Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Books / Zero To One, By: Peter Thiel

Zero To One, By: Peter Thiel

Zero To One, By: Peter Thiel

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
By: Peter Thiel
Virgin Books; 1st Edition (January 1, 2001)

I am not sure what I can say about Zero To One that has not already been said. This book is a classic. I mean, it was originally published over 20 years ago! In short, Thiel talks about entrepreneurship in a fresh and insightful way that makes me want to start a side project once a year. Encouragement to build a brand, seek network effects and economies of scale, harness proprietary technology, and avoid competition gives people a great starting point to success. Zero To One should be required reading in business school. (But don’t go to business school – that’s just me).

Two of my favorite quotes:

WHENEVER I INTERVIEW someone for a job, I like to ask this question: “What important truth do very few people agree with you on?” This question sounds easy because it’s straightforward. Actually, it’s very hard to answer. It’s intellectually difficult because the knowledge that everyone is taught in school is by definition agreed upon. And it’s psychologically difficult because anyone trying to answer must say something she knows to be unpopular. Brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius.

Tolstoy opens Anna Karenina by observing: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Business is the opposite. All happy companies are different: each one earns a monopoly by solving a unique problem. All failed companies are the same: they failed to escape competition.

Buy On Amazon

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: BooksTagged With: #Books, #MyReadingLife2020

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Notifications of all new posts by email.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • Where Did I Set My iPhone
    Where Did I Set My iPhone
  • The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
    The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
  • 100 Things That Made My Year – 2022
    100 Things That Made My Year – 2022
  • Economics: Non-Economic Goods
    Economics: Non-Economic Goods
  • Mastermind, By: Maria Konnikova
    Mastermind, By: Maria Konnikova
  • How To Think, By: Alan Jacobs
    How To Think, By: Alan Jacobs
  • The Compulsion To Read
    The Compulsion To Read
  • The Rejection Then Retreat Persuasion Technique
    The Rejection Then Retreat Persuasion Technique
  • 31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
    31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams

Supporting = Loving

Buy Me a Coffee

Recent Posts

  • Employee Of The Month
  • Every Day I’m Shufflin
  • Where I Sit 25
  • Where Did I Set My iPhone
  • Where I Sit 24
  • Cold And Limp And All Of The
  • Random Thoughts – 375
  • King Of Love, By: I Am They
  • The Point Of Learning
  • Instabooks 371
  • A Dopamine Hit Just One
  • Random Thoughts – 374
  • A Leaders Necessary Exposure To Risk
  • The Compulsion To Read
  • Instabooks 370
  • With Tea Looking Out Of That
  • Random Thoughts – 373
  • Stayed Up All Night
  • Missed Internet Mania
  • Tenderloin, San Francisco
  • And That All This Is A Pause
  • Random Thoughts – 372
  • 100 Things That Made My Year – 2022
  • On Selling Popcorn
  • Instabooks 369

Copyright © 2023 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in