Book · 2022 · Biography & Autobiography
The Founders
Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and the Company that Made the Modern Internet
Why people recommend it
Jimmy Soni's The Founders is a meticulous and engaging historical account that charts the origins and chaotic early days of PayPal and the ambitious entrepreneurs who built it. On the a16z Podcast, guest Max Levchin recommended the book, emphasizing that its high quality stems not only from skilled writing but also from the author's extensive, exhaustive interviews with every single individual involved in the company's foundational story. During the same episode, Erik Torenberg also brought up the recently published work, using it to frame a broader discussion about the enduring legacy of PayPal, its massive industry impact, and the legendary network of alumni it produced. Together, the speakers used the book as a definitive lens through which to examine the dynamics of early-stage tech startups, extraordinary ambition, and the crucial personalities whose collaboration ultimately transformed the landscape of modern digital finance and technology.
Who recommended it
- Erik Torenberg Discussed
- Max Levchin Recommended
Erik Torenberg — 1 mention
“there's been you know a book came out founders recently there's been sort of a lot of uh you know revisiting of of of PayPal both in its impact”
Max Levchin — 1 mention
“the founder is actually a very good book like and part of it is because it's well written but part of it is because Jimmy the guy who wrote it interviewed every single character in the story extensively”