Zero To One

by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
Zero To One cover
Good Books rating 4.19
Business and Economics
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  • ID: 7339
  • Added: 2025-12-13
  • Updated: 2026-01-01
  • ISBN: 9780753550304
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2014-09-18
  • Reviews: 4

Zero to One is a guide to creating innovative companies that break the mold and build something entirely new. Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, shares his contrarian perspective on competition, progress, and value creation. The book challenges conventional wisdom and offers a unique approach to thinking about business and technology. /n/n Thiel argues that true innovation comes from going from 0 to 1, not just copying what already exists. He provides practical advice on how to identify opportunities, build a successful team, and create a monopoly. The book is filled with insights from Thiel's own experiences and those of other successful entrepreneurs.

Reviews
Medium · V Kumar · 2025-12-13
insightful 4.00

The book is a great starting point for those new to the startup culture, offering practical insights and strategies. It provides a unique perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation.

V Kumar highlights that 'Zero to One' is particularly valuable for beginners in the startup world. They appreciate the book's practical advice and unique insights into building successful businesses. Kumar also notes that the book's central theme of creating monopolies rather than competing in saturated markets is both intriguing and actionable. Overall, they find the book to be a compelling read that challenges conventional thinking about startups and innovation.

Quick quotes

    The book serves as a strong starting point for anyone who is new to the startup culture.

    It provides insights, strategies, and advice for entrepreneurs.

    The central theme of the book is how to create a monopoly rather than a commodity business.

ProductSummaries.com · Product Summaries · 2023-07-30
optimistic 4.50

The book encourages finding singular ways to create new things that will make the future better. It is a compelling read for anyone interested in innovation.

Product Summaries emphasizes the book's focus on finding unique ways to create new and better things. They appreciate the book's compelling arguments and practical advice, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in innovation. The reviewer also notes that the book's perspective on the future is both optimistic and actionable, encouraging readers to think differently about their own potential contributions to the world.

Quick quotes

    Our task today is to find singular ways to create new things that will make the future not just different but better.

    It is a compelling read for anyone interested in innovation.

    The book's perspective on the future is both optimistic and actionable.

Dannorris.me · Dan Norris · 2015-02-04
thought-provoking 4.25

The book's central theme is about using knowledge to create a monopoly, which is both thought-provoking and practical. It offers a unique perspective on business strategy.

Dan Norris delves into the book's central theme of creating monopolies through unique insights and knowledge. They find this perspective both thought-provoking and practical, offering a fresh take on business strategy. Norris also appreciates the book's humorous and insightful writing style, which makes complex ideas accessible. They believe the book is a must-read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Quick quotes

    The central theme of the book is how to use what you know to create a monopoly.

    It is well-written and contains humor, insight, and wisdom.

    It will help you to get your head in the right place to think about starting a business.

Reddit - r/startups · 2014-10-27
refreshing 4.00

The book is praised for its unique perspective on startups and its refusal to conform to typical startup narratives.

This Reddit discussion highlights Zero to One as a standout book in the startup genre. The reviewer appreciates that the book does not pander to the norm and offers a different, valuable opinion. They find the book to be a great read, particularly for those looking for innovative ideas and a fresh take on entrepreneurship. The community agrees that the book is thought-provoking and worth reading.

Quick quotes

    Overall, I think it's a really great read, and doesn't pander to the norm as the other startup novels do.

    Sometimes you need a different opinion to get the best results.

    The book offers a unique perspective on startups and innovation.

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