
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Noel King
as the author of a biography of Peter Thiel.
The New Right’s pay pal
Mentioned by
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Carol Massar
as the author of "The Contrarian, Peter Thiel, and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power".
Trump Tariffs Shows China Has More to Lose

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