Episode · a16z Podcast · 2025-09-15

Books mentioned on Faster Science, Better Drugs

1 book · With Patrick Hsu, Jorge Conde · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Can we make science as fast as software? In this episode, Erik Torenberg talks with Patrick Hsu (cofounder of Arc Institute) and a16z general partner Jorge Conde about Arc’s “virtual cells” moonshot, which uses foundation models to simulate biology and guide experiments.

Patrick Hsu discussed Breakneck by Dan Wang.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   Breakneck

   Dan Wang · at 36:20

   Breakneck by Dan Wang is a comparative study of political economy that examines the contrasting trajectories of the United States and China, famously framing the difference through the lens of a lawyer-dominated society versus an engineer-driven state.

   Discussed

   “My friend Dan Wang recently released a book called Breakneck, which talks about um you know, kind of like the US and China and the difference between the two countries and their philosophy, the way they approach markets.”

   Patrick Hsu Faster Science, Better Drugs 2025-09-15 Listen at 36:20

   Where to get it

   AmazonListen on Audible