In a fascinating discussion, Ben Mezrich, author known for chronicling high-stakes true stories, dives into the fallout of Elon Musk's Twitter takeover. He assesses how Musk's decisions affected his legacy and Twitter's financial health. Mezrich also shares insights on the ambitions of tech founders that mirror Einstein's philosophies. Additionally, he explores groundbreaking efforts to bring woolly mammoths back to life and the ethical considerations involved. The conversation offers a mix of tech critique and wild innovation.
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Boosted Tweets
Elon Musk's tweets were boosted after his Super Bowl tweet received less engagement than Joe Biden's.
This led to Musk's tweets dominating users' timelines, demonstrating his control over the platform.
insights INSIGHT
Musk's Vision
Elon Musk believes humans must become multi-planetary to preserve consciousness.
He views Twitter as crucial for free speech and preventing a societal regression.
insights INSIGHT
Devaluation of Blue Checkmark
The blue checkmark has lost its value under Musk's leadership.
People are now hesitant to pay for what was once a symbol of verification.
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The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal
Ben Mezrich
The Accidental Billionaires tells the captivating story of how Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, two socially awkward Harvard students, created Facebook. The book explores themes of genius, betrayal, and the impact of success on relationships. It is based on real events but includes speculative elements, as Mark Zuckerberg did not participate in the book's creation. The story was adapted into the film 'The Social Network'.
Woolly
The True Story of the Quest to Revive One of History's Most Iconic Extinct Creatures
Ben Mezrich
This book chronicles the quest to revive the woolly mammoth, led by geneticist George Church and his team at Harvard. It explores the challenges and ethical considerations of cloning extinct species, set against the backdrop of environmental concerns and the potential creation of a 'Pleistocene Park' in Siberia.
Breaking Twitter
Ben Mezrich
Bringing Down the House
The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions
David Hoberman
This book tells the story of a group of M.I.T. students who, using advanced card counting techniques, managed to win millions of dollars in various Las Vegas casinos. The narrative delves into the strategies they employed, the risks they took, and the consequences they faced as they challenged the casinos' systems.
Dumb money
Adventures of a Day Trader
Joey Anuff
Dumb Money: Adventures of a Day Trader is a book that delves into the world of day trading, using the daily routines of traders as its narrative structure. Written by Joey Anuff and Gary Wolf, the book provides insights into the brutally competitive and often unpredictable environment of the stock market. It captures the highs and lows of day trading, offering a unique perspective on this high-stakes activity.
Did Elon Musk break Twitter? Or did Twitter break Elon Musk?
Ben Mezrich is the author of “Bringing Down The House,” “The Accidental Billionaires,” “Dumb Money,” and, most recently, “Breaking Twitter: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History.” Ricky Mulvey caught up with Mezrich to discuss:
Twitter’s impact on Musk’s legacy,
The philosophies that drive Einstein-esque founders,
And the startup working to “de-extinct” the Woolly Mammoth.