I assume most readers purchased this book to learn about Alex Karp and Palantir. The book does some of that. And it is well organized and skillfully written. But the author just could not resist using Karp as a vehicle for arguing his personal political philosophy and espousing a particular animus toward conservatives generally and Donald Trump specifically.
How many readers bought this book because they could not go another minute without knowing more about the author’s thoughts on current political hot topics. Not many. Any?
But listen we must. And in the author’s world view there is never a “far left or “radical left”, only a “far right” and “radical right”. Even an operation to deny Iran a nuclear arsenal is fraught with suspicion, even support for Israeli attacks on Hamas (following the October 7 massacre) are possibly evidence of moral and political corruption. Warren is wise. AOC devoted to sniffing out misconduct. Cruz is a monster, Vance a threat to democracy.
In other words, the messages between the lines collections of NYT editorials. There is a place for that. Just not in this book.
There is an incisive study of Alex Karp here. You just have to ignore the irritating background music—the author’s personal rant against everyone and every thing not part of his approved progressive ideology. Karp is complex, quirky, interesting and consequential. The author not so much. In that context the author’s insinuation into the story is beyond irritating. And worst of all it makes one wonder about the integrity and objectivity of the “rest of the book”.
Philosopher of the Valley could have been a contender. Sadly, the author could not keep quiet and let his subject occupy on center stage.
Finally if Haverford College had been mentioned one more time, I would have been forced to scream.