Malcolm Harris, an insightful journalist and author, dives deep into the peculiar history of Palo Alto and Silicon Valley. They uncover the unsettling connections between Stanford University and the rise of big tech, alongside a fraught youth suicide crisis hidden behind the town's idyllic façade. The discussion also touches on the intersection of psychedelics and tech culture, questioning capitalism's sustainability. Harris challenges listeners to reflect on land reclamation and the responsibilities of institutions in addressing historical injustices.
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Substitute Teacher's Warning
In elementary school, Malcolm Harris had a substitute teacher who deviated from the lesson plan.
She claimed Palo Alto was a bubble, unlike the rest of the world.
insights INSIGHT
Haunted Palo Alto
Palo Alto appears idyllic, yet had a high youth suicide rate when Harris was growing up.
This juxtaposition of idyllic setting and tragedy makes Palo Alto feel 'haunted.'
insights INSIGHT
Pressure as a Solution
The pressure on Palo Alto youth wasn't seen as a problem, but a solution.
This pressure created the workers needed for the capitalist system.
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A History of California, Capitalism, and the World
Malcolm Harris
In 'Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World,' Malcolm Harris provides a detailed and critical history of Silicon Valley. The book spans 150 years, from the era of railroad barons to the modern tech industry, and explores how Northern California evolved into a powerful engine for economic growth and global influence. Harris examines the ideologies, technologies, and policies that have shaped the region, including the impact of settler colonialism, racialized labor, and the conversion of public resources into private assets. The book also delves into the lives of key figures such as Leland Stanford, Herbert Hoover, and Peter Thiel, and offers a radical proposition for how society might change course in the face of the current economic and technological landscape.
Kids These Days
Human Capital and the Making of Millennials
Malcolm Harris
Malcolm Harris
In 'Kids These Days,' Malcolm Harris presents a critical examination of the socio-economic forces that have shaped the Millennial generation, arguing that these young adults are the products of an intensifying culture of hyper-competition and economic exploitation. Harris meticulously dissects the pressures placed on Millennials, from the education system to the labor market, revealing how they have been conditioned to prioritize productivity and adaptability at the expense of personal well-being.
Sean Illing speaks with Malcolm Harris, a journalist, critic, and author of the new book Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World. Together, they discuss the weird history of the city that's birthed Stanford University, Hewlett Packard, Theranos, and the model of capitalism that's made an impact across the globe.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
Guest: Malcolm Harris (@BigMeanInternet), journalist, critic and author
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
