Episode · Behind the Bastards · 2024-11-05

Books mentioned on Part Three: How Peter Thiel Became the Gravedigger of Democracy

2 books · With Noah Schachtman · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Robert tells Noah how Peter Thiel went to war against Gawker and also completely whiffed on profiting from the 2008 financial crash. Bonus: how Palantir enabled a bunch of creepy corporate security types to stalk their girlfriends, each other.

Robert Evans discussed The Contrarian by Max Chafkin and Thank You for Smoking by Christopher Buckley.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. The Contrarian

    Max Chafkin · at 10:27 · mentioned 2 times

    The Contrarian by Max Chafkin is an investigative biography examining the life, career, and political ideology of tech investor Peter Thiel.

    Discussed
    “and I think this is the picture chafkin paints thect picture holiday paints and holiday is the guy who's really seems to have gone into this”
    Where to get it
  2. Thank You for Smoking

    Christopher Buckley · at 41:08

    Thank You for Smoking by Christopher Buckley is a satirical novel about a tobacco lobbyist who skillfully defends the rights of Americans to consume a harmful product.

    Discussed
    “it's based off a book by William F Buckley's son which is rhia lover William F Buckley um but it's a good book”
    Where to get it