In this engaging discussion, bestselling author Ben Mezrich dives into his latest book, Bitcoin Billionaires, and reflects on his iconic work, The Accidental Billionaires, which inspired The Social Network. He shares juicy insights about the evolving portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg and the Winklevoss twins' pivotal role in cryptocurrency. Mezrich critiques Facebook's approach to digital currency, asserting it's the wrong fit for such an ambitious project. The conversation also sparks curiosity about a possible sequel to the film that captured a tech revolution.
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Facebook's Origin Story
Ben Mezrich learned about Facebook's origin story from Eduardo Saverin, who claimed Mark Zuckerberg betrayed him.
This dramatic narrative, combined with the Winklevoss twins' lawsuit, formed the basis of "The Accidental Billionaires."
insights INSIGHT
Facebook's Impact
Mezrich saw Facebook as a pivotal moment, a sea change in how people interact.
He aimed to capture this origin story, similar to Michael Crichton's approach.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Zuckerberg's Reaction
Zuckerberg called Mezrich the "Jackie Collins of Silicon Valley," disputing the book's portrayal of him as motivated by girls.
Mezrich maintains the book accurately depicted the social dynamics and motivations of Zuckerberg and his peers.
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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.
Bitcoin Billionaires
Ben Mezrich
Bitcoin Billionaires by Ben Mezrich follows the Winklevoss twins as they navigate the volatile world of cryptocurrency. After their legal battle with Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook, they invest heavily in Bitcoin, facing numerous challenges and ultimately becoming the first Bitcoin billionaires. The book explores their journey from being known for their Facebook lawsuit to becoming leaders in the cryptocurrency space.
The Accidental Billionaires
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'.
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.
Writer Ben Mezrich talks with Recode’s Kara Swisher about his latest book Bitcoin Billionaires and his previous books, including The Accidental Billionaires, which was adapted into the movie The Social Network. Mezrich, who specializes in "true stories about young people doing crazy things," discusses the controversies around how he depicted Mark Zuckerberg in The Accidental Billionaires, how Zuck has changed over time, and how the story went from a “nobody will care” book proposal to a classic movie. He also talks about the respectability the Winklevoss twins brought to cryptocurrency and why Facebook is the exact wrong company to launch a cryptocurrency, even though they’re looking in the right direction. Plus: Will there be a sequel to The Social Network?
Decoder with Nilay Patel 
