Read in 2023
Zero to One
by Peter Thiel
Notes on startups and how to build the future. Thiel argues that true innovation means creating something entirely new, not copying what works.
My Review
Thiel's contrarian framework makes this a standout among business books. The question 'what important truth do very few people agree with you on?' is a tool I now use to stress-test assumptions in financial analysis and process design. The monopoly vs. competition chapter — arguing that competition erodes profits while monopolies drive innovation — is provocative but rigorously argued. His emphasis on finding secrets and hidden leverage points has shaped how I think about process automation: do not simply copy what another department does, find the inefficiency nobody else has noticed.