Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the FutureZero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Score Modern
What it's about
The great secret of our time, Peter Thiel argues, is that there are still uncharted frontiers and new inventions to create. Drawing on his experience founding PayPal and investing in Facebook, he explains how to build companies that create something genuinely new, going from zero to one.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 27 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's one of the most influential books about startups.
You'll love it if you liked
Shoe Dog
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
The Psychology of MoneyGood to know
It's based on a class Thiel taught at Stanford, with notes by Blake Masters. It's short and opinionated.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #54 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #79 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #739 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1383 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical, Thought-provoking
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Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,573 ranked
Books of the 2000sTop 25 · 490 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedQuick answers
Is Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future worth reading?
Yes. It spent 27 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,383 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future about?
The great secret of our time, Peter Thiel argues, is that there are still uncharted frontiers and new inventions to create. Drawing on his experience founding PayPal and investing in Facebook, he explains how to build companies that create something genuinely new, going from zero to one.
How long does it take to read Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future?
About 6 hours (225 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future?
If you liked it, try Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance or The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.