Zero to One

Date: 2024-05-01

Book Authors: Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

This one’s a modern classic in startup circles — and for good reason. Peter Thiel doesn’t give you a startup checklist. He gives you a philosophy — about monopolies, contrarian thinking, and creating something truly new. Zero to One is about building companies that leap forward, not just improve on what exists.

💡 Big Shifts: • Competition is for losers. Aim to escape competition through innovation. • The best startups begin with secrets — truths others overlook. • Founders should aim for monopoly economics — not marginal gains.

❤️ What Stuck With Me: • Clean mental models: definite vs. indefinite optimism, vertical vs. horizontal growth. • Pushed me to question what “differentiation” actually means. • Doesn’t try to be universally applicable — it’s unapologetically specific.

🤔 What's Limiting: • The tone is very Thiel — bold, at times polarising. • It downplays execution in favour of ideology.

📈 Verdict: This isn’t a how-to. It’s a what-to-believe. If you want to build something rare, start here.

Rating: 4.7/5