CSPI Podcast

Vision, Beauty, and Creative Destruction in Silicon Valley | Jimmy Soni & Richard Hanania

Feb 28, 2022

01:17:09

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Highlights

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Episode notes

The Fundamental Critique Hasn't Go Away, Right?

03:07

A Critical Role That's Overlooked

03:57

Pay Pal, You Know, Is It a Romantic Thing?

03:51

Introduction

2min

Is There a Level of Ignorance?

4min

Papal and Its Creators

2min

What Was It Like to Research This Book?

5min

The History of the United States

2min

I'm Just Astonished by Sort of What People in Business Do

2min

The Fuck Company, the Mechanics of the Future

2min

Did You Get the Impression That Elon Musk Expressed Ther Regret?

3min

What's the Difference Between Founders and Venture Capitalists?

3min

10.

The University of Illinois

3min

11.

The Internet Is on Fire, or Are You Going to Go Work Ono This Guy?

4min

12.

Who Do People Talk About?

4min

13.

What's the Story of the Pom Pilot?

4min

14.

A Critical Role That's Overlooked

4min

15.

Pay Pal, You Know, Is It a Romantic Thing?

4min

16.

Is It Productively Tribal, Right?

2min

17.

The Fundamental Critique Hasn't Go Away, Right?

3min

18.

Is It a Goliath Figure?

5min

19.

The Pay Pa Mafia

5min

20.

Iwa - The Story of a Murder in an Alley at Night

2min

21.

I Was a Skeptic, I Don't Know, I'm Right There With You

3min

22.

Are They in the Back of the Book?

2min

23.

Did You Have to Pull Any Punches?

2min

24.

The Book Review

3min

25.

Are You Ready to Talk About Your Next Project?

4min

Jimmy Soni is a biographer and speechwriter. He joins the podcast to talk about his new book, “The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley,” which explores the early days, history, and legacy of PayPal. It also outlines the unique qualities, business savvy, and technological vision that led to the founders’ success at PayPal and elsewhere. Jimmy and Richard discuss the value of “founders,” the cultural impact of Elon Musk, and why so much high-level talent was concentrated at the University of Illinois in the ‘90s. They consider the role of productive tribalism and Peter Thiel’s memetic philosophy in shaping tech culture, and reflect on how the tension between vision and practicality is central to American dynamism and innovation.

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Jimmy Soni, “The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley.”

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