Peter Thiel wrote that one. And I do quite like it.
I bought it just a few days ago, and I have to say, the fourteen chapters read very quickly.
It feels pretty honest and is, as far as I understood it, a mix between entrepreneurial wisdom and ... personal philosophy?
See, when I decided to jump into my first startup and failed, it resulted in me having crippling doubts about myself.
And these doubts continued to be lurking around long after, as I identified my failure to build a company with my personality. That is a dangerous road and I am just learning to let go and be aware of mental health.
Anyway, Zero to one is like a reminder that creating a company with a daring growth strategy is challenging. And it shows that there are many misconceptions about being a self-starter that are simply myths and not true. It would have been nice if I had read the book three years ago.
The way he writes about how a startup can find space and grow is just great. There are a few times where I... well, I was not quite sure what I read and what his view on the market is. I kinda flipped these pages somewhat graciously?
The good
The chapters on how to approach markets and the luck it needs, about hiring and creating culture, what he thinks on building a monopoly and the general sales/people/product thinking were great. There are some nice thoughts that force you to reconsider your own ideas, regarding disruption for instance. The entire outlook and his vision are clearly written down, and it felt inspiring to me to read it.
The questionable
What was weird in several places were his semi-philosophical ideas. I am not sure whether this is because of the editing or purposely left like that, so I give it the benefit of the doubt.
To give you an example: he introduces a model of vertical and horizontal progress. Horizontal means based on incremental achievements - step by step building on existing things. Vertical means disruptive achievements, new technologies. he coins it 'doing new things'. Thiel explains it like this: 'If you take a typewriter and build 100, you made horizontal progress. If you have a typewriter and build a word processor, you made vertical progress.'
While I can assume where he wants to get at, he explains it rather clumsily in that chapter. He inevitably reduces his own idea to a rather simplistic train of thought. You don't need much thinking to question this. Ideas are built on top of other ideas, as existing knowledge is the foundation of novel ideas. Thus, there is no 'horizontal' progress. Progress is by definition: 'forward or onward movement towards a destination.'
After I read the book I concluded; not everything is 0 to 1.
Thiel basically shows you the arguments for it by clumsily trying to argue that everything is indeed 0 to 1.
I do not share his idea of the visionary entrepreneur - the one person army from Silicon Valley changes the world and brings progress. So maybe that plays into my interpretation.
There are a variety of other parts I read with my eyebrow behind my ears. Maybe the book really was edited, and thus, parts of the arguments were cut. I would like to offer the benefit of the doubt yet again at this point.
However, even if premises were meant that way - simply roundhouse kicking e.g. the entire education system in generalised paragraphs without differentiation is, in my view, not helpful.
I don't want to go into that here, but yeah, his book, his rules.
The insight
If you want to start your own startup, I can recommend the book though; the concepts and several insights are good to read, especially if you are not from a startup-centric country.
For instance, in chapter 13, he offers seven relatively simple questions you should ask yourself when starting:
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1. The Engineering Question
Can you create breakthrough technology instead of incremental improvements?
2. The Timing Question
Is now the right time to start your particular business?
3. The Monopoly Question
Are you starting with a big share of a small market?
4. The People Question
Do you have the right team?
5. The Distribution Question
Do you have a way to not just create but deliver your product?
6. The Durability Question
Will your market position be defensible 10 and 20 years into the future?
7. The Secret Question
Have you identified a unique opportunity that others don't see?
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To the point, I like that.
The takeaway
All in all I would say, the book is a good read if you are starting out as entrepreneur it is definitely worth reading; the concepts, questions and critical aspects are worthwhile.
If you are a first-time founder, even more so. (I kinda loathe myself that I did not read it earlier.)
Philosophically, if you are a critical reader and like logically sound arguments, then it has some sections and ideas where the book does fall short, to say the least.
As always
Glad to have you here.