New Books Network Jimmy Wales with Dan Gardner, "The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last" (Crown Currency, 2025)
Dec 2, 2025
Jimmy Wales, the visionary behind Wikipedia, dives deep into his new book, exploring the essence of trust. He shares the journey of Wikipedia's rise and the challenges of maintaining its neutrality. Wales discusses how granting trust can foster responsibility, reflecting on parenting dynamics. He also reveals insights from his interviews with experts and tackles the complexities of media mistrust. The conversation highlights practical strategies for building lasting trust in organizations and communities.
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Family Crisis That Sparked Wikipedia
- Kira's illness and the poor online information motivated Jimmy to start Wikipedia.
- A doctor in San Diego successfully treated her and the experience pushed him to build a better information resource.
Give Trust To Build Participation
- Give trust to get trust: invite people to participate rather than gatekeep them.
- Set clear expectations and hold people to them while treating mistakes as learning opportunities.
Nighttime Vandalism Reverted By Volunteers
- Early technical fragility meant vandalism could wipe the site, and Jimmy would check it at night.
- He discovered volunteers worldwide reverted damage while he slept, showing community self-policing.
